April 29, 2013
An interpreter livened up the drive home from Osaka today.
To begin with, we visited the Osaka Castle, now a museum and an observation deck.
In the castle I concentrated on the gold tea room – only a replica, -- fake gold now -- but I stood by and read the text – a room that could be disassembled and reassembled, mostly for the purpose of impressing dignitaries, the real gold lost somehow n the 16th century or so.
We wandered in the gardens at Osaka’s famous Shinto Shrine, listening to the interpreter explain the low formal bows, the clapping of hands, the ringing of bells, the monetary gifts to the Buddhists priests, the prayers for happiness or long life.
The question and answer period on the bus was interactive. The lovely Japanese tour guide told our fellow travellers that there is no social security net for the aged and many are poverty stricken.
“Why don’t they live with
their children” was answered with, they don’t want to be live-in-house keepers, they don’t want full-time care of their grandchildren, they are too old to sleep on the floors or to eat on them anymore, they want western tables that are high enough to eat from, they have leg and back aches and they want to be close to hospitals.
And if that isn’t the case in families, then the young adults are moving back home so they will have more expendable income and their parents can pay the utilities.
That news is when the people at the back of the bus broke out laughing.
“You are speaking to the fire,” the man behind me yelled back. “It is the same in America. I sold my house so that I don’t have a spare room for my kids to come home to. That is why we are cruising.”
The rest of the occupants of the bus were laughing as hard as I was.
A peppy end to a charming 4 ½ hour tour.
P.S. Greg loved the translations from Japanese to English that just don’t work.
I don't want to think too long about the following:
When people get old and need help taking care of themselves, they are called vegetables.
When kids move back in with their parents, people called them parasites.
When we get old and can’t take care of ourselves, we cruise.
When our kids move back in with us, we say, thanks for the help.
Greg doesn't think these translations get to the heart of what was originally said.
Arta
 |
| ... roadways and flyovers are the norm here ... |
To begin with, we visited the Osaka Castle, now a museum and an observation deck.
In the castle I concentrated on the gold tea room – only a replica, -- fake gold now -- but I stood by and read the text – a room that could be disassembled and reassembled, mostly for the purpose of impressing dignitaries, the real gold lost somehow n the 16th century or so.
 |
| ... one of the first views of the Castle ... |
 |
| ... roof detail ... |
“Why don’t they live with
their children” was answered with, they don’t want to be live-in-house keepers, they don’t want full-time care of their grandchildren, they are too old to sleep on the floors or to eat on them anymore, they want western tables that are high enough to eat from, they have leg and back aches and they want to be close to hospitals.
 |
| ... looking out the castle window ... |
That news is when the people at the back of the bus broke out laughing.
“You are speaking to the fire,” the man behind me yelled back. “It is the same in America. I sold my house so that I don’t have a spare room for my kids to come home to. That is why we are cruising.”
 |
| ... city reflected in gift shop window ... |
A peppy end to a charming 4 ½ hour tour.
 |
| ... yes, buy your earpicks here ... |
I don't want to think too long about the following:
When people get old and need help taking care of themselves, they are called vegetables.
When kids move back in with their parents, people called them parasites.
When we get old and can’t take care of ourselves, we cruise.
 |
| ... fans in gift shop window ... |
Greg doesn't think these translations get to the heart of what was originally said.
Arta
..
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