Much Obliged

Official Dispatch

To: Native Personnel of the United States Foreigner Relations Department
Regarding: Matters of Personnel Conduct
Body:

Dear Staff,
In short, the bar has been raised. My time spent amongst the Japanese citizens has been unexpectedly and abundantly pleasant. It is unfortunate. We will undoubtedly have to redouble our own national efforts for expressing courtesies to foreigners, which means more work for the department. Included herein is a short account of hospitality to be considered for your Domestic Reparations Division.


Internet Cafe Cashier- Helped change my computers settings and keyboard functions to English, temporarily leaving his work post.

Noodle Shop Server- To accommodate my inability to read the restaurant's menu, I was walked out to the front of the shop. There the young woman had me point to the plastic display of the entree I wanted: she never stopped smiling.


Curry House Server- See above entry.

Don Quixote Supermarket Employee- When asked about my computer's laptop cable and US plug converter switches, the attendant disappeared. I was left to puzzle through the electronic section's display boxes (all written in Kanji) when the young employee returned with several cable boxes. She opened them all at a nearby outlet in the store and we tried every one.

Drugstore Clerk- Looking down the aisles in a pharmacy in Juso, the cashier interrupted my hunt for painkillers; presumably offering assistance. I pointed to my head, pinched the bridge of my nose and the man, along with his mother who was watching TV behind the counter, came out onto the main floor. He asked about my age, symptoms and severity of the headache before finding one box in particular, and then deciphered the Kanji instructions on the boxback. It was opened, his mother brought me a glass of water, and they had me take two in the store before I left.


Subway Police Officer- When asked about a nearby "Torei", the man walked me 50 yards or more to the nearest bathroom.

Free Hug Lady- Though she may have been mentally unsound, her cardboard sign was plainly stated. The promised hug was comforting and fraternal.


Though this list is hardly exhaustive it represents the vaguest outline of my interpersonal experiences to date. I hope that these accounts may serve to motivate those of you in our Foreigner Relations Department when conducting yourselves in the field. Take care and keep up the good work. We owe these people.
Sincerely,
Your Deputy Agent of International Survey and Information Reconnaissance