Today, I'm studying abroad in Japan. For the first time, I had to ride the train home from school alone. My host sister told me which train and the time it left. I sat down on the train, feeling proud of myself when I realized she didn't tell me what stop was ours, and I barely speak Japanese. FML
Tryingmybest tells us more.
Hey! OP here. Thanks for your concern, everyone! ありがとう！ So what happened was my school is an hour away from my host family's home, and I've only taken it a few times so far with my host sister. So I really panicked when I got on the train and forgot what number our stop was! And my wifi doesn't work here, so Google Translate was a no go. So I sort of just sat there quietly panicking for an hour. Luckily, I have taken a year of Japanese and was able to ask some basic questions, and the announcer said the name of my town at least five times before we arrived, so in the end all was okay! Also, Japan is awesome.
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Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
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Top comments
miamackster 16
That's tough. I hope you recognized something and got to where you needed to go
NYM88 26
Tasukete!
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Comments (68)
ksully31314 2
From an American in Okinawa, Goggle translate can be your beat friend ?
Garagedwella 26
So can spell check! :)
wolf12king 12
Most Japanese people know some English so if you have a good idea of where your address is you should be able to talk to someone just be respectful.
rldostie 19
Actually, it really depends on where you are in Japan. Not everyone speaks English or even a little English and many are afraid to try because they feel embarrassed by their English. In my city in Japan, lots of people spoke minimal English, sort of the way most Americans maybe studied Spanish in school but speak minimal Spanish.
redscarf_fml 8
She probably assumed that you remembered from other trips. Sorry OP, I hope you found your way home!
heyLaddieHey 18
Do you know the address? Get to WiFi, and download Google maps. Saved my life many a time in Rome! Have fun!
Goblin182 27
You know, women hate being called broads. And probably don't appreciate being studied.
zeorox 18
I had a similar experience. My family told me which stop but I ended up taking the right bus the wrong way and ended up at a large Japanese station confused and alone. I hope you got home safe!
Wonthebread 20
I just imagined you growing old on the train.
cranberries_fml 17
In all fairness, it might not have been the wisest plan to go live in a country where you don't speak the language even remotely competently
rldostie 19
It's actually very wise. Total immersion is the best way to learn and master a language. It's hard as hell but extremely effective and way better than learning from a book or classroom. I've studied abroad three times, twice in countries I didn't speak the language at the time and it totally paid off--even if I made stupid mistakes in the beginning.
paraxparaxnoia 10
I think this is the best way to learn a new language, so for me, OP is kinda bada** to have the guts to live in another country to study!
rldostie 19
Something similar happened to me when I was studying abroad in Japan too! I got on the wrong bus, ended up on the wrong side of the city, spoke little Japanese at the time, and ended up crying on the side of the road. Luckily, some fellow school girls helped me get home and I never made that mistake again. がんばってよ！It'll get easier.
talal7860 13
Google translate helps a lot in such times ?