It’s a bit of a no-brainer – we all need the internet. Right? I mean, it’s a basic necessity, right there near the bottom of the pyramid that is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. So what if we’re in Japan and, say, our WiFi doesn’t work in our hotel room? This was my Japanese lesson for today, so it will also be yours.
WiFi o shigoto o shimasen* (Wifi o shee-go-to o shee-mass-en) -keep in mind the “o” is always long.
Translation: Wifi doesn’t work. This phrase will obviously be accompanied by much red-faced hair-pulling jumping up and down, whilst gently cradling your laptop in one arm. I’ll leave you for a while to picture this…
…
…
So as I was saying, if such a thing occurs, and you manage to get your point across, chances are the person manning the front desk (assuming they don’t call the police on the crazy lady/man with the portable computer) will hand you your very own modem to plug in in your room, giving you the best WiFi you’ve probably ever experienced.
Conclusion: This phrase is definitely worth learning.
*I’m learning Japanese – if this is wrong PLEASE let me know. I don’t want to pull my hair out (or worse) for nothing.
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November 7, 2015 at 3:34 am
Well I am impressed Linda , learning Japanese! I am also impressed that you got your own modem the most we have ever got is … “Well it works in the reception” accompanied by an aggressive stare. We are always grateful for WiFi in our room.!!
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November 7, 2015 at 7:46 pm
That’s what it’s like here too. They promise you free WiFi in your room but it’s usually hit and miss here in Canada. In Japan, if they promise something they go the extra mile to make sure you’re happy. 🙂
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November 8, 2015 at 3:23 am
Well the rest of the world needs to learn that lesson from the Japanese!!
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November 8, 2015 at 10:56 pm
It would be beneficial for everyone. 🙂
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November 9, 2015 at 2:00 am
Yes it would xxx
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November 7, 2015 at 2:56 am
You’re learning Japanese? Awesome! I always thought “Please”, “Thank You” and “I’d like a burger and beer” were necessary to learn in as many languages as possible, and perhaps, stretch myself, to learn, “Bathroom?” – “Help?!?” — but a whole language – like all at once? 🙂
Kudos to you – I struggled through two years of Spanish – and still remember a few important things (in addition to the above, I, somehow, miraculously remember how to say, I love my little black dog”) but the rest? Might as well send me to Mars – for all that I’ll be able to talk to the locals – – LOL
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November 7, 2015 at 7:44 pm
Haha! Yeah, that’s probably about all I’ll be able to remember when I come back home. It is, however, important to know enough to survive while I’m there! 😛
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November 8, 2015 at 7:23 pm
I’ve been so long afraid, given my fatal flaw at not being very good to fluently learn other languages, that I would never be able to travel abroad – I Personally think it’s arrogance of the greatest kind to travel somewhere else and demand that every one speak and act as you do – 🙂 But, some of my great fears were laid to rest by meeting that gal so well versed in many languages and cultures and well-traveled – apparently, she thinks I’ll be okay, because I have the intent to be polite and am willing to at least memorize Please and Thank You – she thinks I’ll get along fine – apparently tourists abroad can be as rude as the ones I waited on here, for many years! LOL My bosses at my first job out of school had gas stations and gift shops along a main tourist corridor – one of them order 3 gross of t-shirts that had the message, “I’m the tourist from hell” – and they sold out – by all the jackarses we waited on everyday – she considered it a public service to warn others (cuz the buyers sometimes changed into them in the store!) and she marked them up at an ungodly profit rate – so we all had a laugh, folks down the road were warned of the coming storm and isn’t that a way to deal with the problem? LOL
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November 8, 2015 at 11:13 pm
Haha! That’s priceless.Thanks so much for the giggle, 🙂
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November 9, 2015 at 12:08 am
Laughter ( or giggling) is the best medicine – Me thinks! 😀
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November 9, 2015 at 6:42 am
Agreed. 🙂
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November 7, 2015 at 12:00 am
Lol! No wifi? That sounds horrible! Thank god for hotels nice enough to give you your very own modem 🙂
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November 7, 2015 at 7:42 pm
I know, right? Can’t imagine that happening here in Canada.
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November 6, 2015 at 11:12 pm
You’re own modem . . . now that’s customer service. Here, I think they’d give you a shrug of the shoulders and say, “Too bad. It sucks to be you.”
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November 7, 2015 at 7:41 pm
Yep, here too. The Japanese are huge into good customer relations, especially in the hotel business.
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