Mike and I first met while studying Japanese at FSU. Eventually, we ended up studying abroad in Japan through FSU for 6 weeks. Then, went back again after graduation in order to study the language intensively.
One weekend, to blow off some steam, we went to the most famous club district in Tokyo, called Roppongi. Its fun to go dance with the locals, and attempt to use your newly learned Japanese with unsuspecting victims. I ended up dancing with one Japanese girl in particular, for most of the night. We were having a blast just chatting. Even though she spoke no English, and my Japanese was rudimentary at best, we still could communicate. Eventually, the music switched songs, the beat changed pace, and I lost rhythm and laughed (ofcourse I always laugh). She looked troubled and asked me what was so funny…I then tried to say in my best Japanese: “When the music changes, its embarrassing, because of the beat.” She looked at me stunned, and asked, “what?!”. I then repeated, a bit slower this time, “when the music changes, its embarrassing because of the beat…” Just like that, she suddenly smiled politely, turned, whispered something to her friend and left the club. I was mortified, I immediately ran to my buddy Mike,and asked him what went wrong. There, in the middle of the club, we broke out our trusty English to Japanese dictionaries and tried to make sense of what happened. Unfortunately, Mike, like a true friend, told me what I had actually said: “The music here is different. You’re embarrassing me, listen to the beat.”
Ouch. A nice example of the nuances getting “Lost in Translation”, however, I’m usually a very tactful traveler. Having majored in Anthropology, I respect foreign cultures and enjoy experiencing them firsthand. My buddy and I eventually found that girl again in the same club and profusely apologized, so, in the end it worked out alright. Only my pride was hurt.
As far as a traveling partner goes, I don’t think I would have chosen anyone else. Mike and I have similar interests and ideals about travel, and always end up having the time of our lives. Always looking for the next adventure, we plan on having many more experiences similar to this…well hopefully not too too similar, but over as many countries and cultures as possible.