Cell Phoney Woman
...written on 2000-12-13, @ 22:44:07
Tales of Kim's Life in Japan
Wed December 13, 2000
I have a cell phone. In Japan, that isn't saying much as everyone has a cell phone. I mean EVERYONE! My model is a rather simple one. It was free in fact. The others that are outfitted with color screens, internet, video cameras, etc. require more of a monetary outlay, but mine cost me zilch.
My phone has a storage for 500 numbers and addresses. It can store two answering messages, and two minutes worth of verbal reminders to myself. It has a calendar that I can set alarms to remind me that it is "Bottle Trash Day" or "Recyclable Can Day". It has a calculator. It could also function as a fax if I would pay a little extra. I'm sure there are plenty more functions on my phone that I'm not or never will be aware of.
Fred took me to get my cell phone. I got the cheapest basic plan figuring I wouldn't use it very much. I didn't even opt for the "Short mail" feature which allows users of the same brand cell phone to send each other short written messages.
The other day I had my manual out and was playing with my phone. I selected the "Short Mail" feature and created a message for Fred and pushed the next button. To my surprise, the phone lit up, dialed a number I had never seen before and said it sent my message! Fred called me a few minutes later. He was excited.
"Hey! How did you get short mail? I remember you didn't sign up for it. I tried to send you one back, but it said you didn't have the service." he said, breathlessly.
He then explained how convenient it would be for him to have me set up with "Short Mail" as there are times when Japanese etiquette demands that he use his phone silently. "Short mail" is great for such occasions. Ok, I told him, it's only a buck a month, so I'll sign up for it soon.
Well, Fred is in Tokyo for two weeks and I went to the cell phone shop today, on my own. . .
There is a DoCoMo cell phone shop right around the corner from my apartment. I walked into the entryway awash in glow of the early morning sun. There were two attendants on duty, a man and a woman.We bowed and said "Good Morning." I told them that I could speak very little Japanese as I sat in the chair they indicated for me.
The man disappeared as the woman tried to get my information. The man returned and gave me a cup of Japanese green tea. I was delighted by this and picked it up and held it the way I had read to do so in my Japanese etiquette book that I checked out at the library yesterday (see Criminal Behavior) .
I said in very simple Japanese that I didn't have Short Mail, but I wanted Short Mail, to which they replied with a torrent of incomprehensible questions. I blinked blankly and smiled. "Wakarimasen." I don't understand, I said.
So the man got out a paper and pencil and drew two cell phones. He showed me what I already knew, that I could send Short Mail, but couldn't receive it. I nodded in agreement. I asked how much Short Mail was and he said it was 100 yen a month (US $1). Ok, I said, that's what I want.
I filled out some forms, showed him my alien registration card and thought that the errand was almost over. The man looked at my alien registration card (yes, I know it's a horrible picture, Buddy) and said something to me about DoCoMo and a man or a woman or something. I thought he was asking about who the attendant was who first gave me the phone, if it was a man or a woman, or maybe he said, in his opinion, he thought I was a man and should change the little woman symbol on my alien registration card,(hey, the picture ain't THAT bad!) but I wasn't sure, so I repeated my one handy word, "Wakarimasen". Apparently, that was good enough for him and he shuffled my forms away to file and said thank you. I got up, bowed and thank-youed my way out.
On the street, I used my phone silently and sent Fred in Tokyo a Short Mail message,"All systems go!" and went on to my next errand: Mod's Hair Salon.