Simply gestures mean a lot to the people here, I think. We helped the lady clear the tray. We felt very wierd having a elderly but nevertheless genki lady and man serve and clear our meals as well as prepare and keep our futons respectively. I could see her eyes sparkle in genuine surprise and happiness as she apologised "gomenasai!" when she turned round to see us pack.
We were very happy. We tried conversing in broken Jap and English:
"Apple wine..ni hon go..nan desu ka?"
"Hai appolu winu. Ringo (something..can't remember now)"
"Oh! Ringo! Apple!"
"Hai! Ringo. Appolu...Ringo suki desu ka?"
"Ah. Hai! Suki desu"
"Ah!!" [lady makes cutting and peeling action]
"Iae...!" [dear and I shook our hands, rubbed our stomachs vigorously, pointed to the bowls of fruits on the tea table and grinned]
"keko desu"
"Keko desu" the futon-man echoed. I dont know why he did that, maybe I might have pronounced something wrong. But it was a good-natured, happy, amused laugh.
Meal lady and futon-man laughed heartily. It's a pity we never knew their names. We only knew Oga-moto san. And it was easy to remember his name because he is nothing like an "ogre". A very refined and cultured man. He welcomed us on the first day and provided insight into both Japanese and even the Chinese culture in crisp and fluent English as well as very enunciated Mandarin. He was patient to teach us Japanese too.
So I hope all these will remain. The genuine kindness and refined beauty of both the people and the place.
We were very happy. We tried conversing in broken Jap and English:
"Apple wine..ni hon go..nan desu ka?"
"Hai appolu winu. Ringo (something..can't remember now)"
"Oh! Ringo! Apple!"
"Hai! Ringo. Appolu...Ringo suki desu ka?"
"Ah. Hai! Suki desu"
"Ah!!" [lady makes cutting and peeling action]
"Iae...!" [dear and I shook our hands, rubbed our stomachs vigorously, pointed to the bowls of fruits on the tea table and grinned]
"keko desu"
"Keko desu" the futon-man echoed. I dont know why he did that, maybe I might have pronounced something wrong. But it was a good-natured, happy, amused laugh.
Meal lady and futon-man laughed heartily. It's a pity we never knew their names. We only knew Oga-moto san. And it was easy to remember his name because he is nothing like an "ogre". A very refined and cultured man. He welcomed us on the first day and provided insight into both Japanese and even the Chinese culture in crisp and fluent English as well as very enunciated Mandarin. He was patient to teach us Japanese too.
So I hope all these will remain. The genuine kindness and refined beauty of both the people and the place.
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