It’s been quiet on lomohut this second semester. The semester flew by much faster than I had anticipated. I’ve started packing my stuff as my room is getting inspected on Thursday so it needs to be clean and such. I’ve got 10 days left.

When riding the trains (or at least the JR variety) they have been showing this cartoon recently that I’ve found quite funny called ダーリンは外国人 – My darling is a foreigner. It’s based on a manga and I picked up the first two the other day. I’ve only read about 60 pages into the first volume (of 5) so far and it is quite entertaining.

One of my favourite parts that I’ve read so far is when she is comparing a regular Japanese’ response and Tony’s (the main character) response when it comes to service. This example is a glass of wine with lunch that doesn’t taste good. The average Japanese response is more of a commenting on the flavor to the person dining with them saying something like “This wine is a bit….”.

But this guy! He calls the waiter over and asks for the manager. The manager seeing the foreigner automatically speaks to the Japanese person. At which point he has to interrupt with something to the effect of “Hey! Shouldn’t you be talking to me! I’m the one that is complaining”. He assumed that the foreigner doesn’t speak Japanese…

A common pattern in Japan sadly. A belief that foreigners can’t possibly speak Japanese, which simply isn’t true. I know there are people who have lived here for 5+ years and don’t speak a word of Japanese, which to me is unacceptable. If you are going to live in a foreign country, part of your responsibility as a foreigner is to learn to speak the local language. Unless of course you like 差別 (Discrimination), and want to be treated special. Me? I just want to be treated like everybody else.

Packing is depressing.