numlock 0 Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 Hi, new here. Sitting here in NZ planning a trip to Japan next winter. Just wondering. Realistically, do I need to speak Japanese a bit to get along, and be able to read some? Is it daunting if I cant? Cheers! Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 Well I guess it depends if you want to meet people or just go play in the snow. I speak very little Japanese and get by fine. But I can't go and talk to anybody unless they speak a bit of enlgish. Getting around though is fairly easy without Japanese. Learning a few phrases will help though. Link to post Share on other sites
Markie 0 Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 I started with only: "Eigo ga hanasemasu ka?" and was pleasantly surprised at the friendliness and willingness to talk of many Japanese people, even if their English is very limited. In fact, in my trip to Hokkaido last month, I was picked up at the airport and stayed the night at the house of a Japanese family in Sapporo. They took me skiing the next day at Teine Highlands and then drove me all the way to Kiroro before going back home. This was a Japanese family of 3 (father, mother and son) which I had only met once while skiing....and I mean really just met "cold turkey" without any previous links or introductions etc. They were incredibly friendly and hospitable. Link to post Share on other sites
mikazooki 0 Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 did u get their silverware? Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 Knowing Markie, I would think the daughter would be a target in more danger. (Oops no daughter. OK, sons girlfriend. Or indeed, mother) Link to post Share on other sites
Markie 0 Posted May 21, 2004 Share Posted May 21, 2004 Lol scouser! Poor guy didn't know what grave danger he was putting his wife though, letting the wolf sleep in the same house as the sheep! Fortunately it was only one night so I managed to control my primal urges! But mikazooki, you were way off the target. The silverware was never at risk! Link to post Share on other sites
white-void 0 Posted May 25, 2004 Share Posted May 25, 2004 Often better if you can't speak the lingo. No need to worry at all. Link to post Share on other sites
mad-as-a-nut 0 Posted June 10, 2004 Share Posted June 10, 2004 I agree. Sometimes its better not to be able to speak the local language. More fun. Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted June 12, 2004 Share Posted June 12, 2004 And if you can't understand, you can always say wakarimasen if you accidently get caught ducking ropes. Not that you'd do that intentionally of course. Link to post Share on other sites
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