(This post was last modified: 12-01-2015, 10:17 PM by beamon.)
Nice going on the 1000! How long did it take you to become fluent in mandarin?
Your embarrassing story reminded me of our trip to Japan in '06. After checking into a Japanese country inn which are responsible for keeping the Japanese customs better than their big city lodging competitors, wife and I had just enough time in our room to handle the toilet requirements necessitated by the several hour bus trip. Standing there in the room inspecting the bedding on the floor that would be ours to sleep on that night, when in walks an elderly woman who explained in extremely little english and lots of hand motions that she was there to prepare us for dinner.
Out of a drawer came what I would describe as a male version of a kimono. Making hand motions that I correctly interpreted to mean 'put it on', I began to draw it over my clothes. More signals from Madam Butterfly meant that I was to put it on only after getting out of my regular clothes. So, off came the shirt and pants and again I started to don the kimono. Still not good enough, she came to me and, just as you said, made the motion of a hand at each side of me at about waist level and drew them down, smartly, indicating that my 'tighty whiteys' were to come off as well. I blanched and was creating the next thing that I would say, when I became aware of my wife across the room laughing so hard (but silently) I thought she was going to explode! With that I manned up and shucked those Jockey brand briefs quicker than you can blink! Totally controlled, our hostess smiled and helped me into the komono.
At dinner, we eagerly shared our story with our travelling companions and as expected the same or similar scenario was played out by them, also.
The raison d'être for the trip, you ask? Fountain pen enthusiasts eager to see how the talented craftsmen of Japan turn out the exquisitely decorated pens known the world over.
Does Mean I Must Buy High End Shaving Gear?
--Roger--