Trip to Japan
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- jillborn
Next week I am flying to Japan to meet my girlfriend's parents. I was wondering if anyone knows of any customs that I should be aware of. Her parents are really traditional Japanese and I don't want to come across as an ignorant American. Any advice would be great. Thanks.
- kickflip0
they wont expect much and they are very polite. of course the more japanese you speak, the better.
- jillborn0
Thats the problem. I don't speak any Japanese at all. Her parents speak a little English but probably not enough to hold a conversation. I going to be judged by my actions I think.
- unknown0
Post some pics of your girlfriend, it will enable us to give you ..err...more precise advice...
- kickflip0
small things won't make a differnce cuz you are a foreigner, they just see you as that so they dont care really, they'll think its funny or interesting
- jillborn0
Thanks for the feedback. I guess I'm just nervous about the whole 'meeting the parents' thing.
- nope0
http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~t…
also, take off your shoes before entering their house. bow. don't stick your fork or chopsticks upright into your food. bring a gift..ah what else.
- nope0
http://www.angelfire.com/mac/zap…
http://www.greatworldchefs.com/r…
that should work. it's all the same article.
- ovalle0
i was in the same predicament with my ex-gf. she was japanese and i didnt know any but her parents knew spanish so i was able to communicate with them that way. Just be courteous and try to make an attempt to speak a little bit of japanese( like thank you, hello, etc), it will show that you have interest and care for your girlfriend's language and culture
- Jamesh0
My girlfriend is asian.
Take it from me. Learn some words in japanese. especially compliments on the mothers cooking, etc.
Manners, respect and politeness are everything. Show alot of interest in anything they say or do. and don't forget ....once you lose their respect, YOU LOSE THEIR RESPECT FOREVER!!
so don't mess up.
Your girlfriend should really be helping you with this. She knows her parents the best.
- Jamesh0
oh yeah. have fun!
- jillborn0
I guess the 18 hour flight will be enough time to commit the Japanese phrasebook to memory. hopefully I won't have to spend too much time sucking up to the parents. thanks for all the advice. great links, btw
- flashsplat0
Don't touch your nose in front of people. If you have an itch, or need to blow your nose go out of sight.
- the_user0
that previous post is BS.
Meeting my father-in-law was a tough one and I speak japanese (wife's japanese btw).
Just be polite and use good manners. Like someone said, you are not japanese and they won't expect you to be.
Ganbatte na.
- pascii0
just be yourself and act like they're normal people. i'm sure you met some _parents_ before.
it can't be that different
- flashsplat0
Sorry if the nose thing was inaccurate, I had heard it from someone and forgot the exact reasoning they gave me.
Just trying to be helpful.
- pr20
find yourself a polish gf -- polish parents r so damn easy to deal with.
- pr20
...thats is as long as u r not Jewish.
- unknown0
when you meet them say "Hajimemashite, watashi wa debu debu amerika-jin desu, dozoyoroshiku"
they will be very impressed with your politeness