A Sandwich Story
-
(Translated by the Interpretation and Translation Studies Class of
1999-2000, Canadian International College)
I wonder why Japanese people want to act like everyone else? If black clothes are in fashion, everyone walks around in jet black. If tight-fitting clothes are in fashion, everyone's in tight-fitting clothes. Everywhere I look these days, I see people with thin eyebrows wearing loose socks and clutching cellular telephones--what a strange sight!
In the United States, this type of copycat behavior rarely happens. Christmas toys, such as Tickle Me Elmo and Furby, seem to be exceptions. At the height of their popularity, they couldn't be kept on the shelves, but when it comes to fashion, I don't often hear about American people having the same sense of fashion. Even if a particular look is really popular, it seems that about 30-40% of the American population is into that style. It's nothing like the situation in Japan, where almost 90% of the people follow the same "in" look. The other day, I bought a T-shirt in Japan that was advertised as selling like hot cakes in the United States, but actually, I saw only two other people wearing the same T-shirt one summer in the States.
I wonder if this comes from the differences between American education, which values individuality and self-expression, and Japanese education, which stresses order and conformity? I often hear that students who return to Japan after spending some time abroad are picked on for stating their opinions too strongly. I don't know if there is a connection or not, but you can't eat in the United States without stating your opinion clearly and directly. Is this because America is a melting pot of different religions and cultures? There are so many choices to make. Around the time I first came to the United States, I went to a fast-food restaurant. Since I didn't know what I should order, I thought I would play it safe, so I ordered a combo meal. However, I was then asked many questions, item by item, about my preferences. I broke into a cold sweat as I stood there repeating back the questions without knowing what I was ordering. Even now, I still remember this embarrassing event.
I had another embarrassing experience at a bagel shop. In most cases, since there are many different kinds of bagels on the menu, the customer is, without fail, asked what kind of bagel(s) they want. The first time I went there, I was a little confused so I went ahead and asked what kind of bagels they had. Then the woman behind the counter quickly rattled off the names of about ten different kinds of bagels, and then stood there pressing me to decide with a smug look on her face that seemed to say, "Well, what's it gonna be?" I couldn't understand a word she said. Feeling miserably cornered, I replied, "I'll take the first one."
Near my office there is a sandwich shop called Au Bon Pain. It's the same situation here too. I walked in and saw the people eating delicious looking ham sandwiches stuffed with vegetables, and so I ordered the same thing. Naturally, I was asked, "What kind of bread would you like?" For Japanese people, who assume a sandwich is a thing between white-sliced bread, this question makes them uncomfortable. What's more, looking up at the wall, there are the names of more than ten different varieties of bread, but I couldn't find a word that came close to white-sliced bread. (I think Japanese shokupan bread is, "white-sliced bread", but here in the States "country bread" seems to be close). I always decide on a croissant. But even with a croissant you can't escape the questioning. If you say, "That's all", you'll end up eating a tasteless ham sandwich without vegetables or anything else on it. If you want vegetables or other toppings on your sandwich, you have to say so clearly. I always decide on four toppings (You might wonder why I order just four toppings in spite of my stinginess. If I order five toppings, the cashier machine doesn't accept them and returns an error message) and then, to top it off, I end up having to wait a long time. Then I have to repeat my order from the beginning all over again!) Am I in the clear yet? Here is a trap beginners fall in to easily--don't forget the mayo! I could eat a ham sandwich without mayonnaise, but I just couldn't eat a vegetable sandwich without mayonnaise. Japanese people don't think they need to go to the trouble of making a special request for mayonnaise because in Japan, a sandwich with mayonnaise is taken for granted. I have fallen victim many times and have eaten many a tasteless sandwich.
Since Chicago's O'Hara International Airport is a transfer point for flights from Japan to Disney world, many Japanese tourists pass through there. The other day, while I was standing in line to buy a coffee in the International Departure Lobby's Food Corner, there was a Japanese couple who looked like newly-weds standing in line ahead of me ordering a vegetable sandwich. As I expected, they were asked what kind of bread they wanted, but it seemed they didn't understand what was going on. They just repeated again and again, "Vegetable sandwich". The expression on the woman's face behind the counter seemed to say, " Look, if you can't speak English, go back to Japan!" Not wanting to embarrass the poor guy who was trying his best in front of his new wife, I minded my own business, but then I just couldn't stand watching them any more, so I blurted out, "You were asked want kind of bread you want."
To all those newly wed couples passing through Chicago's O'Hara airport: When you are in the International Departure Lobby and feel like a bite (with the exception of McDonalds), please make up your mind what you want before you place your order.
1) Loose socks are a fashion phenomenon among Japanese high schools girls. This fashion consists of huge socks that basically look like leg warmers. The girls glue the top parts to a specific height on their calves which helps them achieve the "loose sock look" and the bottom part of the socks hang down. Sometimes these socks are so oversized they hang over the backs of their shoes.
Sugimoto
| previous page | in Japanese | next page |
Accesses: 
|