Okay so the above
statement says, theoretically, "Understanding Number Two". I wasn't
sure how to say "Understanding Part 2" or "Understanding: The
Sequel" so I just went with the clunky "Understanding Number
Two". Considering the topic of this blog, I thought it would be
appropriate to place some random, tiny, tidbit of Japanese that I do know into
the title even if it doesn't make sense. I reread what I had posted earlier,
and while I still wholeheartedly agree with the statement that if you open your
heart God will do the rest, it does gloss over the funny that happens in
between. The blank stares, from both parties, the laughter, the distressed
noises (these are all made by me it would seem), and the ever more frequent
"わかりません” or "I don't understand". Incidentally,
that's pronounced "wakarimasen" but I have been saying
"wakirimasen" for weeks now. I'm pretty sure my mispronunciation
coupled with my blank stare got the point across though.
So, when I am on my own
these kinds of misunderstandings happen all the time. However, since I expect
them regularly, I rarely get upset about it anymore and am far more likely to
see the funny in it rather than the distressing bits. That's not to say that I
haven't been caught in situations where my lack of Japanese started to make me
fairly nervous.
For example, the other day
at church I had the oddest thing happen. I was sitting there at tea time when
Tokuno-sensei came up to talk to me. He was far more serious than I have ever
had him be while talking directly to me and was speaking to me using far more
Japanese than he usually does. I finally got the gist that there was a woman at
the door who wanted to talk to me and it was someone I had met on Christmas
Eve. What was even odder was that by this point the church ladies were in
something of a tizzy and as I was walking out I got lots of "Genki?"
and "Daijoubu?", meaning essentially "How are you?" or
"Are you okay?" I was wondering what on earth was going on, and when
I saw who it was I was even more confused. This woman had been at the church on
Christmas Eve and spoke to me for quite some time in English. She was an artist
and at the time had wanted to take my picture to do an oil painting but her
camera was out of batteries. After she left one of the church ladies had told
me she wasn't a member. Since, in the States, not being a member isn't that big
of a deal I just shrugged it off, but apparently I had missed something because
the people I had come to know and love were not happy that she had come back. I
was a little weirded out that she had come back to take my picture, but I
really didn't see any harm.
What was even stranger
about the whole thing was two gentlemen from the congregation had followed me
out and were clearly interrogating this woman. They were being politely
hostile, something before I would have called on oxymoronic statement, but
having seen it, it's a bit scary. In the five minutes that I was at the door
with them they probably asked me at least four times if I was okay, and when I
said I was, they would turn their attention back to interrogating this woman. She
asked for my Kumamoto address and I refused, saying that I didn't know it yet.
Unfortunately, that just prompted her to state that she would come back next
Sunday to get it (I think that I won't know my address then either).
When I walked back into
the dining area I was immediately surrounded by my lovely church ladies who
kept patting me and asking if I was okay and telling me to be careful before
steering me back to my seat and pouring me more tea and shoving more tea snacks
at me (they have discovered I love Kit Kats), all the while speaking rapidly to
each other in very agitated voices. I meanwhile really had no idea what had
happened and when I asked Nakano-san he didn't know either. I asked one other
gentleman who spoke English, and who had been standing guard earlier, what had
happened but he just said, "You can be calm now," and handed me a Kit
Kat.
That was one situation
where I really, really wish I knew what was being said. I am not the only one to deal with these
situations, obviously. I was talking to Morgan yesterday and she stated that
she was pretty sure she is living a double life due to her conversations at
church, where she basically says yes to anything asked without really knowing
what she is saying yes too. As she put it, according to her church, they
probably think her father is some high ranking surgeon, her brother is an
actor, and they all live together in some massive Hollywood mansion. Oh and
apparently she's engaged.
I am pretty sure this
happens often to me too, especially when I am talking to Nagayoshi-san or the
others at church that have some English, but not a lot. For instance, a regular
conversation with Nagayoshi-san often goes like this:
Nagayoshi-san: *something
in Japanese, said very slowly and ennuciated clearly*
Me: Huh?
Nagayoshi-san: *more
Japanese* Kumamoto *more Japanese*
Me: Oh, Kumamoto! When do
I leave you mean? (this is totally a guess)
Nagayoshi-san: Yes!
Me: January 10th. Mata
raishu (next week)
Nagayoshi-san: No, no,
no... ano.... *more Japanese with hand gestures* Plane? Ano... train?
Me: Oh hai! Plane.
And then we beam at each
other all pleased with ourselves that we had a conversation and I usually get a
handshake from Nagayoshi-san who tends to shake my hand for everything. Even
talking to Nakano-san sometimes has its strange misunderstandings. For example,
while asking me about Christmas he said...
Nakano-san: You nervous?
Me: Am I nervous?
Nakano-san: Yes.
Me: About what? Now?
Nakano-san: No, Christmas.
Me: *staring at him, not
sure what he is talking about*
Nakano-san: Your
family.... *long pause, then suddenly he claps his hands and says...* HOMESICK!
Me: Oh totally!
I actually love these
conversations. I mean really. They always end with me and the other person
beaming at each other like we just won a game show or something. Even funnier
are the ones where I am just standing there staring at the people talking to me
(this generally happens most with the ladies at church) and they will turn to
each other and say, "She doesn't understand" in Japanese (a phrase I
know very well by now, I hear it all the time) before turning back to me and
continuing to talk to me in Japanese. Then they laugh and announce again to
each other than I don't understand and turn back to smile at me some more. I on
the other hand am smiling back having no idea what just happened.
As I stated earlier, it's
something that I have come to expect and something that, for the most part, I
get great amusement out of; these conversations usually have Laura, Morgan and
I in stitches when we recount them to each other later. I thank God for giving
me such a blessing in disguise. There is something very humbling in having to
rely on another person for most situations when you are out and about, though I
am getting better at making requests myself. The key is not to be shy about it.
They know that you are not Japanese right off the bat, and most will assume you
don't speak Japanese. This works wonders in my favor and with lots of gestures,
smiles, and what little Japanese I do know, I am able to muddle through. It has
been rare that I am in a situation that ends with no understanding on either
side, though my friends here have told me it will be more common when I get to
Kumamoto. So, on that note... better go get to studying! じゃまた
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