I accidentally brought up the 'wrong' side of the family history at a dinner in Kyoto

We were at my wife's cousin's house and I mentioned her great-uncle who moved to Osaka after the war, which turned the room quiet for a solid minute. I just said 'I think that's a story for another time' and asked about the garden, which got things moving again. Anyone else put their foot in it while trying to learn about family stuff in a different culture?

3 comments

3 Comments

abby_henderson3mo ago

Tara_williams1 has a point, but sometimes those quiet moments are the real history lessons.

jesse_cooper1mo ago

Yeah totally on that "quiet moments being real history lessons" thing. I mean, idk if it's just me but I feel like the stuff that actually matters doesn't happen in big dramatic moments. It's those little in-between times where you figure out who people really are. Kinda like how you learn more about a person by watching them wait in line than by listening to their big stories. Those pauses tell you everything about their patience, their kindness, their real deal. So yeah, I get why some stories get saved for later - the best ones usually are the ones you stumble into when nobody's looking.

tara_williams13mo ago

That "story for another time" save was a solid move.