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I'm living in an apartment complex and see this lady all the time with her little daughter walking around, looking bored. She says hi and bye but I think she is from Japan and doesn't speak much English.
I've been there (bored Mom with a little kid). I also would like to be friendly to her but I don't know how to be friendly to someone from Japan who cannot understand me.
I'm from out of the area, too (different state) so I don't know many people.
I don't want to offend her but I used to be a teacher and also volunteered doing ESL (English as a Second Language). I feel so sorry for people who are isolated not knowing English.
How should I approach her without being offensive? What if I gave the little girl a book from my son (ABCs) to 'break the ice." Should I just say hi and bye and mind my business? I have heard Japanese people are very 'closed' and don't like to be bothered.
Any comments? Anyone who knows how adult Japanese women meet and interact?
I do have a dog and the little one likes to see her.
Anyone know any simple words I can say in Japanese?
Just go up to her and introduce yourself and your son. Also let her know you are available if she may need anything. That way you can figure out if she does know english or not.
Ask her to tea and see if she'd like help with learning English. Tell her that you used to teach ESL. She probably is shy and doesn't want to be a bother to anyone. If the weather is nice, you could have a green tea party outside in a park with her child and your dog.
If she is Japanese,she may be very polite and say hi and nod.It is hard to understand them.I know many Japanese that just came over to the States. They need to be with other Japanese. If there is group of Japanese Association in your area then just give her the location or brochure.That's enough. To have tea with her is ok but she will just say yes or no in the conversation. They are not chatters. It's hard to see if they like you or not because they are so polite. There should be ESL classes in a janapese association. You may give her a gift and she will give you one.and she will just nod again.
I suppose unless YOU want to learn some Japanese, don't be overly friendly to her. Maybe an occasional exchange of you saying something simple in Japanese to her and then telling her the English for it might be nice. I would love to learn Japanese (or German) and then to one day visit their countries. I still have no interest in learning Chinese. lol
The only Japanese I know is Honda! Yamaha! Suzuki! Isuzu! Kawasaki! Daihatsu! Origato! and of course Sake!
Your Japanese sounds like my Spanish - playa, tequila, cerveza, camaron, mariscos, ajo, cebolla (the last two because I hate them and have to make sure I don't get them).
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Thanks for the replies.
