LA trip – part 4
One of my purposes for the trip was to test my English language skills. I did my best when I could, though I didn’t hear much from the rest of the group, not even those in high school.
Conversing with cabin attendants was easy as they were kind and attentive, but it was a little nerve-racking to speak to a glum old white man at the passport control. But all in all, I was quite proud of my achievements.
- I was able to ask for help when I had the nosebleed incident.
- I asked for a refill of water when I dropped the cup and spilled it at lunchtime in San Diego Sea World.
- When we were in a car driven by one of the host families, I asked him if he thought the song on the radio was by Paul Simon (I was sure of it). He said he didn’t know, and the conversation ended.
Fortunately, my host-family was more engaging and encouraged us to speak up. I liked the mother’s vibrant energy, and I wrote to her when I returned to Japan. She wrote back, and I wrote again. Every few months or so, I wrote to her about my quotidian life and inquired after hers. She’d write back quickly and told me about hers. We corresponded for about a year until I felt shy about bothering her with my desultory life.