I quite agree to you Pri that still in most places, they treat the traditions from their folks in a strange way by eyeing on their family names and not respecting the hearts of their family folks...
Traditional Values that flow on from the Roots of our folks never fade away even when we travel places. Let us here travel to a place where still their traditions value a lot in the name of Humanity!!
KONICHIWA Bejitarians!!
After marriage, we traveled to Japan, a place with humble people, pleasant language, awe-inspiring natural locales. We, at first were quite amused to know that people here could understand the term vegetarian as "eat anything other than pork". One could wonder why not pack from home...True! But we definitely would also be happy in entering Japanese restaurants and feel free from everyday cooking hassles.
We were told by few of our fellow Vegetarian mates about asking for a Bejitarian (Vegetarian) Burger in McD, as we could end up eating a Burger with only Chizu (Cheese) for sure!!
After a lot of actions; briefing in English and they accepting the little words that is understandable to them, we do get a Burger...but no patties and just a cheese burger is not considered to be a meal at all...
Thus, we ended up getting to know few words explaining our basic need :
The girl in the Counter : Konichiwa! (Good day) [With a Bow]
We : Wen (One) Baga (Burger) Butaniku (Pork) Nashi; O-Niku (Meat) Nashi; Gyuniku (Beef) Nashi; Sakana (Fish) Nashi; [Nashi (Without)...as most of prepositions in Japanese come at the end. We did get one finally but with a weird look!!] Chizu (Cheese) Nomi (Only)!!...making that girl wonder how is that gonna taste?
The girl in the Counter : [After a long wait, if anything left or can proceed with billing] Hai (Yes/Ok), Arigato (Thank you)!
This happened on a beautiful day with drizzle on and off...it was a long weekend, we being in a hurry not to miss the train [Japan is a place where punctuality speaks a lot], walked..nope, literally jogged to the station. Thanks to the place we stay being quite near to the train station. It was to Yokohama, a wonderful tourist spot with scenic views. We headed to a Mall for some shopping and cover up our lunch as we could easily spot McD in such places.
It was overcrowded in the food court with lots of people in queue in front of each food stall. Finally, could eye McD among all and stood in the long queue recollecting all those words for explanation. Also trained ourselves to tell all those fast, looking back at people waiting after us. We also didn't want to take advantage of the extreme patience that the people in Japan hold!
Confidently, we took our respective meal and searched for a seat. We could get one so far from McD, as it happens in most of the crowded food court in malls. We thought of grabbing it soon, as it was way post lunch. Unwrapping the burger left us in complete astonishment, also with a good laugh started eating the burger with nothing inside...not even the Chizu!! Our 'Nashi' for so many must have reached her as 'Nani Mo' (Nothing) in it!
We were to just finish our meal, when we heard a sweet voice beside loudly saying "Sumimasan!" (Excuse me with respect! San represents Sir/Madam). She was one of the girls from McD, holding a tray with two wrapped burgers.
The girl : Gomen'nasai! (Sorry) [Bowing low, she kept the tray on our table] Chizu Baga!!
We : [Showing our tray, explained that we ate burger already, in actions].
Flabbergasted, we stood up and gave a low bow to her [considering her as the respresentative for their humanity], when she apologized for giving a burger with no cheese earlier identifying us among the huge crowd!! Victory to Vegetarianism too!
Being Human is Given. But keeping Our Humanity is a Choice!!
To know more about this fantastic country Japan along with a culture bound magnificent country India, welcome to Namaste Nihon - Aish.
Traditional Values that flow on from the Roots of our folks never fade away even when we travel places. Let us here travel to a place where still their traditions value a lot in the name of Humanity!!
KONICHIWA Bejitarians!!
After marriage, we traveled to Japan, a place with humble people, pleasant language, awe-inspiring natural locales. We, at first were quite amused to know that people here could understand the term vegetarian as "eat anything other than pork". One could wonder why not pack from home...True! But we definitely would also be happy in entering Japanese restaurants and feel free from everyday cooking hassles.
We were told by few of our fellow Vegetarian mates about asking for a Bejitarian (Vegetarian) Burger in McD, as we could end up eating a Burger with only Chizu (Cheese) for sure!!
After a lot of actions; briefing in English and they accepting the little words that is understandable to them, we do get a Burger...but no patties and just a cheese burger is not considered to be a meal at all...
Thus, we ended up getting to know few words explaining our basic need :
The girl in the Counter : Konichiwa! (Good day) [With a Bow]
We : Wen (One) Baga (Burger) Butaniku (Pork) Nashi; O-Niku (Meat) Nashi; Gyuniku (Beef) Nashi; Sakana (Fish) Nashi; [Nashi (Without)...as most of prepositions in Japanese come at the end. We did get one finally but with a weird look!!] Chizu (Cheese) Nomi (Only)!!...making that girl wonder how is that gonna taste?
The girl in the Counter : [After a long wait, if anything left or can proceed with billing] Hai (Yes/Ok), Arigato (Thank you)!
This happened on a beautiful day with drizzle on and off...it was a long weekend, we being in a hurry not to miss the train [Japan is a place where punctuality speaks a lot], walked..nope, literally jogged to the station. Thanks to the place we stay being quite near to the train station. It was to Yokohama, a wonderful tourist spot with scenic views. We headed to a Mall for some shopping and cover up our lunch as we could easily spot McD in such places.
It was overcrowded in the food court with lots of people in queue in front of each food stall. Finally, could eye McD among all and stood in the long queue recollecting all those words for explanation. Also trained ourselves to tell all those fast, looking back at people waiting after us. We also didn't want to take advantage of the extreme patience that the people in Japan hold!
Confidently, we took our respective meal and searched for a seat. We could get one so far from McD, as it happens in most of the crowded food court in malls. We thought of grabbing it soon, as it was way post lunch. Unwrapping the burger left us in complete astonishment, also with a good laugh started eating the burger with nothing inside...not even the Chizu!! Our 'Nashi' for so many must have reached her as 'Nani Mo' (Nothing) in it!
We were to just finish our meal, when we heard a sweet voice beside loudly saying "Sumimasan!" (Excuse me with respect! San represents Sir/Madam). She was one of the girls from McD, holding a tray with two wrapped burgers.
The girl : Gomen'nasai! (Sorry) [Bowing low, she kept the tray on our table] Chizu Baga!!
We : [Showing our tray, explained that we ate burger already, in actions].
Flabbergasted, we stood up and gave a low bow to her [considering her as the respresentative for their humanity], when she apologized for giving a burger with no cheese earlier identifying us among the huge crowd!! Victory to Vegetarianism too!
Being Human is Given. But keeping Our Humanity is a Choice!!
To know more about this fantastic country Japan along with a culture bound magnificent country India, welcome to Namaste Nihon - Aish.
34 comments:
Very good. I could feel the human touch of Japanese people from ur experience. It is a lesson for all of us to follow this in each and every walk of life. Though we hv not visited Japan, u have taken us there.
True... this makes Japanese great & unique!!
What is that makes us human..?
Humanity,
Sympathy
Love
In Chennai, we had Vardha cyclone y'day, we in Cudd had Thane cyclone few years back, but in Japan, Nature's fury like tsunami, volcano eruption, 250 km cyclones are very common. But there the human loss is very minimum and people help each other in calamities and they leave bench mark in love, humanity and services e to others. Lot we hv to learn from Japanese people.
Well said Sridhar! 😊 Thanks for your wonderful say!
Thank you! 😊 Glad it was worth a visit through this write-up!!
Absolutely! 😊 We indeed will make one day!
This is why Japan is my favorite country. The people there are so polite and hospitable.
My husband spent some time in Japan and it was hard for him because he doesn't like seafood. McDonald's totally saved him.
Absolutely true Mars Castro! A wonderful place to visit anytime. Thanks for stopping by 😊
That's awesome to know about Masshole Mommy! One place to rely upon when in need. Thanks a lot! 😊
Looks and sounds like an amazing trip, I loved all the photos. I've always wanted to go there!
This was such an interesting read. I always like to hear how people are in other parts of the country.
Thanks a lot Nina! Glad you loved it. Worth a visit Nina 😊
Thanks for stopping by Amber! Pleasure you liked it. Great to know you love to hear about people in other countries, do know more by reading this article too..it might sound interesting.
https://chirpcheernchai.blogspot.in/2017/02/namaste-nihon-aish_7.html?m=1
It must have been a very interesting visit to Japan. And I did McD's myself when I was in China. They seem to cater to local interests wherever they are.
It indeed was a great stay there. That's wonderful to know about your visit to China. Thanks a lot for stopping by David! 😊
I may not have visit here but i know that this place is amazing. I have always wanted to go here.
Do plan it soon Chei, wonderful place to visit. Thanks for stopping by 😊
I love Japan. I especially love all their traditions.
Thanks a lot for stopping by Stacey 😊 Glad you love it!
How lovely that despite the language barrier they made sure that your dietary requirements were taken into consideration. She even identified you in a big crowd which is amazing!
That's one memorable experience! Japan will always have a special place in my heart. We just recently visited and I'm still on a high!
True Ana! That was amazing when she found us among all. Thank you for stopping by. 😊
Oh Wow! Good to hear you visited recently. Glad you loved it 😊
Japan surely is a very nice place.It has so much history & the people seem so sweet.
Absolutely Sauumye! One could learn more from the magnificent people and beautiful place. Thanks for stopping by 😊
It's so interesting when you come across different cultures. I really hope to go to Japan one day, it looks like such a beautiful place. And I will have to remember to bow!
Japanese people are known to be well disciplined and humble. That is truly a memorable one for you. I would love to go to Japan someday too.
Japanese are really respectful. I hope one day, most if not everyone of us will learn to value humanity. That would make a very big difference in this world...
My husband wants to 9 visit Japan when they have the Olympics. I would be at a total loss as I am horrible trying to remember languages.
Yes Chloe, a respectable gesture in Japan is bowing. Glad you have such great interest. Thanks a lot for stopping by 😊
You would start to understand their language with the gestures and expressions which we went through. Not so worse as we thought. Thanks for stopping by 😊
One of the marvelous places to visit. Do plan for a trip Cheryl. Still those wonderful memories are lingering in our hearts. Thanks for stopping by 😊
What an amazing thought Claire! Hope it happens as we all dream! Thanks a lot for stopping by 😊
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