Walkingalongthestreetsofthecity, eatinglovelyfood, having a wanderaroundMemorialpark, getting a historylesson.
It's notbeentoobusyorstressful.
It's been a veryrelaxing, pleasantday.
Did I hadtwokeygoals, thefirstofwhichwasreallyjusttogetoverthejetlanguage, havingofactuallyquitesuccessfullydone.
I sleptprettywelllastnight.
Allthingsconsidered, I wenttodayatmynormaltime.
I wokeuponceinthenightwonderingwherethehell I am, who I was.
Butapartfromthat, I sleptthroughtillmorning.
Today I haven't reallyfelttiredatall, so I thinkthistime I amblissfullyjetlagfree.
Mysecondgoalwastheone I can't howtoorder a cupoffcoffeeinthelocalcoffeeshop, which I nowfeelequippedtodo.
ThankstoNeedsmyandgangputtingtogether a FacebookgroupcalledTheAwesomeGang, dedicatedtoteachingmeChinesefromMuncieAsianandhowtosaybasicthingsthat I needtosay, includingboyAyoub, a runsheet, howtoorder a cupofblackcoffee.
I haveforgottenwhatitfeelsliketobetotallyandutterlyincapableorcommunicating, eveninthemostbasicofsituations.
I mean, when I wenttoJapan, I'd alreadylearnedenoughofthebasicsthat I coulddosimplethings, likebuyingsomethingin a shop, askingifyoucantrysomethingoninthechangingrooms.
I'vejustbeantotheshop, uniquelowTeohbyCemRoom, wherebecauseit's a bitchillyherethan I expected, and I didn't bringanywithme.
Andi.
I mean, itfeelsweirdgoinguptosomebodysayingthefittingroomsorthecashregisterintheshopsayingtheconveniencestoreAndi, reallynoknowingwhattosayatall.
Sogoinguptothewomaninthefittingrooms, notknowingwhetherNiHaojustkindofsayinglikewhat I believedtobethegenericHelloistherightthingtodoontheirnotbeingabletosaythingslike, Could I trytheseon?
No, I'vegottwoitems, buthavingtoinsteadjusttoholdthetwothingsup.
Ofcoursetheyunderstandwhatyoumeanandwhatyouaredoingandthenthemtalkingatyouandnothaving a singlecluewhattheyaresaying.
Thatwasthesameonthecashregister.
I knewthatshewastellingmehowmuchitwasbecause I canseeitonthecashregisterthateverythingelsejustyesterday I wasintheconveniencestoreanditwaslikeand I couldn't bebotheredtoproperlystartingtotheconveniencestore.
And I bought a cupramenOndaum, a burger.
Andi, I assumewhattheguysaidtomeis, wouldyoulikemetoheatthisup?
I'vebeenintheFamilyMartconveniencestore 1,000,000,000 timesinTokyo, and I knowthatthatispartofwhattheyask.
But I didn't actuallyhave a cluewhetherthatiswhathesaidornot.
Andi, I didn't reallyknowhowtorespond.
Intheend, I saidShake, shakeandwhetherthatwastherightthingtosay.
Itremindsmeofwhen I wasinJapanwhen I wasinJapan, oneinvestmentthathadalreadylearnedenough, thebasicsthatdidn't reallyhave a problemwiththingslikethat.
Butforexample, when I waasfirstworkingfulltimein a school, I thinkthere's probablybeensomekindofadministrativemistakebecausetheschoolhadnoEnglishspeakingteachersandtheyhadwanted a Japanesespeaker, which I quitecertainwasn't reallyatthattimeon.
Evenafterseveralmonthsoff, reallyprettyintensivestudyandlearning, I wouldhavetositinmeetings.
Andi.
I'd eitherhavenocluewhatwasbeingsaidatme.
Meaning I justhadnowaytorespondwhatsoever, or I getthegistand I'd haveideas.
And I havethingsthat I wantedtosayinputthat I wantedtogive.
But I wouldn't beabletoactuallyexpressthatmyself.
Sothatreallytheonlythingthat I couldeverdointhosemeetings, whetheritunderstoodthepersonalnowouldbetonotjustsayyes.
Yes, yes, yes.
I justrememberfeelinglikeanabsoluteidiot a longtime, likewhat I wasactuallyabletodowasseverelycrippledbymycommunicativeability.
Youyouhavetokindofthrowthatawayandbehappytolooklikeanabsolutetwicefor a while, I think, becauseifyouifyougointothiswith a senseofpride, wantingtobeperfectbeforeyouactuallytrytodoanythingintherealworldwhileyoulive, neverdoanythingintherealworldoryou'lljusthavethatpridetrampledtodeath.