Man: "Haisai" Michelle: "Huh?" Man: "This is my usual seat but it looks like there’s somebody who’s already taken it today." W-what do I do?! I can’t understand Japanese!! But this Japanese sounds different from the one I’ve learned... Michelle: "I can’t seem to...understand what you’re saying..." Man: "...? Hmm..." Michelle: "Uh..well...I-I...am someone who...speaks English..." Ugh, I hate hate this! They’re going to think I’m stupid for sure since my Japanese is weird. Maybe I should just run away somewhere. I hate this, why did this person start talking to me? 　 Man: "Ohh. I see. OKOK, I understand. You must be a Nikkei that’s returning home from abroad." Michelle: "Ah...yes. Maybe...probably, that’s what you’d call it." Yes, I can understand what he’s saying a bit more. Was what he was speaking earlier not Japanese? Man: "I can’t draw unless it’s here, so I’m going to have to borrow that seat next to you." Michelle: "Yes...please feel free to..." Man: "Thank you" 　　 Then the man sat next to me and brought out a sketchbook, and started drawing. A drawing of the ocean... Is this person an artist? Michelle: "Are you a pic...no, are you someone who draws?" Man: "Sort of. It’s my hobby." Michelle: "Huh... um..." This is bad. I can’t think of any Japanese to say in a situation like this. Man: "Uh, are you a student?" Michelle: "Gakusei? Sorry, I don’t understand." What is Gakusei?! I really should have studied more!! Man: "Oh no, you don’t need to apologize. I see." Michelle: "So... so... your... no... excuse me." ".........." As I run out of things to say, the sound of the waves seems louder than before. Since he started talking to me, I want to ask him so many things, and talk to him about so much, but I don’t know how to express myself in Japanese...!! Uh...the Japanese I know..ahh...what was it....name...ah, yes, I should ask him his name! I remember that if you add a ‘ka’ to the end of the sentence, it becomes a question. 　　 Michelle: "Ah, you!!  What is...your name?!" My voice was much louder than I expected...will he be able to understand me? Man: "Oh, my name?! You’re curious? Ah....um..." It seems he understood me.... I suppose it is a bit strange to suddenly ask him for his name.... If I think about if I’d do this back home, I feel like I did something extremely embarrassing. Michelle: "Well....." Man: "Hmm... Amahisa. Ikei Amahisa." Michelle: "Amahisha...?" Amahisha: "Yes, yes. A-ma-hi-sa..." 　　　 Amahisha: "Yes, nearby there’s a place called Ameku, and my parents couldn’t be bothered to come up with a name. And so they just used the kanji to create my name." Michelle: "You...nh, I know this character. It means the sky, right?" Amahisha: "Oh, you understand kanji? Impressive. Yes, it’s a good name right?" Michelle: "Yes, it’s a very good name..." Amahisha: "Haha, you think it’s a good name!" 　　 Oh, he’s smiling. Maybe I used weird Japanese again. Ugh, I’m so terrible. I keep feeling bad ever since I came back to Japan. 　　 Amahisha: "Hm, what’s wrong?" Michelle: “Me...my...Japanese....is so bad...so I am embarrassed to speak.” Amahisha: "Hm. I see. Oh? When I went to the mainland, I couldn’t communicate with people and I had many problems...it’s very difficult when you can’t communicate with others." Michelle: "Yes....very tough. Japanese is...so hard, it makes lots of problems." Amahisha: "Hm...oh! Are you free tomorrow?" Michelle: "...hi-ma? What?" Amahisha: "Ah, you don’t understand that word. What was it again... Will you come here tomorrow? OK?" Michelle: "Oh.... OK. Why?” 　　 Amahisha: "Ah, if you’d like, I can become your Japanese teacher." 伊禮天久(Ikei Amahisa) An old man who likes to draw and play the Sanshin, and is always wandering about. Very happy go lucky personality, rather than just having a big heart. A former military man. [T/N: A "Sanshin" is an Okinawan instrument similar to the banjo.] 　　　　　　　Next up is the fisherman!