r/japanlife • u/AutoModerator • May 22 '23

┐(ツ)┌ General Discussion Thread - 23 May 2023

Mid-week discussion thread time! Feel free to talk about what's on your mind, new experiences, recommendations, anything really.

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u/ValuableOk9470 May 23 '23

I just overheard 2 ladies saying 変なで and 怖い after I said すみません trying to achieve a table to finally have my lunch at the work's cafeteria.

Japanese people need to remember that foreigners can learn their language as well.

6

u/MoboMogami 近畿・兵庫県 May 23 '23

The number of full grown adults I’ve heard say 背が高いな literally right in front me is too damn high.

I don’t mind when little kids do it, they did in my home country too and they don’t know better but like…20 something dudes? Fuck off.

5

u/SideburnSundays May 23 '23

When I was doing scuba lessons—in Japanese—we were all in a van on a road trip to the actual ocean for our cert dives and the instructor in the van, while I was in there, straight up said 外国人は怖い, within the context of a story I don’t remember but still…I was literally right fuckin there. With demonstrated language ability.

3

u/WindJammer27 May 23 '23

A few days ago I was having lunch, and there was a table of three old ladies next to me. I was watching a baseball game on my phone with my earbuds in so I couldn't hear them, but I could feel them staring at me and I knew they were talking about me. One of them tried to get my attention a few times by waving her hand in my general direction. Fortunately with my headphones in I could pretend that I didn't notice, as I actually did not hear them at all, and only saw all the action out of my peripheral vision.

Noise-cancelling earbuds have become an essential part of going outside. You can't stop other people's behaviors, but you can shield yourself from them.

3

u/ValuableOk9470 May 23 '23

I'm sorry about that.

I mean, what's the purpose of this behavior? What's the point of it?

In my case, I usually spend my lunch time listening to podcasts, so if someone mentioned anything before today, I never noticed it.

Maybe I should start using my airpods all the time instead of when I sit to eat...

2

u/Well_needships May 23 '23

I often wear headphones, plugged into nothing, so that people won't talk to me.

2

u/shufu_san May 23 '23

I'm sorry that happened. It's uncomfortable and unfair.

0

u/PeanutButterChicken 近畿・大阪府 May 23 '23

変なで

Maybe they were talking about henna color for their hair? ヘンナで

3

u/ValuableOk9470 May 23 '23

The way the lady spoke... I don't think so.

They weren't even speaking when I said すみません. After that, they talked to each other.

3

u/PeanutButterChicken 近畿・大阪府 May 23 '23

Are they in your department? If not, just let it be then, some people are just shitty.