enkai after goddamn enkai
Monday night. Come home drunk from office party. Realise there are shirts in my washing machine. Succumb to the fact that trying to untie horrifically knotted shirts whilst drunk is akin to trying to solve a rubiks cube whilst dead. Give up, go to bed.
Repeat next night.
Tonight I ate intestines. As I put the gleaming white bit of rubber in my mouth, my hosts discussed in a committee what the English word for it was. As everyone blurted ‘intestine!”, I gave a little cough of abhorrence and swallowed regardless. Someone else enthusiastically proffered “gums! gums!”. To be honest, neither would have surprised me - I imagine both intestines and gums taste pretty similar.
The most useful Japanese word I have learnt so far is “sukoshi” (”a little”). I find that it has almost universal application and is especially valuable when trying to express that you have no particular strong feelings for whatever you have been asked - it can be a dangerous thing to be highly opinionated in Japan.
“Do you drink beer?” “a little” “Do you like big boobs?” “a little” “Do you think the current political apathy of the Japanese generation X could be detrimental to our future?” “a little” “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” “a little” “Did you sleep with my wife?” “a little”
A very useful word. Well, a little.
Today I went for a haircut. I was told by my supervisor to remember to bring my Japanese dictionary with me. Naturally, I forgot it. This wouldn’t be a problem however, as I knew my reply to the barber when asked how much I wanted cut would simply be, “mmmm sukoshi”.
Great article. I am just sad I dont know how to reply properly, though, since I want to show my appreciation like many other.
A lot of talented actors still have to pay their bills.