> The Japanese culture seems a bit strange to people from the
> western cultures. They are so polite in the ways they
> speak--no direct orders, just helpful hints. A Norwegian who
> travelled around the world on his bike (and set an unofficial
> new world record doing it), tells in his book about Japanese
> policemen which, after he had passed a couple of red lights,
> took a bow and said "Hai!" and politely suggested that they
> had a few traffic rules in Japan which it would be nice of him if
> he cared to abide by, and continued by explaining what the
> colors of the traffic lights meant and which side of the road it
> was best for him to use.
>
> Imagine seeing that happen in the U.S., or in Norway for that
> matter.

I can imagine that happening in New Zealand. The only difference would be the tone of incredible sarcasm the policeman would be likely to use. ;-)