Friday, May 25, 2007

Respect


So what is "respect"? It is such a vague word that does not have a definition for. It is the feeling you admire or appreciate someone and the expression of the feeling in some ways...well, in any ways. Unfortunately, there is no such textbook that tells you "you are suppose to do this, this, and that in such occasion blah blah blah". It is based on your moral and common sense. The tricky thing is, however,each person has a completely different point of view and value. I have realized that differences of this expression among different ethnicities is unbelievable.
As a Japanese, I was taught to show respect and appreciation for many things, or I should say anything. When you wake up, you say "Good morning" to almost everyone, especially to elders. When you leave home, you say "Ittekimasu" to let your family know that you are leaving no matter they want to know or not. When you get to school, each class starts and ends with the movement, stand up-bow-sit down, to show appreciation towards teachers. When you eat, you say "Itadakimasu" to begin and "Gochisousama" to end your delightful/crappy meal. The philosophy behind this habbit is that you appreciate the people, the sun and the land that worked hard to provide you the meal. (Now, I can see that Shintoism is everywhere in Japanese culture.) You clean your classrooms, hallway, stairs, bathrooms, teacher's offices, and even garden either after lunch or after school (There is no such fantastic people hired to clean your mess). When you go someone's house, you say "Ojyamashimasu" which can be kind of translated as "Excuse me for bothering you" (kind of...) to enter, and "Ojyamashimashita" to leave. Even if you know the person or family well enough to knock their door 2 in the morning, you still say it no matter what (If you are unconscious(=drunk), well, maybe that will be only exception)...If I start listing all the cultural behaviour of Japanese, it would be as long as the bible.
I know we Japanese are especially a little crazy about this kind of thing, and I do understand this is not the basis to everyone. There is a moment, however, I think of what is the international standard of "respect". I am curious when and how people, especially in the US where all the culture exist, show their respect. What would be "rude" and what would be "ok"? How deep do people consider about this issue? How much is "acceptable" and how much is "unacceptable"? How much am I treating people in very disrespectful way? How much are people treating me in disrespecful way in international standard? When I think it is, it is not for others, when others think it is, it is not for me. So, what is "respect" overall?

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Can't live without you


So, my adorable laptop is back. And as you can see, I didn't lose any of my files so I can survive a littele longer.

Friday, May 04, 2007

bloody hell

So, my adorable Mac died. And I am dying.
I have no idea whether all my photographs stilll exist or not.
If not, I 'll kill myself.