Coffee Talk

My goal for this week: try to speak Japanese to someone other than my Sensei. Now, I adore my Sensei. She is extremely well-mannered. And, she is very, very friendly. In fact, her favorite hobby seems to be introducing herself to people on the subway. She also enjoys telling me that I'm doing a great job. Over and over and over again. Unfortunately, since she's my Language Lesson 1 CD Sensei, she's not quite the coffee drinker and I'm looking for a coffee friend.

I also decided that I would try to speak Japanese without using my old reliable phrases of the past two months (thank you, good morning, good afternoon, you've worked hard, cheers, good night, grande cappucinno and excuse me). Admittedly, I have become somewhat of a Sumimasen ("excuse me")-addict and use this phrase all the time--whether it makes sense or not. I just love saying it. I say it while shopping, paying bills, cooking soba, buying tickets, brushing my teeth, helping with homework, tucking my sons in at night...
"Sumimasen! Sumimasen..."
"Dad!," my son yelled. "Mom's calling me by the wrong name again."

"Eigo ga wakarimasu ka?"
Silence.
"Eigo ga wakarimasu ka?" I repeated to the clerk.
More silence.
Clearly, something is not right. This is the conversation starter that my CD Sensei uses all the time and she's never had to wait this long for a reply. In fact, by this time, CD Sensei and her new friends have already exchanged addresses, discussed the time of the day and figured out the time the bank opens. Over and over and over again.

"What?" the clerk at the coffee shop finally answered in English. "What did you say?"
Let's just say, it's not a boost for the self confidence, when you ask "Do you understand English" and the answer is "What?"
"Grande cappucinno," I said quite sheepishly. "And, make it strong."

My goal for this week: find a new goal.