Re: Teaching a child three languages

yky wrote:
Lee Sau Dan wrote:


Se嫕> Here is my favourite foreigner in Japan story. An
Se嫕> ex-colleague speaks Japanese very well. One time he was
Se嫕> trying to check into a Ryokan in a small town. The manager
Se嫕> seemed reluctant to accept him and gave various reasons why
Se嫕> my colleague would not be happy. "We only serve Japanese
Se嫕> food" - "I like Japanese food". "We only have traditional
Se嫕> Japanese beds" - "I know and like them". Finally: "We only
Se嫕> speak Japanese, you would not be able to understand us" -
Se嫕> "We have just had this entire conversation in Japanese". He
Se嫕> finally gave up, went to a larger town, and stayed in a
Se嫕> western style hotel.

I would have insisted! Why stay in a western style hotel when
travelling in Japan?


This ex-colleague might have missed a sign similar to those shown
in the following web site:

http://www.debito.org/roguesgallery.html#Ogikubo

He did not mention such a sign but it did seem to be that attitude. He
had stayed in such places when travelling with Japanese, this was his
first attempt to do so alone. I have not seen him for a long time, I
don't know if he tried again and whether he was successful.

It is odd that Pub Funtasy bans foreigners but has Filipino flags on
the sign. I guess that some of the staff are Filipino even though
they would not be welcome as customers.

Sometimes the reverse occurs. In Thailand, they are often reluctant to
allow locals into bars aimed at tourists. If she does not speak, my
wife is often mistaken for a Thai. If we approach such a place talking
in English, she will normally be allowed in since she does not sound at
all like a Thai but if she keeps quiet, she may not be allowed in.

--
Seán O'Leathlóbhair

.

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