So we are in a shopping mall and I see that cute top I’d like to try and I ask the vendor if I can try it on (me asking meant: Me making gestures showing this and that). She shows me into the fitting room. So I step in right away without thinking and that is when she starts saying things politely but very fast while she is pointing at my feet. So I am thinking: oh you like my shoes? Yeah I bought then in the US, they are “Tevas”, aren’t they cool! ? But then I realize she is just trying to tell me that I can’t go into the fitting room just like that and I have to take my shoes off. Ooooh my gosh! I am soooooo sorry and sooooooo embarrassed! I say: “Sumimasen” at least 5 times and she says “sumimasen” 3 times (I beat her, I said it 2 more times than her, I must be more sorry than she is). Well I am sooooooooo sorry, I feel like a freaking fat, fool French American that I am. So now I am in the fitting room without my shoes and she is showing me a piece of cloth that looks like a pillow case open on 2 sides, and she points at my head and shoulders; I am just thinking, now what? Does she want me to put this over my head so that I can’t see how I look like with my top on? Oooooohhh, I have to put this over my head to protect the clothing from my dirty hair and all the make up I don’t put on my face in the morning! This is so smart and respectful for the clothing, I like it. So here I am, half naked, without my shoes and with a pillowcase over my head, in the smallest fitting room on earth, banging my elbows on the door and mirror. Of course the top is way too small for me, even though I chose a large size. I get out of the room and say “sumimasen” one more time to excuse myself from being such a big fat ugly stupid American; and she seems to be ok with my apologies (or maybe she is sorry for me also). And anyway I feel that we are good, I can go away now. Pfffffeww, I made it!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
First lesson learned... (by Cecile)
So we are in a shopping mall and I see that cute top I’d like to try and I ask the vendor if I can try it on (me asking meant: Me making gestures showing this and that). She shows me into the fitting room. So I step in right away without thinking and that is when she starts saying things politely but very fast while she is pointing at my feet. So I am thinking: oh you like my shoes? Yeah I bought then in the US, they are “Tevas”, aren’t they cool! ? But then I realize she is just trying to tell me that I can’t go into the fitting room just like that and I have to take my shoes off. Ooooh my gosh! I am soooooo sorry and sooooooo embarrassed! I say: “Sumimasen” at least 5 times and she says “sumimasen” 3 times (I beat her, I said it 2 more times than her, I must be more sorry than she is). Well I am sooooooooo sorry, I feel like a freaking fat, fool French American that I am. So now I am in the fitting room without my shoes and she is showing me a piece of cloth that looks like a pillow case open on 2 sides, and she points at my head and shoulders; I am just thinking, now what? Does she want me to put this over my head so that I can’t see how I look like with my top on? Oooooohhh, I have to put this over my head to protect the clothing from my dirty hair and all the make up I don’t put on my face in the morning! This is so smart and respectful for the clothing, I like it. So here I am, half naked, without my shoes and with a pillowcase over my head, in the smallest fitting room on earth, banging my elbows on the door and mirror. Of course the top is way too small for me, even though I chose a large size. I get out of the room and say “sumimasen” one more time to excuse myself from being such a big fat ugly stupid American; and she seems to be ok with my apologies (or maybe she is sorry for me also). And anyway I feel that we are good, I can go away now. Pfffffeww, I made it!
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5 comments:
Cecile, This is sooo funny. I was hoping there would be a photo to match the story. Be happy, you will save money if none of the clothes fit.
After you left for Japan, I heard that the slippers you are required to wear rarely fit Americans. I am glad Mike has a pair of new flip-flops that could improvise as slippers if necessary.
Has it rained there?
WOW Cecile; another "patti" with an "i" and small "p" has written; amazing... this is patti w; I loved reading your adventure. I am excited for the next posting; keep writing and have fun.
I am off to BB now; need to be on time so bye for now. More later. Love, patti =-)
Hi again. I just read that I am "anomymous"... hhhmmm... I am "patti" so I will do this differently.
Have a great day! patti w
This is a wonderful, funny description of a pure culture shock experience. Have you noticed how low the sinks are?? It sounds like you all are having a fabulous time so far- I can't believe you described natto as "yummy..."
I looked up the Taiko factory in Fukushima. It's in Tajima-machi, and it's called Hisayoshi Kawada's Drum Factory. There's a whole page on it at:
http://www.pref.fukushima.jp/kokusai/english/outlook/25craft.html
If they take you, take lots of pictures for me!!
Ki o tsukete,
Rome
Thank you so much for all your comments, we miss you here. We are getting more stories ready for you on our next posts. We will take the time to put them on when we are back at a hotel. (we are with families now)
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