After 20 years in Japan, I can eat a cracker without assistance. But that doesn’t stop the infantilization—or the kids in the hallway calling me Bobby.
‘Can you use chopsticks?’ And in reply, ‘Can you use a spoon?’
Thanks for sharing bro! I love your names for things, ‘Bobbying’ and Tonari-sensei. I always get Tom Cruise, should it be called ‘Tommying’ or ‘Crusing’
I’d forgotten just how many of these exact same encounters I navigated in Japan. “Can you eat Japanese food?” “Can you use chopsticks?” And the side eye when you don’t neatly fit into the box they’ve made for you.
(sigh) Most tourists 'doing' Japan for a few weeks have no idea that 'omotenashi' is a poor substitute for omoiyari. Nihonjinron is so relentless, so deeply embedded and ingrained, so soul sucking ... as to drive one to a hikkikomori lifestyle for 'rest and relaxation'.
‘Can you use chopsticks?’ And in reply, ‘Can you use a spoon?’
Thanks for sharing bro! I love your names for things, ‘Bobbying’ and Tonari-sensei. I always get Tom Cruise, should it be called ‘Tommying’ or ‘Crusing’
I'd definitely go with cruising...tommying sounds like they're machine gunning you! lol
I’d forgotten just how many of these exact same encounters I navigated in Japan. “Can you eat Japanese food?” “Can you use chopsticks?” And the side eye when you don’t neatly fit into the box they’ve made for you.
I bet you sometimes feel like machine-gunning them a la Billy Liar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPr27tuCCNQ
(sigh) Most tourists 'doing' Japan for a few weeks have no idea that 'omotenashi' is a poor substitute for omoiyari. Nihonjinron is so relentless, so deeply embedded and ingrained, so soul sucking ... as to drive one to a hikkikomori lifestyle for 'rest and relaxation'.