As I was walking home from the gym today, I looked ahead and saw a car waiting to come out from McDonalds onto the street. As it was, it was in the way of the sidewalk. Normally, you (well, I) would walk behind it and continue on. Despite the long half-circumference I have to take. But the car backed up and let me pass directly across the curb. Instinctively, I turned to the driver and did a smile-and-minor-bow, but then it suddenly hit me. What if he wouldn’t really understand me? What if he thought I were strange? Okay, didn’t really care about the second one. But nonetheless, I wondered whether the proper thing to do was to do the wave-hand-greeting. As it was, I was in the middle of my bow, and it probably looked like I spasmed. While smiling. A bit.
At least I don’t bow to the pizza delivery guy.
Oh wait. I did. Urgh.
Well, I’m looking forward to the possible return visit to China over Winter Break. Hopefully I’ll still remember Engrish by the time I get back.
Random Japanese Word of the Day:
ROMります(ROM-rimasu) – Pronounced ロムります(romurimasu) too, I believe. Anyway, I’ve seen a lot of acronyms for the ROM part, but the one that stuck (the first one I saw and the shortest one) was “Read-Only Member.” In short, it means to lurk (in a chat or whatever). Yeah, I’m rewatching DRRR!! again.
The Rant Room 