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Pithy cultural observations
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furiousmilksheikali



Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 1660
Location: In a coffee shop, splitting a 30,000 yen tab with Sekiguchi.

PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 2:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There are a large number of cultural differences, of course. I think another area to be concerned about is how to form generalizations. If I were to teach a cultural lesson I would try to get the students to use "A lot of people in England...", "Most English people...", or other strutures such as "It is common for people in England to eat roast dinners on Sundays". "It isn't as common for people in England to carry umbrellas as in Japan."

One cultural difference that springs to mind is punctuality. It is common for trains in Britain to leave the station later than scheduled. It isn't common for people to complain about this (Did you know that trains that are five minutes late in Britain are not even officially recorded as late if they are short-distance trips and trains that are ten minutes late aren't recorded as late if they are long-distance.)
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sidjameson



Joined: 11 Jan 2004
Posts: 629
Location: osaka

PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 3:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am at pains to explain how I am over simplifying things, that this is often my opinion (as is a lot of sociological theory) and that anything I say can't be applied to all, or even at times most.
Both a chocolate cake and a coffee cake are 90% flour. It is the flavouring that makes all the difference and is therefore the most interesting thing to look at.

Good one with the trains. Keep them coming. Smile
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Sweeney Todd



Joined: 29 Apr 2007
Posts: 71
Location: The Dosshouse Down the Mile End Road

PostPosted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sidjameson wrote:
Both a chocolate cake and a coffee cake are 90% flour. It is the flavouring that makes all the difference and is therefore the most interesting thing to look at.


I can think of many things which are more interesting to look at than flour!

How about the back of a bus ticket?
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Eva Pilot



Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 351
Location: Far West of the Far East

PostPosted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I teach something like this as part of the curriculum.

It's quite fun to see the reaction of kids to something as simple as, the Pokemon have different names in the West.

Or that in Australia you call 000 for the Police, Fire Department and Ambulance service.
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gaijinalways



Joined: 29 Nov 2005
Posts: 2279

PostPosted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 5:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
One cultural difference that springs to mind is punctuality. It is common for trains in Britain to leave the station later than scheduled. It isn't common for people to complain about this (Did you know that trains that are five minutes late in Britain are not even officially recorded as late if they are short-distance trips and trains that are ten minutes late aren't recorded as late if they are long-distance.)


Another is being advised by loudspeaker to bring water on the unairconditioned tube (though I hear they will experiment with some coolant system this year, using some kind of chemical ice) and to get off and look for assistance if you feel faint. My wife and I sometimes give up on the tube in London during the summer as we find buses to be quicker at times. The train annoucements in Japan are more about leaving umbrellas and not annoying your neighbors with loud cellphone conversations.
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nonsmoker



Joined: 20 Apr 2007
Posts: 352
Location: Exactly here and now.

PostPosted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

After reading all these negative observations, I think we're forgetting one very important positive one:

The awesomeness of JPop!!! ^_^
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Chris21



Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 366
Location: Japan

PostPosted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Moderators,

Please ban this idiot.
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