Relax already!

Well, in case some of you didn't know already...
I live in Japan at the moment despite being german (well, actually prussian, but...)
And I had the great chance to be part of a tea ceremony yesterday, together with other foreigners.
And I noticed, what you can more or less see on the picture (and it fits with the characters personalities so perfectly, that I couldn't resist) :'D

The tea ceremony is a very strict and "uncomfortable" art, but shines through the beauty of sound, scent and especially movement. Who ever watches a true tea ceremony can't really look away from those perfectly controled movements that the tea master makes.
ANYWAY, usually the guest has the same position as the tea master, being sitting on your legs and feet (like Japan).
In case, you never tried that, do it now.
You will notice, that after around 2 minutes it HURTS LIKE HELL. And a tea ceremony can be between 30 minutes and 4 hours, so have fun. But since even japanese people aren't used to this anymore (thanks to the usage of chairs), the tea master is usually so mercyful and offers his guest "relaxion", meaning that they can change to a more comfortable position. Girls would sit next to their legs instead of on them, boys will enter the tailor seat (like America). This should be done quietly, since the ceremony is something close to holy.

Well, so far the theory...
I left out the asian foreigners, because they seemed perfectly fine which fits the stereotype.

Well, I and that fellow german were pretty much like Germany here. When the master offered us relaxion, we refused and stayed in that position for the whole 1½ hour. But according to the japanese students, our faces looked like being hurting all over (oh, so true). But for some reason (pride, don't wanting to be rude, whatever) we refused to sit in any other way then this

Then there was a french girl. She was simliar to us, being obviously in pain, but keeping the position. BUT in contrary to us, she was weeping and complaining all the time. The master offered her relaxion around four times, but she didn't want to, despite being close to crying. She even held the cup slightly wrong the whole time, but my theory is, she was more holding on the cup in desperation to keep herself controlled and avoid crying for real

Then there were three american guys...
Well, yeah, they changed position. They were in fact very noisy, talking loudly about how much better they feel now. They even held the tea cup totally wrong (which is rude, since the cup as well as a tea is seen as something precious and valuable). The japanese students seemed to be greatly irritated by them, the master ignored it. But yeah, they at least had it comfortable

Wait, you thought, I forgot russia?
Well, there was a russian guy in the room, too.
Well, what should I say? He stayed in position, but was so relaxed and calm. He didn't complain once, even after the ceremony was over. I asked him and he just said "I had more painful things then that", smiled and walked home.
Well, that is russia


And the background is all unready and flashy because I WAS SITTING ON THIS FOR HOURS BEFORE I NOTICED THAT I AM TOO STUPID FOR A TEA CEREMONY ROOM AND PUT THIS SIMPLE PATTERN IN IT, SO WHAT?!?!