Sunday, August 23, 2009

Will Miss #30 - saying anything in public


After you spend awhile in a country where the vast majority of people don't understand what you're saying, you start to lose the public speaking self-censorship that was second nature back home. You swear anywhere, anytime. You talk about your body's more disgusting output in ways you might not normally. And, you sometimes remark on the bad behavior or odors of people around you in a manner which you'd refrain from if you knew it might cause an altercation if they understood

I'll miss being able to freely express whatever I want, however I want.

1 comment:

  1. I know what you mean. It's always best to have a friend around who does know what you're saying so you can get the feedback you want. The downside to this, of course, is when you really want to verbally lambaste someone, they give you that Japanese silence of the lambs look. Kind of takes the satisfaction out of it. Don't get me wrong, I don't get the urge much. Japanese does not have the right vocab in it to do this.

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