“Do you speak Mandarin?” We returned their question with a deer in the headlights look. Barrett, Annabelle, and I were walking through a cave enjoying Annabelle experiencing her first stalactites and stalagmites when an Asian family stopped to wave at Annabelle. We spoke simple English to them when they asked that question. “No.” we finally replied. I never thought that I would ever be asked that question. We laughed about it later while we stuck Annabelle’s head through another wooden cut out for tourists in the middle of the cave (see below).
We spent this day at Okinawa World which is a sampling of Okinawan culture. They had a drum and dance show, snake (habu) show, glass blowing, pottering spinning, a cave, and fruit farm. It is set up so you follow a single path the whole way, alternating between a shop and event. Everything was given in Japanese so we missed the humor but enjoyed the sights. In one of the shops they had snack sampling and as I was handing Annabelle one that was a sponge-like cake a lady ran up frantically waving her hands shouting “SAKI! SAKI!” I laughed out loud! I almost fed my daughter pure alcohol cake! We decided to give her mango cake instead.
Later on that week we took a 24-hour vacation in the Marriott spa and hotel. It had five pools, a beach, and all you can eat buffets! The room overlooked the beach and was blanketed in white. In fact, they even gave us white cotton PJ’s to wear with disposable white slippers! We got such a kick out of it, that Barrett and I donned on the above said duds and plodded down to the breakfast area on our floor. Since they were made for Japanese, they were way too short so we looked ridiculous. As we entered the crowded breakfast area I happily asked, “didn’t you get the memo?” Nothing. Nothing! We asked the staff if anyone ever comes out in the PJ’s…”Um, no.” She smiled politely. We giggled awkwardly and headed back to our room to change.
A few days later I put Annabelle in her bike seat and we biked to get a one-year birthday present for a friend. We were about 3 km from home when the bike veered awkwardly. I looked back and the back tire was completely flat. Oh man. This was supposed to be a quick trip as I needed to get to Barrett in time to get paperwork notarized and put in the mail before it closed. I walked the bike to a hotel nearby and the workers got wide eyed because they didn’t know English. I pointed at my back tire and waved my arms for help. One guy smiled and got another female worker to come by. I thought she would talk to me in English but she smiled as she yammered in Japanese. We communicated with points and smiles and she helped me get out Annabelle and take the bike to some workers that had a pump. Then they showed me the earring that I ran over that made pumping air into my tire fruitless. My heart fell. I had to get home, return in my car to pick up my bike in less than an hour and I was over 2km from home. The hotel let me leave my bike, so I grabbed Annabelle tightly and with bike helmet on, sped walked the way home in the sun and heat. I got the car and headed back. My new sign language friend tried to help me fit my mountain bike complete with baby seat in my miniature minivan. It took a good 5 minutes with finagling. We were streaked with grease by the end but ended the ordeal with a high five and a wave goodbye.
These types of interactions are some of my favorite times overseas. Two different cultures and languages jovially trying to communicate in any way possible. It often leaves all of us smiling and laughing and thankful for the encounter. Sure, there are difficulties living in a foreign land, but high fives, baby smiles, and silliness seem to overcome most barriers. =0)