The ABCs of RV Terminology

Above, Santa Fe Skies RV Park in New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Trying to speak to a non-RVer about recreational vehicles and using typical RV terminology to them can be a daunting task. One has to go the extra mile to explain to them different meanings. But an experienced RVer should also be well-versed in the lingo so they can communicate with other RVers as well.

That is the topic of an article in RV Travel, "The ABCs of RV Terminology".

They begin it with:

It is beneficial to know the common terminology of the RV language and its components. Just like any other language, there are many words or descriptions that are either borrowed from other areas or are just plain “slang”. Knowing the nomenclature (no, not the guy from “Jersey”, Norman Clature) will make it easier to communicate with your fellow RVers and even technicians. (Let us know in the comments if we missed anything.)

To read more, go here. 

Key Terms To Use At Japanese Hotels

Above, the main entrance to Tokyo's Shiba Park Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is planning a trip to Japan, now that it has been reopened to foreign visitors, there are a few key terms one can use at the Japanese hotel they're staying at.

The following has been presented in an article by the Japan Times.

They start it off with:

KYOTO – 日本へようこそ！ (Nihon e yōkoso, Welcome to Japan!) … or, should we say, Welcome back to Japan!

With borders having just reopened to independent travel, there is bound to be a rush of people who are dying to get back into the country. One thing that unites all these inbound travelers? Hotels.

Beyond the commute from airport to lodging, communications with the staff at ホテル (hoteru, hotels) and 旅館 (ryokan, Japanese inns) are likely to provide your first encounter with the Japanese language.

Even those who’ve been studying the language can sometimes find themselves stumped by the 敬語 (keigo, honorific language) used at such establishments. (Don’t freak out, though, many hotel staff speak languages other than Japanese.) Even if you answer in the affirmative when asked, 日本語でよろしいでしょうか (Nihongo de yoroshii deshō ka?, Are you OK with [using] Japanese?), there may be a few terms that catch you off guard.

To read more, go here. 

Willys Jeep or "Willis" Jeep?

Above, a 1956 poster of the Willys Jeep family of vehicles.

A few months ago, I viewed a vintage newsreel of various gatherings of Willys Jeep groups and rallies of the 1950s.

In the film, the name Willys was pronounced as Willis. I thought that was odd, given the spelling and since I am relatively new to Jeeps, I never heard this before.

I was tempted to ask about the correct pronunciation of Willys, but never got around to it. Well, this evening, I spotted a Facebook thread on this subject.

One poster wrote:

Technically, John Willys pronounced it Willis, but most people say Willies.

Another wrote:

Old news reels also pronounce Grumman Aircraft as Grewman, and Lockheed changed the spelling of the name of the company because Mr. Loughead didn't like people mispronouncing the name as "loghead". Then there's the whole "Porsche" vs. "Porsh-a" thing. As for me it will always be a "Willies" Jeep...

Is it Willies or Willis? Well, the video below should settle the matter (or maybe not):

Can You Survive In Japan Without Speaking Japanese?

Above, the food court level below the Tokyo Skytree. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Many people who contemplate a visit to Japan worry that since they don't know Japanese language, they won't be able to eat, travel or even just survive. I've visited Japan eight time to date and I have always managed to get by.

Those fears are put aside (hopefully) in an article from City-Cost.com.

They begin their article with:

“Can you travel, live, spend time in Japan without understanding or speaking Japanese?”, or wording to this effect is an oft asked question on Japan travel forums and a legitimate concern for those who have never been to Japan, or maybe anyone who is contemplating a first trip overseas to a country the language of which is unfamiliar. Unfortunately, voicing this kind of concern runs the risk of being met by sneering condescension from some quarters so any concerns about the ability to survive in Japan without speaking Japanese are ones that we hope to meet ourselves with hearts in the correct place while maintaining our usual sense of irreverence.

It would be interesting to know how many of us who now live in Japan came to the country with any degree of Japanese language proficiency packed into the suitcase. This expat did, but it only really amounted to the next step up from zero. This lack of linguistic preparation might be put down to the fact that for the first few weeks I was to be in the company of Japanese friends.

My first job in Japan saw me under the guidance of an expat colleague who seemed to bask in their inability to speak the lingo (together with their lack of motivation to address this). I used to get a kick from the way they would delightfully order from menus in their broadest native accent, getting by with pointing only. They had already been ‘in country’ for some years prior to my arrival. Although we might be tempted to disparage such expats, the point is, this person still loved Japan, lead a very happy life in Japan, and was (they’ve since returned home) living proof that one can do more than just survive in Japan without having even the loosest of grips on the Japanese language.

Like with all plunges into the unknown, it’s pre plunge that is the most worrying bit. Once we’ve let go however, things become clear, and more often than not, our fears or concerns do not materialize, at least not to the extent that we had feared. This is true when it comes to being in Japan without understanding Japanese - one way or another you just figure out how to get by. As true as this is however, such generalisations rarely serve to ease concerns on the part of those who are, well, very concerned. So let’s get a little more specific, and detail some common scenarios that one will likely face during those early days in Japan, with barely two Japanese words to rub together for comfort. Before we carry on though, if you’re not up for the reading let’s just remind ourselves’ of this - in 2016 Japan recorded a record 24 million tourists for the year. Now, how many of those do think could speak Japanese? Just sayin’!

To read more, go here.

Lost In Translation (Or Something)

The news coming from the Japanese authorities on the number of casualties from the eruption of Mount Ontake has been confusing. 

Different outlets report 27 dead, while others report four. It seems different outlets are reporting differing numbers which is not unusual during the early stages of a story. However, this story has been going on for about two days.

But, the oddest thing of all has been this story at Kyodo News and other outlets:

Eight climbers presumed dead following the weekend eruption of Mt. Ontake in central Japan were transported by rescuers to the foot of the mountain on Monday. 

As roughly 550 police, firefighters and Self-Defense Forces personnel resumed their rescue operations, halted the previous day due to toxic gas near the peak, rescuers took the bodies of five men and three women down the 3,067-meter volcano.

"Presumed dead"?! Don't they know if the eight "bodies" brought down are dead or not? Doesn't the Kyodo News have reliable government sources to tell them whether or not the "bodies" brought down Mount Ontake are dead?

What kind of reporting will be next?

"The body, presumed dead, was cremated yesterday."