“Learn the Language…”
I think there are certain things that all people, especially young people, need to experience at some point in their lives. The current one on my mind, is that I think it's important that everyone be thrown into a culture in which they do not understand the language or customs. That experience of being immersed in another culture and feeling somewhat frustrated and helpless will teach you a lot about yourself and others. It will make you more empathetic to others you meet later back in your home/culture that have not a clue what is going on.
How many times have you heard someone say, “If they are in our country, they need to learn our language!” usually in an angry and arrogant tone? I cannot mince words with my opinion on that statement and I cannot play it neutral (as many of my closest friends know is 90% of my public personality).... That statement is fucking absurd. It's stupid. It's ignorant. It makes you an asshole.
Now... if you are upset at me saying that, bear with me and keep an open mind...
Do you think that anyone has ever wanted to be in a situation where they are entirely confused, helpless, and desperate for someone to help them out? Think of one instance in your life where you felt helpless. Did you enjoy it? Of course you didn't. Now imagine that for a day, then a week, then a month, maybe even a year. Who wants to feel that way?
I spent almost a year in Japan. Not just in the country, but in the heart of the Tokyo, the busiest and most heavily populated metropolitan city on the planet. It is also a city that is not known for being accepting of foreigners, despite how “polite” the culture may be. I stumbled through the city, stumbled through wrestling training, stumbled through dinners with show sponsors, royally messing up the Japanese language. I felt like a royal idiot. I was trying to learn the language, but guess what... learning Japanese is f... hard. I wanted to learn, wanted to know the language, and I didn't want to accidentally offend anyone.
When I got robbed, I sure didn't love being in a police station, trying to explain that my bag was stolen and that it contained legitimately every important thing I need to exist (passport, cell phone, money, map, phrase book) to a police officer who didn't know a single word of English. (Side note, here is the story via podcast if you want to listen: https://youtu.be/66lMMVo-pOk )
In that situation, you just hope that people will help you, even an inch. ...And if someone does, you will never forget them. To the day I die, I will have the back of Ryuichi Sekine for being there for me in that police station. And guess what, he doesn't even speak much English, but dammit he helped me all he could.
All that to be said, be cool to everyone, and maybe even be extra cool to those who could use a little extra help. It could mean the world to that individual. That individual might also be working 70 hours/week or taking care of family members, just trying to have a better life, which could become a slight obstacle to their Duolingo or Rosetta Stone lessons.
----Special Post Script
I will never forget everyone who helped me and were super nice along the way regardless or where I was in the world. In Japan, people like Yuji Hino, Kaz Hayashi, Nakanoue, Sekine, Utamaro, Yamada, Nosawa, Hana Kimura, Ganseke Tanaka, Masayuki Kono, among others, all saved my sanity and gave me more hope for humanity.
