IrishOboe

On my walk back from Courtnay’s (Saturday Feb. 25^th) I stopped in the music shop that I pass every time I walk to the train station. I had planned to pop in and out but after asking about Irish music (it was worth a shot!) she wouldn’t let me refuse coffee (which she ground in front of me in an old-fashioned grinder than had what looked like Dutch blue tiles on the base). Then her husband came and she set him to work finding Irish CDs for me. He managed to find a few, but none by Japanese artists (I know they’re out there!). Of course, the magical thing about the whole two-hour experience was that we were communicating in Japanese!I guess somehow, someway I’ve managed to learn enough Japanese so that I could understand most of their questions and answer them satisfactorily, plus get the gist of whatever they were trying to express and indicate my agreement. If I said yes when I was supposed to answer I question they were gracious about it because it seemed like there was little communication trouble. Of course there were words I didn’t know and I had a hard to expressing more complicated ideas, but they spoke clearly enough that I didn’t have trouble understanding the words I did know. They also didn’t mind just talking and laughing so they kept the conversation going. After an hour they served me cake and tea and more music. I was trying to find a CD that I could buy because I didn’t want to accept their hospitality and leave without buying anything. While I was there only two customers came in! I finally found a traditional Japanese music CD (shamisen) and said I had to go but I wanted to buy it. I did, though I think they knocked about $8 off the price. Then, as I went to go Mr. Kitamura threw in an Irish CD as a gift! How do the Japanese make any money?!

I walked home elated that I was able to do that. When did I learn to do that? What just happened? Did I really speak in Japanese for two hours! I might just speak some Japanese by the time I leave here after all!

The only unfortunate thing is that it only left me an hour before I had to go to church. I decided to write this update, but that left a lot of things undone. Well, I’m busy, but happy. I sure love living! Thanks for your patience. I love you all very much even though I don’t make the time to tell you so.