Haluk Skywalker <halukakaNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote:

> "John W." <worthj1970@yahoo.com> wrote in message 
> news:1096637372.961352.214870@h37g2000oda.googlegroups.com...
> > Michael Cash wrote:
> >> On Fri, 1 Oct 2004 14:34:34 +0200, "b"
> >> <nospam.bengabenga@caramail.com> brought down from the Mount tablets
> >> inscribed:
> >>
> >> >to stop being a gaigin once you've really been one -
> >> >or is there no turning back ?
> >>
> >> Since one generally attains gaigindom through emerging from the womb
> >> and taking a breath before somebody jams a pair of scissors through
> >> one's skull, it's sort of hard to turn back.
> >>
> > Arudo begs to differ. Pretty soon he'll be asking gaigin if they know
> > how to use chopsticks and have four seasons in their home countries.
> > John W.
> >
> 
> OK, great. Does anyone have an idea why Japanese brag about having four
> seasons all the time? I'd been wondering about this when I was in Japan, can
> anybody come up with the reason. 

I suspect it's part of a "conversation" in a beginner's English book,
similar to one I've been subjected to, and I've heard of variations from
other people:

Earnest Japanese Student of English (EJSE): Hello!
Unenthusiastic Gaigin Victim (UGV): Hi
EJSE: Where are you from?
UGV: Britain 
EJSE: Oh, is that near California?

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