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132 sats \ 2 replies \ @cryotosensei 23 Nov \ on: The Traveler's Curse Bitcoin_Travel
Oh this post resonates with me hard.
I spent two years in Japan and snagged a Japanese wife. The reason why I’m sharing this is that in a recent chat with my Singaporean principal, she revealed that she found my frequent nodding and using of fillers distracting. As if I couldn’t wait for her to finish her sentences.
So I had to tell her that in Japanese culture (and being married to someone of that culture), it is customary of people to keep signalling that they are listening. Hence my frequent nodding and fillers. Tbh, I knew my principal meant well, but to a certain extent, I felt judged precisely because she is ignorant of Japanese culture. It is a hard pill to swallow.
Nonetheless, I embrace my Japanese affiliation as part of my identity!
I hope you are settling in well in your new job!
You're becoming a richer and more interesting soup, picking up those cultural tics lol! I used to live in Vietnam and some of the common phrases they used there were just so perfect in context, but sort of untranslatable. I found myself accidentally blurting them out reflexively, long after I left VN, in groups where nobody would have a clue what the hell noise I just made. It was awkward sometimes!
Are you in Singapore now? I'm nearby (in KL) and might be passing through there soon, always keen to meet another Stacker in the real world
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What a coincidence. Vietnam is my first love because it’s the first country I backpacked at the tender age of 21 haha. I still remember phrases like Xin loi and da gua
Unfortunately I’m travelling overseas today! Catch you for a drink (assuming you drink) when you come over to my part of the world next time!
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