(In)directly Speaking.

It still befuddles me how people here can be simultaneously direct and indirect.  Of course in American culture we're the same way--direct to speak out about our opinions on freedom, democracy, justice (our RIGHTS)--and cautious to reveal our true feelings, lest we be considered rude, or in some cases weak. 

Living here the direct/indirect-ness runs a bit differently.  I remember during our first week here AC and I went to purchase a router and while we waited for the storekeeper to help us, AC remarked how warm the weather was.  The young man immediately lept to his feet to turn on the air conditioner.  Translation-- 'The weather is warm,' = 'Your store is too warm inside.'  Oops--mental note--your words will be translated for an indirect meaning.  Too funny.

Now the whole directness bit has proved to be a bit difficult at times for me, sometimes even the source of tears.  But with my students I find that I'm generally laughing (mostly on the inside) from things that they tell me.  The other night I was subbing for a teacher and one of the students commented to the other teacher as I was leaving that 'she is a beautiful teacher.'  Of course, 'beautiful' carries a ton of connotation in the States, but here for second language learners they throw that term around as if beauty is ubiquitous.  Just to give another example, my sister loves it when street vendors in HK beckon her to look at their goods by shouting "pretty girl, pretty girl come here!"  It is, of course, flattering.  But then you realize--hey she just called that person 'pretty girl,' too.  Oh well...it still feels good.