Yesterday afternoon I met Sabine and her coworkers at their hotel. What a surreal moment. After months of communicating almost entirely by Internet chat, here’s Sabine in person, introducing me to the people who have been the principal characters in her weblog. And I didn’t have a thing to say.
I enjoy learning the odd phrase of Japanese. Like “Sumimasen ga wakarimasen” Sorry, I don’t understand. Or “Watashiwa Canada-jin desu” I am a Canadian person. Or “Ohayo gozaimasu” You’re up early. (Apologies for my spelling.)
There I was with the perfect opportunity to try out a couple of phrases, or at least gesticulate my way through a conversation, but all I could do was smile and nod stupidly. Sabine says that I know “sushi Japanese”. So basically, I know everything on the menu at a Japanese restaurant, but I can’t muddle myself through the most basic introductions.
On the other hand, I can make a mean okonomiyaki.