A Chance Meeting in 1000 Words

If you’re going to read just ONE POST in my blog for the whole of December, then please – read this! I am begging you. I’ve made this post into a stickie so that for the whole month of December it will be on top of the page when you view it. If you’ve read this already, arigato gozaimasu – you can scroll down for the latest blog posts!

My introduction to Japanese culture started by spending Saturday mornings immersed in Voltes V and Dragon Ball Z in between Milo commercials and my Mom calling us to take a bath. Formal education intervened and I learned about World War II, the Death March and Comfort Women. Being the patriot and Communist leaning child of ten that I was, I shunned any “imperial” influence – for four years – my mind selectively forgetting the Hiroshima bombing.

Anyway, I grew up and enjoyed watching dubbed episodes of Anime shows that I’d be embarrassed to admit that I’ve watched.Recently y’all could tell that I’m in to dramas, movies, some music, bento boxes, fashion and some said even makeup. And oh, much to my dear brother’s surprise he found me reading manga online, of my own will. Plus I told my cellgroup and anyone who’d listen that I’ll probably marry a Japanese guy .

Can you imagine one of my silent prayers for the Asia Conference?

GOD, PLEASE LET ME TALK TO A JAPANESE DELEGATE

My racial radar was on, I was kind and helpful just as Pastor said we should be during the briefing especially to those with green tags. But I was also on the lookout for Japanese delegates . First day, not a chance, I was too busy moping that we were at Hall 10. Thursday, we got into Hall 8 but I was busy tending to my feet which were suffocated, and there was no sign of Japanese delegates. Friday, forget it, my feet were dying on me and I didn’t have the strength to be friendly. So there I was airing my feet out when I noticed that there were two empty chairs beside me, and the other people didn’t want to move in. I was kinda worried about sitting beside someone who might not understand me or WORSE that person may understand me but I’ll have zero clue on what they’re saying. CUE Chris Rock(shouting): Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?

Before praise and worship started two women filled the seats beside me – they were both wearing green tags. UH-OH, a middle-aged woman sat beside me, now, I am not an ageist but middle-aged women either (1) talk non-stop without coming up for air or (2) shun you like you’re the plague. Since we had this five minute chat to cover after praise and worship, I began to strategize my way through this conversation. I really wanted to talk to at least one foreign delegate not including those who were staying at our house, so as Pastor gave the signal to talk, I took a deep breath, smiled and tapped the woman’s shoulder because she was staring at the stage.

Me (putting my best non-threatening smile): Hello! What’s your name?

The woman started to lean towards me, a sign that she hadn’t understood me. At this point I tried not to let my smile waver but deep inside I was like, “Oh no, she doesn’t speak ENGLISH!”

Me (trying again, pointing to my tag): I’m Elle, and you are?

The woman looks at her own tag, gives a relieved smile: Oh name, (laughs) I’m (shows her tag to me)

And this is what I saw

 

 K—- A—

JAPAN

For privacy reasons I intentionally left out her name, which I memorized instantly when I saw that she was from Japan. Anyway, in my mind at that time, angels were singing the Hallelujah Chorus!

ME (sounding retarded): You’re from Japan? (Hello, couldn’t I read?)

Ms. KA: Yes, and you (glances at my blue tag), oh you’re from this church?

ME: Yes, City Harvest (but I really wanted to say,enough about me, I wanna know about you! )

 

You wouldn’t believe what she asked me next, she asked me if I was single or married! My thoughts flew over to the times that I told my cellgroup that “I’m gonna marry a Japanese guy” to which some of them reacted unfavorably – that I’m gonna marry someone of Japanese ethnicity and not the fact that I’m gonna marry!

 

Ninety-nine percent of the time that we were talking she would slip in to Nihonngo, she was so busy talking to me that she didn’t notice that my face would draw a lot of “???”! Then she’d look at my blank reaction and laugh at herself then switch to English. I learned that she was a widow and had a son and a daughter. In case you’re wondering, no, I did not ask her if her son was by any chance single! I am NOT that LOW, I was tempted too but that wasn’t very polite. I let her do all the talking because I really was interested in anything she had to say, absolutely anything, I was giddy over the fact that I am actually talking to a Japanese delegate!

 

At this point Pastor had to cut our conversation to celebrate the birthdays of two Pastors from Taiwan. I was heartbroken, our conversation wasn’t even five minutes long! But then again, nothing can dampen my spirits because I really got to talk to someone from Japan! I mean what are the odds?

 

Throughout the session I kept looking at her, smiling at her and nodding at her, I felt bad when halfway through Pastor’s preaching her translation headset stopped working! I knew it happened frequently because even when I was attending electives there were faulty headsets, but what was I supposed to do? I didn’t even know how to help her . I really wanted to talk to her but time wasn’t on my side, I just consoled myself that God had answered my prayer.

 

Guess what? Sunday made up for it! I think our bladders were in sync because we met twice at the restroom. I guess I partially have to thank Debbie and her mum for it because I wouldn’t be going to the restrooms if I hadn’t been Debbie’s PA and her mum’s CHC escort! I was so excited in seeing Ms. KA again and I made up for Friday night. She was also excited to see me that she began talking to me in Nihonggo again! But this time I was prepared, I held her hands, smiled and said, “English, English”, then we would both laugh! I have never been in an animated discussion with anyone in Singapore before this – the kind where you forget that other people existed.

 

I picked up where we left off last Friday and she commented that I had an extremely good memory to remember the things she said and she even complimented me on the necklace that I was wearing (Beautiful).

 

This is the part where I extol the virtues of reading Manga…

 

In Hana Kimi, Mizuki’s class goes for a trip in Hokkaido (Sano Izumi’s hometown), now of all the places in Hokkaido as mentioned in Hana Kimi the only city/town I remember is Sapporo. AND, I kid you not, Ms. KA is a pastor of a church in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan! If this is a coincidence then it gave me goosebumps. I absolutely loved talking to her that if it were not for the fact that I had to accompany Debbie’s mum back to her seat, I would have followed Ms. KA to her seat and talked to her!

source

God must have an incredible sense of humor and timing! Maybe my sudden interest in all things Japan may be more than a fangirl thing, what do you think?

---

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Community Challenge: Green Screen Me!
• 55: The Book – Update
• General Conference Word Clouds