Today the topic of umbrella usage in the U.S.A. came up in an English conversation lesson at Smith’s School of English Tsukaguchi. One of my students of English there goes on business trips to the U.S.A. He was surprised when an American co-worker there didn’t have an umbrella. According to my student, all Japanese have umbrellas. Once when he was in New York City, he went shopping for an umbrella at a mall but couldn’t find a shop that sold umbrellas. Here in Japan, umbrellas are sold at many shops, including convenience stores.
I’m from Canada. I told him that umbrellas were not used much in Canada either. It doesn’t rain so much in Canada and there is no rainy season like in Japan. In Japan, many Japanese use trains to get to work. Perhaps umbrellas are easier and more desirable to take on the train. In Canada, people use cars or public transportation to get to work. Perhaps umbrellas are not used much because people need not be in the rain long. Perhaps raincoats are used more there than in Japan. My English student said that in Japan, raincoats are worn mostly by young kids who cannot hold umbrellas. I use both here in Tsukaguchi, Amagasaki.
Such differences between Japan and other countries are always fun to talk about with my students of English at Smith’s School of English Tsukaguchi. (^.^)
Derek
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