Smile & Nod

I'm still here in Japan. The jet lag has subsided some. I can now at least make it to 9pm before collapsing into bed. I haven't explored much beyond the hotel yet, mainly due to a lack of time. After 10 hours in the office then the commute, I am lucky to have enough time and energy to get in a quick workout and find something to eat.

My biggest anxiety about coming here was the language barrier, and it certainly has been a challenge. I have a few of the basic Japanese words and phrases down; "Good morning", "thank you", "excuse me", and the ever important "where is the toilet". But beyond that, communicating is difficult. At work, it is easier as most of the employees do speak a good bit of English. Beyond that though, a surprisingly few number of Japanese speak any English at all. When I ordered room service this evening, I asked what ice cream they had. The young lady on the other end of the line went through a list of three choices, of which, only one I could figure out after the third time through the (pistachio). I decided not to order any ice cream.

I have gotten very good at the "smile & nod" here. Shop keeps, hotel staff, the girls at the spa where I go swimming all babble off something at me in Japanese. I can tell that the phrases vary, but they are spoken so fast, I just can't pick out anything I recognize. I have no idea what they are saying. For all I know they could be calling me a fat American cow. I doubt it, giving their manners, but it is weird not knowing what they are saying or the proper response. I want to be polite back to them and not cause any offense, so how do you know what the proper response is when you don't know what is being said? See the frustration. So, I do the only thing I know.... smile and nod and keep going.

Don't get me wrong... I am not complaining.... just observing. The Japanese are an amazingly polite and well mannered society and all Americans should come here to learn a few things about customer service. The service here is simply impeccable. I just wish I knew more of the language so I didn't look like such a damn bobble head doll with all the smiling and nodding.