Sunday, August 03, 2003

Whenever I go to Kagoshima City, I use the city tram system to save wear and tear on my shoes. (I've gone through three pairs of walking shoes so far....) In each tram car, there are pre-recorded announcements of the stops, along with a few ads. Now, interestingly, there is also an English version of these announcements, which the driver turns on when he sees a foreigner get on.

Female voice: "Tsugi wa Kajiya-cho; Kajiya-cho de gozaimasu."
Male, British voice, speaking verrry slowly: "Next is Kajiya-cho. Kajiya-cho is the site of many historical landmarks, including the Museum of the Meiji Restoration, the statue of Okubo Toshimichi, and the birthpla--"

-- and then we reach Kajiya-cho. I have never heard the full English version of the recording. Actually, when I get on the tram by myself, the driver almost never switches on the English recording. When I get on with more-obviously-foreign friends, though....

R.

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