Phone Etiquette

I talked to my mom today. Actually, I talk to her every day. But today, something was different. There was a hesitation in her voice. A feeling of sadness seemed to hover over the conversation. "When will you be coming home to visit?" she asked. "Not soon enough", I replied.

It has been six months since I saw my family. My new nephew has learned to crawl and is now venturing into the new world of walking. I constantly receive pictures of all five of my nieces and nephews. Who knew kids grew so fast? Being separated from my family is hard for me. We have always been a close-knit family. My separation began when I got married and moved to Japan. Talk about culture shock!

"Moshi- Moshi?" (pronounced moshee-moshee) This is the customary method of answering the phone in Japanese. The actual meaning is, "Is someone listening?". This was one of the first things I learned. Would you be surprised if I told you I still use it? Well I do. I often find it amusing to answer the phone in Japanese. It definitely stops the telemarketers in their tracks. My family and friends are privy to my unusual way of answering the phone. They have even begun using it themselves. The next time you look at your caller id and you don't recognize the number, give it a try.