The 39th Episode : London Underground
[April, 1991 UK]
Chikatetsu (Japanese, means underground or subway) is called subway in English, that is taught in school. NO! It’s not English but American language. In London, there are entrances showing “subway” to the underground. But even if you go down, there are no stations, nor trains will come. “Subway” is just an underground path in the UK. Japanese schools sometimes teach it’s called “tube” in the UK, as I was done so, but never heard the word as at now. Then how do they call it in the UK? “Underground” is popular.
On a Sunday I was in London. My boss arranged the schedule to be in London on weekend concerning to me. Still more he said “’Cause I’m tired I’m going to sleep in the morning. Take your time and go anywhere you want. And come back around noon for having lunch together.” Appreciate my boss, my senior of the university.
Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park… I visited the famous places like a country visitor, of course taking pictures. Got back to the hotel to join with my boss. After lunch, he suggested to go somewhere and got down to the underground station. While we were waiting for the train a man came closer to me. Looked a little strange, I suspected. Be careful! My brain beamed the signal. He began to speak to me.
Man: Where are you from? And you have a good camera.
Me : Thank you. Japan.
Man: Canon?
Me : No, Pentax.
We exchanged some other words but forgot what we talked.
Man: Can I look through the finder?
Me : No problem.
I put my camera to the front of his face closer to his eye without taking off the strap from my shoulder, holding the camera myself. Hmm, hmm, saying so he was looking through. He said thank you and left. I never let him touch my camera.
My boss, looking and hearing our conversation a little away from us, came to me and said “Great dealing! I was looking how you’re gonna do. If you took off the strap, I was to be here soon.”
My friends sometimes say I’m the guy who will not cross the bridge even if I knock on a strong stone bridge before crossing it. Being careful too much!?
Maybe the next year, my boss had his suitcase stolen by a luggage theft at Los Angeles Airport in the US (>_<)
