Friday, July 3, 2009

金曜日は日本語で - Japanese Fridays オレンジジュース版

***Please scroll down for the English translation***

私が日本からアメリカに越してきたのは1991年、12歳になる目前の春でした。もう18年以上前、随分昔の話です。 でも、やはりそれなりに大変だったからでしょう、その頃の事は結構いろいろ覚えています。

今週からしばらく、この機会を借りてその頃の経験を振り返ってみたいと思います。日本に興味のあるアメリカ人の方、またはアメリカに興味のある日本人の方の参考になれば光栄です。

一応日本で英会話教室に通ったとはいうものの、その時点の私は 英語を全く喋れないと言ってもいい状態でした。 成田からワシントンD.C. に飛び、それからバージニア州のノーフォーク飛行場に飛ぶ、という旅でしたがもちろんノーフォーク行きの飛行機には日本人のスチュワーデスも日本語の放送もありません。 時差ぼけでもうろうとしながらも、ものすごく緊張したのを覚えています。

何がそんなに恐かったかというと、飲み物を配りに来るスチュワーデスさんです。 「お飲み物はいかがですか?」と聞いている、というのは状況で大体は分かるのですがどうしても「もし違う事を聞かれていたらどうしよう!」と心配してしまいます。でも他の質問をされていたとしても、どう答えていいか分からないのでとにかく父に教えてもらったように「オーレンジジュース、プリーズ。」と言ってみました。

...ところがです、スチュワーデスさんがまた何か質問してきました! 「???」 

もう隣の席に座っている父に頼るしか他に手はありません。 結局は私の声が小さすぎて聞こえなかったという事で、もう一度大きな声で頼みました。

で、必死になって手に入れたこのオレンジジュース、実は私、欲しくなかったんです。 ただ「何もいらない」とはどう言ったらいいのか知らなかったのです。 もったいないので全部飲みましたが、その後ちゃんと父に「No,thank you」と言えばいいのだと教えてもらいました。
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I first arrived in the U.S. from Japan during the Spring of 1991, shortly before I turned 12-years old. That's already over 18 years ago, an ancient history, really. But I find that I still remember quite a bit from that era, probably because it was such a challenging time in my life.

Starting this week, I'd like to take this opportunity to look back at my early experiences in the U.S. It would be my honor if Americans with an interest in Japan or the Japanese with an interest in the U.S. find this helpful.

Although I had taken some English classes in Japan, I basically couldn't speak a lick of English when I arrived. Our trip took us from Narita to Washington D.C. and then to Norfolk Airport in Virginia, and obviously, there were no Japanese stewardesses or Japanese announcements on the flight to Norfolk. I remember being extremely nervous on this flight, despite the exhaustion from jet lag.

What was I so afraid of? The stewardess offering refreshments. Just from the situation in general, I could tell that she was asking if I wanted something to drink. But I couldn't stop my mind from wondering, "What if she was asking a totally different question?" Realizing that I didn't know how to answer even if she had, I just replied, "Orange juice, please" just like my father had taught me.

...But then, she asked me yet another question! "???"

At this point, I had no other option but to look at my father, who was sitting next to me, for assistance. It turns out, she just could not hear what I had said, so I repeated it once again in a louder voice.

I finally had my hard-won orange juice, but the truth is, I didn't even want it in the first place. I simply was not fluent enough to explain to her that I didn't want anything. I drank the juice since I didn't want to be wasteful, but I got my father to teach me the phrase "No, thank you" after that.

3 comments:

  1. Enjoyed the story about you on the airplane. It is often very hard to hear what people say on a plane due to the noise of the engines...I have that trouble all the time. But looks like you learned the English lanuage quite fast and very well.
    Anna

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  2. cute story! thanks for sharing! i've never been out of the country (well, twice, but only quick trips over the border), so i can well imagine how nervous i'd be traveling into a country where i don't speak a word of the language..

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  3. Thank you for your comments Anna and Amanda! And also to those of you who left comments on my previous posts!

    This is a great exercise for me since I'm trying not to forget Japanese now! :p

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