Comments | iamlying: Franco-Japanese night

iamlying

Franco-Japanese night

Feb 08, 2010 11:53

When I walked into the bar, my first thought was, "I've made a terrible mistake". Laura and I made our way to the back of the bar where people wore plastered smiles and stared directly into my eyes, like I was a rare outsider entering the inner ranks of a cult. It was a French-Japanese cultural exchange night and to my horror I realized that I was ( Read more... )

Comments 6

lifftchi February 8 2010, 17:11:01 UTC

I always reassure myself during awful experiences that at least I'll be able to write it up later. Even if I usually can't get the words right, it helps.

iamlying February 8 2010, 22:10:26 UTC

I don't much think like that myself. Usually I'm an infrequent LJ updater because it seems like a bit of a chore.

I'm no aspiring writer or anything but with a tasty story the words seem easier to find.

hajenso February 8 2010, 20:25:54 UTC

hilarious! I wonder if they invited other Japanese people. Did they know you were American?

iamlying February 8 2010, 22:11:17 UTC

I told them with all my might. But I was still the closest thing to the real deal.

halfjapanesesal February 8 2010, 20:39:05 UTC

Is it wrong that I laughed out loud after reading the first paragraph? You wrote this very well.

This makes me wonder... Have you seen other Asians around at all? When you do, do you acknowledge each other in any way?

iamlying February 8 2010, 22:21:09 UTC

There are other asians about town, but I've never acknowledged anyone. Ain't much to say really. "You're asian? Me too!"

One time an asian guy kept yelling this foreign word at me. I didn't turn towards him. It soon became clear that what he was yelling at me was the name of some guy that I wasn't. So I looked at him directly in the eyes then turned away. I thought this was universal code for "I acknowledge you're calling me, but I don't recognize you so you got the wrong guy."

Instead of giving up, he ran down the street after me, calling this guy's name over and over along the way. He called out the name of the guy I wasn't just a few feet from me, but I still didn't turn around. Finally he grabbed me by the shoulder, turned me around, and when he was finally face to face to me, he said "oh sorry."

I guess I reeeeeally looked like his friend.