P014

Passage 14   Different ―Styles‖ of Directions

I travel a lot, and I find out different ―styles‖ of directions every time I ask ‖How can I get to the post office?‖

In Japan, people use landmarks in their directions instead of street names. For example, the Japanese will say to travelers, ―Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go past a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop.‖

In the countryside of the American Midwest, instead of landmarks, people will tell you directions and distances. For example, people will say, ―Go north two miles. Turn east, and then go another mile.‖

People in Los Angeles, California, have no idea of distance on the map; they measure distance in time, not miles. ―How far away is the post office?‖ you ask. ―Oh,‖ they answer, ―it’s about five minutes from here.‖ You say, ―Yes, but how many miles away is it?‖ They don’t know.