Ryan Ginstrom wrote:
> "necoandjeff" <spam@schrepfer.com> wrote in message
> news:zLgQd.190$Pz7.35@newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
>> My conclusion is based on years of observation, not logical
>> reasoning. If people spoke precisely, I would agree with you
>> completely. Unfortunately, when many people make observations about
>> things in Japan they are subconsciously processing them as
>> observations about the Japanese in a way they do not when making
>> observations about things at home. They hear
>
> You yourself seem to be engaging in some "subconscious processing,"
> i.e. assuming that all foreigners in Japan are visitors.
>
> What if "at home" is "in Japan?"

Don't you too have that little card hanging out of your passport as a
constant reminder that you WILL leave Japan someday? Anyway, at home is
Japan for me too. I will say this in my defense: The gaigin who make the
kinds of observations I'm talking about are generally not the kind who
consider Japan "home," although there are exceptions to that generalization
as well.

Jefff