Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Memorizing

A trend is setting here. I think we are so over AFN commercials. These are the commercials the military makes to fill in the space where real state-side commercials should go. We don't get to see the latest products, see what's on sale, or see those crazy used cars salesmen. Instead we get to learn our state history, look out for our friends drinking and driving, know what to do during a fire, how to recycle, learn our military history, learn it's best not to be a bully, and I could go on and on. We've been watching the same commercials for 12 years now. Some are new but most are the same. Needless to say, we've got them down pat.

Lately, we've been having mini competitions on who can recite the commercial word for word and with emphasis where it's needed. Boredom? I think so. So it's funny to hear the girls play this little game too. I'll be cleaning up and I hear them answering the question, "Which state has a real oil rig on the capital lawn?" And they both shout out, "Oklahoma!" Well I guess it's good that they are learning something.

Only now that we have cable through our Japanese service, they are copying some of the commercials off there. There's one in particular where they are selling blueberry vitamins. I guess blueberry is the same in Japanese and English but they say it with too many syllables. They say, "blue de e ber ry" And of course the kids put more syllables into it and it turns out to be "blue ee eee ee ber rrr rrr ry" It's funny. You have to be here to get the fun out of it. That's not the only commercial they imitate though. The Japanese put a ton of emphasis on their ooo's and ahhh's when they sell things on tv (it's like they have never seen whatever they are trying to sell in their life). So whenever the kids (or Charlie) sees something they put a ton of emphasis on their oooo's and ahhhh's too. It's a bit embarrassing especially when we are out in town and they do it. I think they do it on purpose. Best Blogger Tips