Today I have had a really hard time getting myself
focused on work since I have worried about what
had happened last night.
I called one of my friends so many times
to get some advice from the friend.
The friend said, "Ken, you have taken the matter
too seriously. Take it easy and try not to be too
nervous. Nothing seems to be wrong."
In the evening, I watched movies titled
"Miyamoto Musashi" and "剣に賭ける" to
(Sprit as A Swordsman)
get me inspired!!
By the way, I have a great favor to ask you, all of
my fellow English leaners(students).
Sometimes I get shocked when you call me
Suetsugu-san, Suetsugu-sama(末次様), or
Suetsugu-sensei.
Why such politeness?
Polite(ness) means 丁寧 in Japanese.
But, it also means that there is a distance
between you and I. This is not 丁寧 in
English culture.
Japanese 丁寧 is related to social distance
between you and I.
The farther the distance is, the more 丁寧.
On the contrary, English 丁寧(especially
in the States) means friendliness between you
and I.
When I communicate with you in English,
let's have and enjoy Western way of thinking.
Guys, why don't you call me Ken?
In English culture, "Ken" is far more friendly
than 末次さん、末次様、末次先生.
I don't like to be called such names.
The above-mentioned friend sometimes
makes fun of me, calling me 鯰田sensei,
Tsufu(gout) sensei, etc as jokes.
But I thank her because she works as
one of my romance advisors.