2 replies to this topic

[ShadowKat]

Ch. 11 pg 6 "In America it's common for notes to be allowed" on tests...no, no it's not, at least anywhere I've been to school.
Also...the kissing thing, you occasionally kiss relatives on the cheek as a greeting. Not on the mouth, and not people you don't know or that are the same age bracket. The relatives thing is usually grandparents, at least in my experience and when I've asked anyone else of my age range, but maybe that's just here/the people I've talked too.

[Zhi Laohu]

Notes being allowed varies from state to state. In Florida for example, it's fairly common, even at the college level, for a teacher to allow a note card with formulas and proofs, or an outline for an essay you're writing. Kissing as a greeting is also pretty common all over the world- although only on the cheeks. Mouth to mouth is unique to wherever Julie is from =P.

[ShadowKat]

Thanks for the response. Yah, you are probably right that the use of notes varies by state. I'm sure that you're right and kissing thing varies by family and culture too. I think I was just annoyed by the often fairly inaccurate portrayal of Americans in manga as somewhat dense (couldn't survive Japanese schools without their notes as a crutch). Although Hana Kimi  was probably one of the most accurate portrayal of us that I have read.

I live in CA, my ex goes to UC Berkeley, and I have quite a few friends who live/have lived in Berkely and other places in the bay area. Since these are the places that are used in the manga (supposedly she's from around northern CA/Cal (UCB) area) I just felt that there was somewhat of an inaccurate portrayal. I asked some friends who live in the bay area and they all said that the kissing thing (even on the cheek)/note use on tests are not common there either (I'm from socal currently in college in central). Although, if I was fluent in Japanese and feeling mischievous, I might mess with the locals too based on the kissing stereotype.