What do you do when you see another foreigner?

[Mulboyne]

AK pointed out this thread so I've moved this post because it fits in with the orginal topic.

Blogger Yuki at Kissui.net is giving her initial thoughts on living in London. She's having a few FG-like experiences:

The Japanese people. I recognise them as Japanese, they recognise me. Our eyes meet for half a moment and recognize each others’ identities. Then they shoot you the “what the fuck are you doing here?” look. Even though they may be dressed all London, their faces are still Japanese. And then we go on totally ignoring the existence of “oh no, not another Jap no!!″ sometimes thoughts lingering thinking wtf they’re actually doing in London. Nonetheless, I thought we would have some sort of connection of spirit of Japanese companionship - noope.

I've also read on here how it frustrates people that pedestrians often walk so slowly in Japan. Here's the flip side:

People walk fast. Real fast. So I pretend to be occupied with getting to the destination as quickly as possible and walk mean and fast as well. But then I still get stuck at crossing the signals because people never follow them, and it’s quite dangerous if I tried it because I am not that fast, but otherwise the signal would never change..

[Taro Toporific]

Blogger Yuki at Kissui.net
.... FG-like experiences.... how it frustrates people that pedestrians often walk so slowly in Japan. Here's the flip side:

Sorry but I don't wanna spend the next 2 hours finding the scientific citations so you're gonna have to take my word as a very "gate sensitive" person: There are several studies that have found Tokyo and New York have the fastest walking speeds of all the cities of the world.

What might frustrate gaijin is that pedestrians often have to walk so slowly in Japan because of congestion and the lack of proper clear sidewalks.

[Tommybar]

I nod and smile at ANYONE who makes eye contact with me.

[GuyJean]

..pedestrians often have to walk so slowly in Japan because of congestion and the lack of proper clear sidewalks.

I thought it was because their destination sucked just as bad as where they left.

GJ

[Iraira]

I nod and smile at ANYONE who makes eye contact with me.

I do, too, but only after the obligatory 3 or 4 "look aways-look backs". I think this establishes that we are both stalkers or something.

[sublight]

For a long time I ignored everyone.

After 11 years, though, I'm more mellow. If they're lost tourists trying to find their way (see a lot of those around Tsukiji), I try to help them out.

If they're in business suits, though, f*ck 'em. I get enough crap each day from middle-management wankers with their heads up their asses. The more of them that get swallowed up by the subways and never heard from again, the better.

[GomiGirl]

I nod and smile at ANYONE who makes eye contact with me.

Me too - but that might just be the lithium...

[Charles]

..If they're lost tourists trying to find their way (see a lot of those around Tsukiji), I try to help them out.

I had an experience like that once. I was in the Hakodate station, I hadn't spoken a word of English in 2 months, when I saw a clueless American backpacker standing in the middle of foot traffic, trying to decipher a big map. I knew the train routes pretty well, so I thought I'd go up and ask him if he needed some help. So I walked right up to him, and without thinking, I politely said, "tetsudasasete itadakenai deshou ka?"

[Greji]

I had an experience like that once. I was in the Hakodate station, I hadn't spoken a word of English in 2 months, when I saw a clueless American backpacker standing in the middle of foot traffic, trying to decipher a big map. I knew the train routes pretty well, so I thought I'd go up and ask him if he needed some help. So I walked right up to him, and without thinking, I politely said, "tetsudasasete itadakenai deshou ka?"

Was he an Aussie?

[Captain Japan]

There are several studies that have found Tokyo and New York have the fastest walking speeds of all the cities of the world.

What might frustrate gaijin is that pedestrians often have to walk so slowly in Japan because of congestion and the lack of proper clear sidewalks.

Bicycles or proper sidewalks or not, sorry Taro, that study is just plain wrong. This is one of the slowest walking cities on the planet. People simply don't pay attention enough to walk in one direction. There is that weaving, drifting effect that slows down everyone.

[FG Lurker]

[...] I have yet to meet a well rounded caucasion person. Someone who does not have a chip on their shoulder [...]

[...] I am in Japan surrounded by people to either do like me a bit, or around people who would rather see me rot in hell....just because I am from another country.

Chip on your shoulder? Nah, no chip on your shoulder!

[FG Lurker]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
Check out "WOODY HUT" for proof.

That's damn funny! The chick on the right in the first photo is a friend of mine and she's as fucked as any FG I know.

[kurohinge1]

What do you do when you see another foreigner?

It depends on whether I'm downwind . . .

[Greji]

[quote="kurohinge1"]It depends on whether I'm downwind . . .



]

Can you actually see Charles from the outback with that baby?

[GomiGirl]

This is one of the slowest walking cities on the planet. People simply don't pay attention enough to walk in one direction. There is that weaving, drifting effect that slows down everyone.

Amen - the drifting etc I have called "the veer" whereby people will just wander around in a daze not realising that people are trying to get somewhere...

Drives me nuts!!

[Mulboyne]

It's possible that the hordes of people on the streets are travelling at the optimum speed for the group. While it's fairly easy for someone to move much faster by dodging and weaving with some judicious stepping into the road, if everyone adopted those tactics then I suspect the average speed would drop sharply. The same thing happens on a motorway: one lane jumper can get ahead but raise that number and you get gridlock.

Urban commuters everywhere are familiar with the breakdown in rhythm when someone is out of synch with the mass (usually a tourist). It slows everyone down when you have to put your brain into gear to consider what people in front of you are up to rather than just going with the flow.

[cstaylor]

Chip on your shoulder? Nah, no chip on your shoulder!

"Let's do the time warp again!"

[Mulboyne]

This is one of the slowest walking cities on the planet.

A Singaporean writes:

Tokyoites walk very quickly, so try not to get in their way by walking slowly.

[akatsuka]

[BRODIEBRUCE]

Dont forget the random stopping obaachans. Get out if the big cities and the place is crawling with them, walking 2 meters then stopping to stare at a coke can or something. Im sure the take up more space the smaller they get.

[Mike Oxlong]

An FG in China puts in his 2 元。

[the_shocker]

It depends where and the vibe from the other person. Like on the bus or something I might say "hi" or nod. Or in the inaka. But in the city or on the train i don't pay any special attention usually. Well one time a Brazilian guy sat next to me on the train and we had a good conversation but usually if a foreigner sits next to me, they're just as quiet.

If someone approaches me in the streets and asks for directions or help, then of course it would be a dick thing to ignore them so I'll try and help them out.

If it's some asshat trying to pull customers or pick up girls in the street, I ignore them. If they get in my face, I make them regret it.

[Adhesive]

Amen - the drifting etc I have called "the veer" whereby people will just wander around in a daze not realising that people are trying to get somewhere...

Drives me nuts!!

My wife drifts. When shopping in the U.S. I have to constantly remind her that veering from one side of the isle to the other, while looking at nothing in particular, can quickly turn the natives hostile. Now that I have a two year old who prefers to hoof it through the shopping centers I find myself habitually yelling out "masugu minasai" every few minutes just as a precaution. I'm not sure which one is worse.

[james]

typically out here in inaka i'll say hi. personally i'm not an extrovert but don't mind being approached. if my wife or i see another couple, especially mixed, with kids we'll definitely make an effort.

[jingai]

I like it when the ask if I would like English lessons.