Common sense

The senior banquet is on this week. It's a bit like the year 12 formal, only year 11 and teachers go too. One of the year 12s asked me last week if I was going, to which I replied that as far as I knew I wasn't invited...
The student was mystified... 'all the year 12 teachers are invited'.

hmmmm

I mentioned in the staffroom at break time that it would be useful to receive information like that more than a week ahead. Other teachers looked mystified.... 'it's on the school calendar'.

Aah yes..... but I don't see any memo there saying - 'Cecilia you are required to have appropriate attire to go to a function at a 5 star Bangkok hotel.... '

It was a Japan moment...

Of course there is no need mention it since it's common sense....

In Japan the preferred method of communication is often ESP, especially when the other person should know because common sense says they should know.

I have come to the conclusion that common sense varies dramatically according to country.

Russian common sense, when moving chairs it is vulgar to have them make noise.
For Thais, Filipinos and Indians this is not common sense. (much to the irritation of my Russian colleagues!) Australians might be somewhere in the middle.

Japanese common sense is taking off your shoes before you go inside.
Thai common sense is also taking off your shoes before you go inside.
But Japanese common sense says they should be meticulously lined up and should not obstruct. Thai common sense says so long as they don't come inside the onus is on you to make sure you don't trip over them. Australian common sense says it depends on whose place you're at but mostly it's ok to leave them on.

Australian common sense says you don't drink beer with a straw.
Thai common sense doesn't.


Japanese common sense says fruit is posh and a dessert and to be eaten infrequently.
Australian common sense says fruit is a healthy snack.
Thai common sense says why would you buy fruit you have to peel or cut when you can buy it peeled or cut on the street.

Thai common sense says it's reasonable to catch a motor bike taxi 400m.
Japanese common sense says old people and people who miss the last train catch taxis.
Australian common sense says why would you catch a taxi when you can drive or get someone to drive you.

Japanese, Thai, most Indian, Bangladesh common sense says there is no such thing as a day with out rice.
Australian common sense says rice is one of many options for carbohydrates.

etc

more on this later I suspect