I walked into the grocery store like a man on a mission. Today I would perform the Japanese I'd been practicing, face-to-face with a real Japanese person. That was the plan, anyway.
And honestly? It sort of worked.
I entered the checkout line rehearsing the line to myself like a Shakespearean actor:
- Two bags, please
- Two bags, please
- Two bags, please
The cashier said something to me and I nodded with unearned confidence. Didn't catch a word. It didn't matter; I had a script to follow.
He kept scanning my groceries, enough for exactly two bags, and I took the stage:
- TWO BAGS, PLEASE
Flawless, beautiful. A language masterpiece. I felt a warm glow of accomplishment in my chest. He understood me perfectly. I might as well have been a local.
When he finished, I delivered my next practiced line: with card please. His face gave the expression of someone whose earlier sentence was "this lane is cash only, is that okay?"
He helped me gently move everything back into the basket, then guided me to another lane that did accept cards.
On the bright side, I'd get to do the entire mission again. Practice makes perfect!
