Brett Robson <jet_boy@deja.com> wrote in message news:<bgq29502atl@drn.newsguy.com>...
> On Wed, 6 Aug 2003 04:28:14 +0000 (UTC), mtfester@netscape.net  ...
> >
> >Brett Robson <jet_boy@deja.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Recently I chewed out the manager of a local coffee shop about his and his
> >> staffs' poor manners after a guy serverd me without saying a single word. His
> >>defence was the staff don't speak English, but I pointed out that any foreigner
> >> in Japan understands "arigatou gozaimasu".
> >
> >Never had it that bad; most people who "don't speak English" were very
> >diffident and made a big point of bowing when being otherwise inconsid-
> >erate 
> 
> It works both ways of course, I make up for my direct and rather informal
> Japanese with smiles and bows.
> 
> 
> >(like, trying to inform me they couldn't serve me because they don't
> >speak English.) 
> 
> A Royal Host that I often frequented in Nagoya was terrible like that. They had
> nominated English speaking waitresses. They would take names from all the
> Japanese and get in quite a flap if the English speaking waitress didn't appear
> quick enough. I know they were trying to do the right thing, but it's very
> frustrating when the worms are biting and I don't need help ordering a steak and
> beer. Once I worked out what was going on I always made a point of spekaing to
> the head waitress, the added benefit was I didn't have to sit in the gaigin
> corner.
> 
Sounds like something I recall from Dave Barry's book on his travels
in Japan. An interesting read, IIRC.

John W.