Alien Nation

[elfs]

I've graduated from Philip Glass to the hardcore stuff, Steve Reich. Obviously, I'll be listening to John Zorn soon.

Since I mentioned the couple of successes I've had with Japanese recently, let me also recount my one recent failure: actual conversation. Yesterday, Kouryou-chan's school had an end-of-school picnic, and one of the other parents brought with her an exchange student who's renting a room in her home for the summer. Aiko was obviously very nervous and uncomfortable and I'm sure nothing was meant by it but the woman, whose name escapes me, said, "Oh, Elf, you're studying Japanese."

We managed to convey that she had just finished her first year of English studies and I was going to start my third semester in the fall, that it was nice to meet her and, well, let's go get something to eat from the picnic. Other than that, I was completely at sea. I did remember 'Hajimemashite' (Let this be a good beginning), which is the polite introduction, and "My name is ___. What's yours again?"

Later, I spotted her doing a wide orbit of the picnic. She was obviously lost and had no idea where she should go or what she should do, so cut off was she from everyone else. My inhibitions about talking to strangers bugged me because I wanted to ask (and had the ability to ask) if she'd found Kinokuniya or Uwajimaya, the local Japanese bookstore and grocery, and if she knew how to get on a bus to get there. I'm still kicking myself for having the power to help, and being too damned cowardly to do so.

Comments

[woggie.livejournal.com]

Sometimes it helps to remember that everyone is your friend, but neither you nor they know it yet. It sometimes also helps to remember that your willingness to be helpful is appreciated, even if it can't be expressed to you at the moment.

[mothball-07.livejournal.com]

When I am regretting having acted in a less brave manner than I would like, I often look for a way to step up and do it now.

You could probably get the parent's number, and talk to Aiko, or perhaps offer to escort her to the bookstore and grocery. It could turn out to be very beneficial for both of you. Or even just ask if she would like to come over and help you work on your conversational Japanese. She could probably use the help with her English. Could be the start of something beautiful.

(But then I'm a hopeless extrovert, so ignore me if I'm missing the point too badly.)

[hastings1066.livejournal.com]

One of the things that I did while in Shanghai was help a Japanese businessman use the lift (it was a strange smart card setup). I knew very little Japanese (I was in my 3rd month), but I was able to help him. I know about the fear of interacting, and it sucks, because you have the "shoulda, coulda, woulda" problem afterwards.