Seattle

My student, a woman aged 28, just returned from her first trip to the USA. Many Japanese visit LA so they think LA = USA so I often tell them to try someplace else, like San Francisco or Seattle, NYC or even New Orleans.

What did she think of Seattle, one of the more happening, thriving cities in America where lots of people have moved to of late? It was very beautiful but everyone was fat and the food sucked and American people don't eat vegetables and Japanese food is the best.

I hear the fat thing a lot. Everyone's always like "So many fat people? Why? Why?" Yeah, I know there are a lot of fat people. Get over it. Lots of Japanese have bad teeth. Why, why? Japan has one of the highest rates of anorexia. Many old women are crippled by spine and leg problems. Why, why? I don't know, and who cares? Is it that important on your holiday?

It like someone visiting Kyoto and missing all the temples because they kept noticing all the old women with bow legs who are unable to stand upright. Hey Mike, how was the Temple of the Golden Pavilion? Oh, man you should have seen my tour guide, she had these fangs!

I try not to make a big deal out of these things but I do try to put them in perspective. For example, that class was on a Saturday and for the whole week I'd been eating out due to work related functions. Everybody knows that Japan has (a history of) great cuisine but for me, the past week in Japan had meant a lot of soggy, tepid, bland, frozen and fried food with minimal vegetables. I had the acne to prove it. The point? A week of eating on the run usually doesn't taste good. I know, I know, a week in Italy or Thailand would taste good, but I know that most of my students are afraid to use english so they eat in big chain restaurants with easy menus, or they get fast food to go. My friend's mom visited here from Canada and she complained she didn't get enough vegetables. And we took care of the ordering for her! Maybe she thinks maple syrup is a vegetable.

Moving on I said "Ok, besides the fat people, did you see anything nice or interesting?"
"Sooooo many fat people! Very big."
"Yeah, you already said that. Any interesting buildings or shopping? There're a lot of cafes in Seattle. Did you go to a park? Could you see Mt. Ranier?"
"Those people were twice my size! And the breakfast I got at Denny's was way too big." (forms imaginary 50cm (16 in.) plate with hands.)
"Well, don't eat it all. Food is cheap. How was your hotel?"
"The bellboy was so fat."

on and on ad nauseum.