Fireworks
I met a young woman at a fireworks festival last night. She had lived in England for a year and spoke decent English.
During a lull in the show she told me that she didn't like foreign fireworks (the world is divided into 2 parts: Japan and a land called Foreign) "because they are all the same color."
She asked me what I thought about Japanese fireworks. I said they are very good but much faster than American, oops, I mean foreign ones. She was shocked by this and denied it vehemently.
There's nothing wrong with the pace of Japanese fireworks but I think Japan likes to think of itself as an idyllic place that was invaded by fast-food chains. So the idea that America, the home of rap music, might have something old-fashioned like fireworks set off at a slower pace is disconcerting. Everyone I mention the fireworks speed thing to is surprised and skeptical. I think if I mentioned the speed of fireworks to people in America they'd just kind of go "Hmmm. Japanese fireworks seem faster. No kidding." or else not give a darn.
I could be totally wrong about which country's fireworks are faster. It may be impossible to tell. But that doesn't matter. What matters here is that everyone I mention it to is taken aback.
By the way, while the aforementioned young woman was vehemently protesting my observations, as if on cue the show started up again in rapid-fire. Bam-ba-bam-bam-bam! I just pointed towards the display and walked away.
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