Need Directions?

What a wonderful language day today!!! It's fun to practice most of the time. But sometimes I just don't know how to use new words in every day conversations. Or sometimes, words I learn aren't really words for conversations with shopkeepers or taxi drivers.

Anyway, I tutor a boy and girl Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On my way to their house, my taxi driver asked me the typical questions; how long have you been here? what do you teach? where are you going? how old are you? I politely asked him: do you have kids? how old are you? what's your name?

Then he asked some other questions and told me about his kids. I could actually answer and understand him. BUT that is not the great part...

My tutees live on a side street. So, as I approached a bigger street to hail down a taxi, a giant semi-truck pulled over in front of me. The passenger got out and walked towards me. At first, I couldn't hear him or understand him. But as he approached he said, "Ooooh," realizing I was not Asian.

Now, keep in mind the following conversation took place in this countries language.


Me: I'm so embarrassed. I'm so sorry.
Man: Do you know where BuBuGao is?
Me: Uhhh...?
Man: BuBuGao. The supermarket. Do you know where it is?
Me: Oh! Do you know YY Tower? Do you know where YY Tower is?
Man: Yes. I know. I know.
Me: It's near YY Tower.
Man: I understand. Okay.
Me: Okay.
Man: Thank you. (Then in English - "Shank you.")


He hops back in his truck and drives away.

And I am a happy duck. I gave someone directions in the third language I kind of know. And he understood me. I also felt very Asian, in the sense of helping a complete stranger.

What a good day~!

i did it...

I may have crossed an invisible line. But I did it. I haucked a loogey. I am genuinely repulsed by this act. Inside, outside, male, female, discrete or not. I don't like it. I seem to have adapted well here. I still don't like it. But it makes sense. So, today as I was trying to wave a taxi down, I did it. Right there in the gutter. It seemed appropriate and it felt good.

And to top off my evening, my taxi driver was extra friendly. He kept saying my language is SO GOOD. Which, I have master the 6.5 phrases I am able to say. Typical questions about whether I'm a teacher and if I teach English. I asked about his wife and if he had kids. And his age of course. I was shocked to hear he was 50!He looked like he was in his late 30s. Then he started telling me my nose was big and that's how he knew I was American. Hahaha, what do you say to that? Thank you? You're right? You have a small nose? Then he commented on my language again. So, I told him he had good language too. Hahaha, he laughed and said his dialect is better than his standard. I believe it.

the perfect day

This post is a little belated, but I really wanted to share it with you. A couple posts back I told y'all about my TV game show try out. Well, the day didn't end there...

...after the TV try out Jess and I went to Subway for some lunch. Delish. I love the smells there. But every time I eat there, I think of Jimmy John's and all the good memories there. After that we walked around, looking at some shoes and going to the DVD store.

The DVD store is near the new Starbucks. Jess and I walked past it as we went to the DVD store. We saw people inside enjoying drinks. When we tried to go in they stopped us telling us it was Family Day. We knew that the Opening Day was not until the next day, but we were just hoping to get in. At the DVD store I bought Bones Seasons 1 through 6. What a deal!

Jess and I were walking back to look around some shops and decided to give Starbucks another try. The same thing happened. They lady at the door told us it was Family Day and to come back the next day after noon. Then Alan swoops in and says, "Welcome! Welcome! Let me buy you some coffee! It's on me!" We hesitant at first and tell him we would love to pay for the coffee and go. We don't want to interrupt. We just want some coffee before we have to leave the city. All drinks and food is on the house for Family Day, so they don't let us pay. As we sit and sip our frappachinos, we listen to some speeches and just enjoy the little piece of America. Then it's time to leave.

Next, we look for a place to get a massage. I didn't always like massage, but now I'm a little obsessed with them. They are so relaxing and feel so good. And being on my feet a lot, I considered it a reward every so often. We finally found a place and took a small break.

After the massages, we had already decided to get some Pizza Hut for dinner. We laugh watching the replays of the video footage while waiting for the pizza. And when the pizza arrives, it's AMAZING! We relish in the moment. After, we travel back the train station to take the fastest train in the world back home. But our day doesn't end there...

After arriving in our city, we grab a taxi back to campus. However, the taxi driver remembers Jess. Apparently, she had given him a CD to listen to and he actually listened to it. But he didn't understand. He asked some questions and Jess explained what she could. All in all, it was the perfect day.