stroopwafel

The Japanese are so polite and try not to intrude that I found it rather amusing. So you see, I brought some Dutch waffles (stroopwafel) for my colleagues to try. Usually whenever someone comes back with an edible souvenir (omiyage), they would have an email sent out to announce for people to help themselves to the food at the little coffee corner.

This time, I didn't feel like doing that again, so I just left the waffles at the usual spot. Thinking that is where colleagues gather to fill their coffee and tea, I thought it would be obvious why the waffles were left there. Usually snacks like this would be quickly snapped up, especially nearing teatime.

Seeing that no one had touched it, I realised almost with a whack to my head, that they were not aware that these were meant to be shared!

So I tried to write a note in Japanese and left it next to the waffles. I had seen some of my lady colleagues do this, so tried to follow. And true enough, people started to open the packaging and try the waffles! (^.^)

And oh, one of the colleagues wandered aloud asking who "se-ra" (/ˈsɛərə/) was, as written below. Waka-san who sat in front me started laughing. I wasn't sure if I should take it as a joke or genuine question. But of course I knew that they usually call me as how my name is spelt, which is "sara" (/ˈsɑːrɑː/), hence the "confusion".