I do not know if Japanese like to play “Hide and seek” but lately some people have come ringing at my door. I am not sure but I guess Japanese use to shout “はい” as they are going to open to their guest. Neither am I shouting the word nor am I prepared to answer as I am not waiting for anyone at night. Anyway, back to the hide & seek game; I know some kids like to ring at doors and then run away before someone can see and catch them but I do not think children in Japan are doing so, still whenever I open my door to see who’s ringing, guess what? Nobody there! Actually, not quite true… the person is not waiting in front of the door so I can see him as I open my door, instead he stays right behind it to be sure I cannot see him?! So once I open it and seeing no one outside a head pops out from the back of the door and begin to apologize for troubling me (in Japanese). Why can’t they wait on the opposite side so I can see (and not being frightened every time I open my door? They know how the door will open, don’t they?
Maybe next time I should try to open it suddenly and violently to knock out my guest… One can never know the true motivation of unexpected guest. If I am right, the next person will be the money collector from NHK… Ok, just joking.
One last thing… my neighbour (I hope he really was my neighbour) came last night at my door to apologize for troubling me (in Japanese) during 5 minutes (just exagerating a little bit, but only a little bit). To what I just replied it was too fast and I did not understand anything except he was living next door. Puzzled for 2 minutes, he explained he forgot his key in Kyoto and was asking if it was possible to get to his balcony from mine. It sounded strange for me as I did not understand why it would be easier to get in from the window or from the door if he did not have his key. Well let me tell you that Japanese usually do not close their windows and sometimes their doors so he was able to get into his room from the window. He came back to get his shoes and apologize again and then thank me and bow a dozen of time before going back next door.
I am pretty sure none of the neighbours lock their doors and windows though we have been told to do so. Japanese are really too much confident that no one would intend to do something wrong here.
Un fou rire matinal c’est pas souvent, merci
Mais même les gaijin s’y mettent à laisser leur porte ouverte, quand j’étais à Tokyo, la porte de la guest house n’était jamais fermée. La première fois je l avais fermée à clé, et je l avais retrouvée ouverte en rentrant, alors qu’il n’y avait personne. J’ai laissé tomber et me suis pliée à la coutume (enfin je fermais quand même à clé la porte de ma chambre, je suis pas si confiante que ça)
Coucou !!!
Alors, il y a des gens pas sympas qui se plaigne de luers voisins si gentils qui s’excusent tout le temps. Enfin, mes collocataires ce sont vraiment de phantoms. Je les vois une fois par semaine au plus à exception du couple qui habite à côté de ma chambre.
C’est pénible d’avoir un couple à côté !!! Enfin, certaines nuits je peux dormir sans aucun problème, mais hier… hier !!!! Je ne veux pas utiliser des mots fortes pour le dire…. disons que HIER deux personnes dans l’appart (homme et femme) ont vu le paradis pendant au moins une demi-heure…
See you guys !!
Marcelo
Sympa, l’anecdote!Ca a l’air assez hasardeux au Japon de juste penser à prendre ses clés, alors?
Bon, moi je trouve sympa l’idée de laisser ouvert, c’est vrai que c’est plutôt confiant (^^) Ya encore des endroits en Suisse où c’est possible – en campagne, surtout.