A man from the electricity company came to read the meter. They come quarterly (4 times a year). There was a big drying horse at the entrance of the passageway, so I told him if it was OK to do self-reading. But he suggested he come back in 10 minutes. So, I gave in and took all the laundry off the drying horse and folded it. Lucky that everything was dry.
As suggested, he came back in 10 minutes. Reading the meter and inputting the data in his hand-held machine, he said, "So, you are Japanese". I nearly fainted...
This was the very first time in nearly 12 years in this country that a stranger said to me, "You are Japanese"!!!!! I had been waiting for this moment for such a long time that I couldn't believe my ears. This is something to remember til the end of my life!!! He told me that he knew it because of my name. (After me asking suspiciously, "Do you know me by any chance?") Looking at my face, he asked "Is it offencive?" Of course NOT! This was the end of my frustrating life of being asked "Are you from Philippine?" "When are you going back to Hong Kong for a holiday?", etc. (Well, I know I will be mistaken again.)
I was too happy to hear the words and I don't know why I didn't shake his hands and tell him that I would buy him a beer. (Well, he was carrying the machine to input the meter reading and I didn't want to scare him, so...) He left the house, saying "Arigatou. Sayonara." Lovely. Silly me, forgetting to ask if he was from Northern Ireland. He sounded a bit different and he looked a little bit foreign. Not sure, though. Pity the next meter reading is to be done in 13 weeks. He can come here to read the meter every month, if he wants. Hope he will come again the next time. (And also hope I won't be away the next time.)
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