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PO1 · Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 136

Funny thing happened today. I'm sure this may be why some people say "Why bother?" sometimes. I'm not getting discouraged from studying, but just wanted to share some things that happened to me.

I live in the Greater Tokyo area so I believe there are more chances to meet people who will engage in English. Two times today I went somewhere (one a restaurant and one a coffee shop) and when I attempted to order in Japanese, they spoke to me in English. Granted, she asked me something I didn't understand at the coffee shop, so she just had pity on me and used English. (I've never got a straight answer about what to say if someone asks "For here?")

At the restaurant, she flipped the menu over to the English side before I could even say my order. Actually, I said the order in Japanese and the person kind of ignored me and showed me the English menu. I'm not the type to get angry if someone speaks English to me, so I just rolled with it.

Moments like these used to really frustrate me when I first started learning years ago. They don't bother me so much now, but I can see why some people may get discouraged from learning when they spend a lot of time studying and then some people just speak to them in English anyway. Still, it's no reason to quit.

I've taken the attitude that I'm going to learn despite these things happening on occasion. They're not so frustrating anymore, just funny since I decided to start studying more. I understand that even though I'm studying, it's going to take awhile before I don't suck. Smile

kah5217 · Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 270 Location: Ibaraki

These two usually work for me:

To go - mochi kaeri kudasai
For here - kochira de tabemasu

Depending on the cashier's understanding of keigo, they'll usually ask either "mochi kaeri desu ka?" or "kochira de meshi agarimasu ka".

PO1 · Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 136

Thanks! She said a question with "tennai" in it. That means "for here," right? I'll use your suggestions from now on since you said they work well for you.

Pitarou · Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Posts: 1116 Location: Narita, Japan

Ah! You reminded me of something. The goddam keigo, which they don't cover until right at the end of Minna no Nihongo, if memory serves. Total motivation killer, that. If you can't understand a word they're saying in McDonald's, what's the point?

PO1 · Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 136

rxk22 · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629

Japanese often don't understand that bu going out of their way to flip a menu over, or ignoring your existence, and asking your Japanese friend 'what did he say?' is very rude. That will never go away. Just soldier on, and don7t let it trip you up too much.

Ph, and for studying, particles are very hard. I still get　に and で wrong. Just in the same way the Japanese get 'the' wrong, all the time. Don't let it bother you too much.