On Mon, 1 Sep 1997, Henry J. Cobb wrote:

> She's a goddess who knows Japanese, knows her way around every street in
> Japan, can find any spot on the planet, can deciper all of those cultural
> references in K1's sweet little head and she can't open a can of tea.

Of course, she -didn't- know about the Valentine's Day tradition of giving
boys chocolate.  I think that Belldandy knows about Earth the way a
foreign exchange student might know about the country they visit.  Lots of
book-work and a little firsthand experience, but not enough to be
considered exactly an expert.  Some things, such as canned tea and
chocolate, simply fall out of her area of study.

As for knowing every street in Tokyo, I doubt that is the case.  The
temple (at least in the OAVs) is -her- temple, so she would of course
know it's location, and as for getting places, she once used a satellite
feed to navigate a bike race in the manga, so even if she didn't know the
perfect route to get there, she has ways of finding out in a hurry.

> This when K1 shows her how to do so and there are instructions printed on
> the can.

Considering the situation she was in at the time, (strange boy, unheard-of
assignment,) I doubt reading the instructions to some bizarre metal object
was high in her list of priorities.  She most likely had other more
pressing concerns to occupy her thoughts.

> Later she uses all sorts of kitchenware with no problem.

A spoon is a spoon is a spoon, no matter what country you go to, but up
until a few years ago, I wouldn't have believed in canned coffee (let
alone tea,) myself.

> She can't be faking incomprehension here now can she?  After all Belldandy
> tells him that she can't lie, so it must be the truth...

No, she can't.  Belldandy does not lie, and that itself is not a lie.
Although everyone is always welcome to their own opinion, and yours is as
valid as mine, I think that trying to force Belldandy into the role of
manipulator and liar is buying into one too many Conspiracy Theories, and
misses the point of AMG entirely.  Belldandy is innocent and pure.  If
there is one thing in the universe we can be sure of, that is it. ^_^

> I suspect that Tea not sleep is Bell's real energy source.  (It would fit
> in with her sisters' consumption, no?)

This might work, except that Belldandy said sleep was her method of
recharge.  (See above in regards to Belldandy lying.)  And yet, I think
that sleep fits in with the other recharge methods far better than tea
would, in truth.  Think about it.  Each recharge method reflects that
goddess's personality.

-Skuld must recharge her hyperactivity with sugar-filled ice-cream.

-Urd must recharge her reckless abandon with logic-suppressing alcohol.

-And Belldandy must recharge her naivete with eye-closing sleep.


With all due respect, I remain,

J. Lan Bellsmith, Lord of Pendragon
Belldandy no Dai'Shinkan
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"Give me a moment to reflect upon the things that I have seen.
Please, a few seconds to remember what I've been.
And then come you ever closer and give me that special kiss.
The one that changes everything, and steals a heart I'll never miss."

                                           email:  bellsj01@student.ucr.edu
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