“Hello? Hello?” I hear a young voice calling behind me and getting closer. I stop and turned. Looks like another session of English practice.
Two high school girls, dressed in short skirts and tall boots, come to talk to me. “We are doing a project for our class,” they read from a sheet of paper. “May we ask you some questions? Is video OK?” they ask as they wiggle their camera for emphasis.
Now I am on the stage of diplomacy. I am an ambassador for all English speaking people, ready to answer their questions with a cheery smile. “OK.” I answer (best to use simple English in these situations). “Tell me about your project…” I ask.
Girl number one, who has been doing the talking, looks fearful. This is not on her list of questions and answers. She looks greatly relieved when I tell her in Japanese that it’s OK to speak her own language. The story spills right out. They have a foreign teacher and…
Eventually, I am stationed in front of a KFC near the subway exit and the interview begins. Do I like music? (yes) Have I ever tried karaoke? (no) Do I prefer Western or Japanese music? (difficult question, I like both) Who is my favorite musician? (my husband) Oh, is his famous? (no, he’s not)
Soon enough the trial is over and I’m captured on tape. The assignment is to find two foreigners to talk to and I am their second. They look quite relieved to be done.
