New York Restaurants
Sometimes it takes a foreigner to shed some light on one's own language.
We were at the Morrell Wine Bar and their was
a Japanese couple, speaking Japanese, at the next table. This alone was
not unusual, though it was more common in the 1980s, but Rockefeller Center
still has its Japanese book store among other amenities. We did not mean
to eavesdrop, but an English phrase cut through the background speech, "Welcome
to the club", said the man in a tone of complete acquiescence. Then
there was some more Japanese. Then the woman tried on the phrase, "Welcome
to the club", as resigned to fate as he seemed to be. Then, they both
laughed. What a great phrase from the exotic occident. What does it say
about our culture?