This morning, it was very cold for this time of the year. I put on more layers of clothing and went to work as a Saturday volunteer. The weather cleared and the sun began to shine in the afternoon. Some wore half-sleeved polo shirts, and others wore sweaters!
Every Saturday I enjoy talking in Japanese with people from various countries . I help them brush up their Japanese. I have talked with over 25 foreigners in these four years. I think I will write about some of what they told me.
1. First, I was surprised that all the foreigners I met were very quick to learn Japanese. They were very diligent. They studied very hard every day.
2. Many students from Asian countries I met said it was very difficult to become good friends with Japanese students. Japanese students would not speak to them, though they spoke to Americans.
3. A few Chinese professors told me that they were surprised that Japanese students were not diligent even at top level university. Japanese professors were spoiling their students. They should be strict enough. ( This made my ears burn, though I am not a professor.)
4. A Chinese told me that in China it is considered very bad manners to eat all the food served when you are invited to someone's home. To empty your plate means, "I'm not full yet. Give me more food, please."
5. Both in China and Korea, they never go Dutch. In China, a man who says "Let's go and eat out" will pay the bill. In Korea, the oldest person in the group will pay the bill.
6. We Japanese say "Thank you very much for the gift " again and again. In Korea repeated thanks means, "I am pleased with your gift. Give me another gift, please." I was shocked to hear it.
7. I was deeply impressed by a girl from Colombia. On the day when I first met her, she explained about the meaning of the national flag of Colombia. It has three colors: yellow, blue, and red.
Yellow--it means abundance. ( to be rich)
Blue -- it means water. (the Pacific Ocean)
Red -- it means blood. ( independence from Spain)
When I talked with her, I wondered how Japanese students studying abroad would explain about the HINOMARU.
Every Saturday I enjoy talking in Japanese with people from various countries . I help them brush up their Japanese. I have talked with over 25 foreigners in these four years. I think I will write about some of what they told me.
1. First, I was surprised that all the foreigners I met were very quick to learn Japanese. They were very diligent. They studied very hard every day.
2. Many students from Asian countries I met said it was very difficult to become good friends with Japanese students. Japanese students would not speak to them, though they spoke to Americans.
3. A few Chinese professors told me that they were surprised that Japanese students were not diligent even at top level university. Japanese professors were spoiling their students. They should be strict enough. ( This made my ears burn, though I am not a professor.)
4. A Chinese told me that in China it is considered very bad manners to eat all the food served when you are invited to someone's home. To empty your plate means, "I'm not full yet. Give me more food, please."
5. Both in China and Korea, they never go Dutch. In China, a man who says "Let's go and eat out" will pay the bill. In Korea, the oldest person in the group will pay the bill.
6. We Japanese say "Thank you very much for the gift " again and again. In Korea repeated thanks means, "I am pleased with your gift. Give me another gift, please." I was shocked to hear it.
7. I was deeply impressed by a girl from Colombia. On the day when I first met her, she explained about the meaning of the national flag of Colombia. It has three colors: yellow, blue, and red.
Yellow--it means abundance. ( to be rich)
Blue -- it means water. (the Pacific Ocean)
Red -- it means blood. ( independence from Spain)
When I talked with her, I wondered how Japanese students studying abroad would explain about the HINOMARU.