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.







-

"Wherever you go, you carry a message of hope - a message that is ancient and
ever new. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, 'To the captives, come out, and to
those in darkness, be free."' Bush II exhorting his soldiers on their Crusades.
"light the darkness of the entire world" Kita Ikki