novelraw Chapter 164: [When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do
Chapter 164: [When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do
Chapter 164: [When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do<
I had collapsed.
The trouble occurred right after we decided on the rules for our life.
The furniture we had ordered was getting delivered, and workers were bringing it into the room one by one.
I had left the instructions for placement to Angu Ogu.
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Ango apologized, but I was bewildered. What other interpretation could there be?
However, when I asked, I realized she wasn't at fault.
I had unilaterally assumed my own "common sense".
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<<… I see.>>
What's important isn't that the room is clean, but the guests feel good.
To achieve that, they avoid dirtying the place by taking their shoes off.
When you look at it this way, imposing the "no shoes inside" rule on others becomes contradictory.
No one feels better getting forced to do something.
On the other hand, in Japan, it's about keeping the house clean or being careful not to dirty someone else's house.
In this way, even though it's the same "no shoes inside" rule, the philosophies are opposite.
Perhaps this is influenced by American home party culture—the idea of entertaining guests at home.
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It's just a difference in culture.
And this is America.
In that case, it's not me but them who are right.
Actually, I was trying to impose my country's rules on others.
This is a moment of reflection.
I should follow its rules once I decide to live in a country.
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That applies not just to countries but also to schools and workplaces.
When I become part of something, rules get established for various reasons and traditions.
It's not a good idea to deny, reject, or try to change them without understanding them.
But that doesn't mean turning a blind eye to wrongdoing…
Or, even if you realize it's wrong, not trying to change it is also a problem.
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I thought.
When Angu Ogu visited Japan, she challenged everything at first.
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I laughed, saying, "Isn't this the American way?", right?
Through this life, I would deepen my understanding of VTubers living in America.
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Perhaps it's unique to the culture of wearing shoes indoors.
There are still many things I don't understand. But I'll get used to them eventually.
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In fact, that interpretation felt more comfortable for me.
With that view, living with shoes on didn't seem too bothersome.
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It seems there's still much I don't know about American culture.
I'm constantly got reminded that there are many things I can't learn just through language alone.
***
The sun had reached its zenith.
Angu Ogu let out a sudden "Ah!", exclamation.
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I joined AngU Ogu in distributing coffee and doughnuts to the workers. This was just like a tip, although we also gave actual tips, according to her,
In Japan, it's not mandatory to serve tea to guests, especially not to service workers, so this was another cultural difference.
Well, tipping itself seems to be a form of etiquette.
I pondered this while munching on a doughnut.
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I quickly took a sip of my coffee.
I was quite surprised—it felt like I was being initiated into American culture.
While chatting with Angu Ogu like this, one of the workers cheerfully approached us, for some reason using a tone you might use when petting a cat.
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<<…Oh.>>
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Angu Ogu was getting completely underestimated.
She's like a child trying to act like an adult.
I chuckled and intervened.
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I said it with a playful tone.
The worker looked at me in astonishment and opened his mouth in surprise.
<<…Impressive. What polite English you speak. Were you her guardian? Are you perhaps Japanese? I've heard you look young, but this is something else.>>
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Angu Ogu got angry and made a comical face.
The worker laughed and brushed it off as if calming a child.
***
As we continued chatting, the workers finished their work.
Our belongings from Japan had also arrived, and the room was filled with cardboard boxes.
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I nodded vigorously, signaling my agreement.