Language problem…

          In these days, I am walking a lot, no; it is not a part of any weight reduction strategy!  It is out of compulsion!!! 

Everyday morning, doing a lot of brisk walk to reach the nearby subway/ railway station and rushing to catch the next the train, after getting down from one train, as we have to change three trains to reach the nearest station near to our office.  And then again, walking for another 15 minutes to reach our destination.  The same sequence is repeated in the evening to reach back our accommodation. 

This kind of walking is a part of life in Japan, as here all are doing ‘brisk walk’ like this in the morning.  They are always walking so fast, but follows queues even while standing in waiting for the train!

That day we had a field visit; all were very exited, (a relief from the class room lectures).  But the day turned out to be very tiring, as we were standing continuously for five hours, during the demonstration sessions!

 It all happened like this.  We reached our destination by changing two trains ‘as per the tedious process described above’.  The office was on the 30^th floor of a 35-storied building.  We got a very warm welcome, but soon the demonstration session started.  We had to move from one system to another to have glimpse of the new technologies displayed in that showroom, we couldn’t find even a single chair in that hall.  The demonstration became so lengthy, because the beautiful Japanese lady in charge of the session was doing it in Japanese language and our coordinator was translating it 'word by word'.  Hence it took double time.  Any way, it was very informative.

My legs were really paining, and I was not well also in those days.  On our way back, I decided to buy a pain relieving ointment and walked into a medical shop along with an Indian friend.  Here, in the shops, all the items are displayed and you are free to go around and take the one of your choice.  We took a round of the shop hoping that, from the pictures on the cover of medicine we can identify it; but we couldn’t, as everything was written in Japanese language.  I went to the counter and asked for the medicine, but counter boy appeared very confused; with great difficulty he said ‘no, English’.  The I thought ‘may be he don’t know to speak English, of course, he may be able to read English’.  I wrote in big Letters ‘PAIN’ and then ‘OINTMENT’.  But he said ‘no’ to that also.  I was very disappointed.  Soon, he took the paper from me and went inside.  He came out with another boy.  I was almost given up.  My friend decided to give another try.  She said ‘Pain’ ; the boy repeated it, then she took out her final weapon ‘she acted as if she was in great pain’.  Of course, she is a good actor and the boy soon got the word.  Now, we need to convey ‘Ointment’. Soon, I got an idea, I took a bottle of baby oil from the stands and showed it to him. Yes, this time we succeeded, he brought the medicine in a second.  And it was also very special one, you only need to apply it on the affected parts and the medicine will ooze out of the circular sponge like top surface, you will feel a cooling effect and no trace of the medicine on your skin and you are relived of the pain.  Thus ended the story of a frantic search!

(In Japan, till recently, English was taught only in colleges!  Now they are modifying the system and English is being introduced slowly in High school classes.)

****