Saturday, August 12, 2006

Tokyo Starbucks.




While ordering a coffee the other day I was using my elementary Japanese to try and explain that I wanted only a small amount of milk in my cappuccino. I used a variety of words and lame pantomime to indicate 'small,' 'little' and 'few.' After a few minutes I wasn't sure what I was saying, but I'm sure with my bad Japanese I had probably inadvertently told the barista that her ass was wide and her mother had a beard. Finally, a look of recognition crossed her face and she said to me, "Oh! You mean you want a dry cappuccino?"


Hey - let me know if you can't view the video.)

Note: A dry cappuccino is one made with less milk than foam. And if you were a coffee nerd like me, you would have known that.

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37 comments:

  1. A "dry" cappuccino? (In English, no less.) Very funny.

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  2. So much for making an attempt to speak the language. I bet she had a great time listening to you flounder.

    Three cheers and an "A" for effort!

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  3. My sixteen-month-old, Kyra, is sitting here on my lap watching the video with me. After it was over, she clapped and said, "Yay!"

    It's unanimous. More please!

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  4. I'm sure that people think that I'm mentally disturbed when I try to speak their language and then resort to using ridiculous pantomime. I agree-more please!

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  5. Oh that is so funny ;)

    When I worked for Starbucks we used to have two hearing impaired men come in and they taught me all the things on the menu in sign language. It was cool!

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  6. I'll just never understand coffee-speak. How can it be dry when coffee itself is...wet?

    Thanks for the video. It's so interesting to see what's going on in other countries.

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  7. A Dry one, huh? with dust, or what? *snort* and ahh...the video? almost gave me a panic attack.
    I remember one time when I was in Osaka Grand Station trying to figure out how to use the public transportation system and not knowing a soul. I almost barfed and started screaming. the video brought back some memories...

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  8. So now you know that you drink "dry" cappuccinos. You're so international!

    The video is great -- a nice slice of life in Tokyo.

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  9. What does a dry cappuccino mean anyway?
    I could view the video...it looks like quite a hip Starbucks!

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  10. Video came through great. I don't know what a dry cappuccino means either. Maybe it's because I don't drink coffee.

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  11. The video was just fine....although just watching it made me tired. Glad to hear you got your Starbucks fix.

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  12. I can't even order a Starbucks drink in ENGLISH, I can't imagine what I'd get in Japanese. :)

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  13. I guess that makes sence......kinda....... =\

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  14. Starbucks is taking over the planet! That was cool to see the video. Interesting that they call it a "dry" cappucino.

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  15. oh my god. starbucks is overwhelming as it IS. i think i just went dizzy and passed out for a second during the video.

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  16. LMFAO! omg!!! love it!!!!!! the madness is crazy!

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  17. Is a dry cppuccino as good as a dry martini?

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  18. My head would have exploded! I wouldn't even have had the courage to try to order it myself. I would have found a family member that speaks the language to talk for me.

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  19. you're pretty bossy for a chick that's been AWAL on another continent. I have responded to your comments.

    that's all.

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  20. Wait! How much was that cup of coffee? Is a Venti a Venti
    or is a Venti a Tall?

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  21. Dry Martini anyone???
    Who would have gotten dry cappuccino...
    I have this travel book for France that translates just such stuff ao I do not order something like sweetbreads... and stuff like that...I always figure they should astrix such things for tourists... but they do not... Hence the need for my restaurant translator...

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  22. Welcome home...I was just checking your blog and you were still in the Tokyo Starbucks!

    I'm off to England on the 25th of this month. Just when we get all comfy flying, the whackos get us all jacked up again. Hope your journey home was uneventful.

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  23. She could have cut you off, but she let you make a fool of yourself. I mean...great attempt at speaking the language! ;) And thanks for the lesson in cappuccino making. I had no idea there was such a thing as a dry cappuccino. I really don't get out enough.

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  24. Japan is the only place I would love to visit that I have never got to. How difficult would it be to get around speaking no Japanese at all?

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  25. Just want to let you know that I'm so glad you're back on the blog... I have really missed your writing this summer!

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  26. So is every single person in Tokyo thin and stylish and funky? Geez, I was in my Starbucks yesterday and they were all homeless looking and freaky.

    Glad to hear from you again! Big time.

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  27. I'm an insane coffee nerd (I order mine ristretto), but I did not know that term.

    Hmm.

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  28. A dry cappuccino? I make those all the time. Just leave the burner on under the coffee pot until everything evaporates and all that's left is the dry, burnt scum on the bottom.

    You didn't need to go all the way to tokyo for that.

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  29. Just wondering? Do they put wasabe in their coffee in Japan?

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  30. My new favorite sentence: "I had probably told the barista that her ass was wide and her mother had a beard." Priceless. As always, when I felt like a laugh, you delivered.

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  31. At least you weren't served a yellowtail latte. But wait...maybe that would be goooood.

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  32. Dry cappucino = what's left when I've finished my entire cup from Starbucks.

    Sigh.

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  33. Well I'm a nerd but not a coffee nerd since I don't drink it BUT I've become obsessed with strawberries & cream from Starbucks! It's soooo good! How cool that you're in Japan! Enjoy!

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  34. I had never heard the term either--but then, I never acquired the taste for coffee.

    My GOD is it loud in that Starbucks! No wonder it was hard to get the point across.

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  35. I'm a coffee nerd too and when I was reading the beginning I was thinking "just say dry!" That's the former barista in me :)

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