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English is Not the Only Door to the World
What changed when I learned a language for curiosity and not perfection
About 10 years ago, I lived in Vancouver. In some daily situations, I felt like I became a small child.
For example, at a supermarket. I think it was Safeway, or some other local store. I remember spending a lot of time just standing in front of the milk section. There were too many types of milk. Whole, low-fat, organic… In Japanese, I can make this decision in one second. But in English, my thinking just stopped. I thought, “Why can’t I do this simple thing?” and I felt very pathetic.
At the register, the cashier asked me a short question at the end. I couldn’t understand it quickly. I wondered if it was about the bag, the receipt, or a loyalty card. I could feel the people waiting behind me. My heart beat fast, and my mind became blank. In the end, I just showed my debit card. It was the right answer, so I was relieved, but I felt empty because I just wanted to act like a normal adult.
Another time, at a bank in Vancouver, a staff member asked me for my “address”. In Japan, we often use the word “address” for email addresses too. So I gave my email address. Then I heard the staff member say to a colleague, “She is confused.”
