Ogenki desuka? If you’re like, “Huh?!” you obviously did not read my previous Japanese blog. How rude! JK I don’t blame you. 😛
I have been on several PacSet tours now: Fire & Ice, Animated Spring, and Taste of Japan. Each tour has been a good experience to learn more about my culture and visit places I had never gone to before. People on each tour have been AWESOME!
In Fire & Ice, it was awesome to experience the snowy part of Northern Japan during the Snow Festival season and check out Akita, where Evan used to call home.
In Animated Spring, we toured the “Golden Route” of Tokyo and Osaka, but some of us opted to go off the beaten path, to a majestic place called Mount Nokogiri. Good fun was had there, as you can see from this photo. 😛
During Taste of Japan, we walked parts of the “Nakasendo” where Samurai warriors used to walk, went back in time and ate our way through parts of Japan.
Regardless of the theme of the tour, we always come across delicious places to eat. So, today, I’d like to share some phrases that are useful for when you’re eating.
Those ramen lovers out there, what to do when you’ve slurped all the noodles in your bowl but still have some soup and hunger left? Say, “Kaedama kudasai!” 替え玉ください！They’ll immediately bring you a second serving of noodles. If you’ve got a student ID, some places even offer you a discount.
Say you’re eating at a yakiniku joint (Japanese barbecue) and want another bowl of rice, “Okawari kudasai” おかわりください！Of course, this applies to anything that you’d want seconds of.
You go to a super popular restaurant with a long line of people and want to know how long the wait is. Say, “Machi jikan wa dore kurai desuka?” 待ち時間はどれくらいですか。
After your belly and heart is content, you’ll get bonus points and respect if you tell your server/chef “Totemo oishikatta desu. Gochisousama desu.” とてもおいしかったです。ごちそうさまです。(It was very delicious. Thank you for the food.)
You’ll definitely get a sweet smile of appreciation like this lovely chef from Tsumago.
So there you have it, some phrases that you can try using on your next trip! I know some of you have go-to Japanese restaurants where you live, so try using it there too! Ganbatte~
(PS-Shout out to Derek for the awesome photos from Taste of Japan 2017)