Question one: People speak too quickly and I cannot understand them. What can I do?
--話が速すぎて、全く解らないんだけど・・・・　--
This is a common problem and you have to be very determined to get people to speak more slowly. Be patient and direct. You can achieve the outcome you want by saying the following:

Sorry, you are speaking too quickly, could you please slow down?

Sorry the line is bad, could you speak very slowly?

Could you repeat that as I did not catch the last part?

You just lost me, could you rephrase that?

If they continue to speak too quickly then you can be a little more direct:

Slow down please.

Once more please.

Question two: I find that foreigners are rude and brash. I want to tell them but do not want to offend them. How can I tell them they are being rude?
--　チョッと失礼じゃないの？？？　---

Sometimes we forget that we are all on the same planet. Everyone seems like they are so very different but really we are not. We all have a family, feelings, culture, values and beliefs. If a person offends you then you have to think that they did not do it intentionally so I am sure they will not mind if I tell them that their behavior is not acceptable. More importantly they may offend other people as well so it is better that I tell them. You can tell them in a nice way but it is best not to start with the following:

--　明確に伝えるべき。でも、こんな話し始めは関心しないわね・・　

　　　　We Japanese…….

　　　　In Japan…..

It is better to start with a sentence that does not make they feel that they are an alien. No one wants to feel alone or different so start with:

I just wanted to tell you that your actions will offend others as it is seen as rude to stand your hashi in your bowl of rice. It is better to rest your hashi on the special stand there in front of you.

I am not sure if you know but I just want to tell you that usually you do not pour your own drink at a drinking party and you should really take care of others and in turn they will take care of you.

I just want to tell you just in case you didn’t know that you are still wearing the toilet slippers. They should really stay in their place outside the toilet (This is a common mistake for foreigners!!!!! Please tell them because they should know!).

There are so many more………….

We are all different and it is best to tell someone if they don’t know what to do or they will offend others and they will look arrogant and rude.

＊alien：エ-リアン、よそ者
＊stand your hashi in your bowl of rice：箸をごはんの上に刺す
＊pour your own drink at a drinking party ：パーティーでお酒を注ぐ
＊toilet slippers：トイレのスリッパ

Question three: I do not want to be given a western name in my English class. What can I do?
--　ヨーロピアンネームじゃなくて、日本の名前で呼んで欲しい・・・　--

　This is an easy one! Just be direct and say:

　Sorry I would prefer my own name. Thank you.

　Could you call me _____ please.

　Please call me ______.

Bishal in Nepal-

＜ネパールの支援一時中止について（ペンの支援ありがとう！）＞

For those of you who have been supporting Prameela in Nepal. Bishal our Sherpa friend has to leave Nepal to live in Darjeeling for a couple of years because of the dangerous situation in Kathmandu. We are not able to send pens to Nepal any longer. He will leave with his family as there are no jobs and it is no longer safe there. If you would like to help for the last time, you can send him a small donation through Western Union to his address (Please contact me first just to make sure he is still there). As for Prameela she will remain there as we have paid her school fees and all her books have been bought by us. We support her family as well so that she does not have to work. We will now pay the school directly so I will let you know if they need pens in the future. A special thank you to Nishi-sama who has provided so much support.

Keep being a citizen of the world!!!! Take care….Ajet Blondy

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