Day 2 - Attempt to Buy a Steamed Bun

I walked with Koko toward the train as he left for work. He showed me the convenience store, Lawson's, where he had bought his dinner during his first week. It's a 7-11 type of convenience store, only with better food than in the States. For example, they not only have sandwiches with the crusts cut off (like in Chinese bakeries), they also have various types of bento boxes which (if it's like how it is in Taiwan) can be microwaved in-store.

I went inside to buy some breakfast and saw a steamer case (like a small, clear mini-fridge, except for keeping steamed foods warm) with all kinds of buns in it. There were 5 or so shelves, and prices ranged from 180 yen for the ones at the top (about $2.15) to 120 yen for the ones on the bottom.

I pointed to the bottom shelf and the store clerk started explaining something in Japanese (my mind: whoa, whoa whoa! what?!). He crossed one of his hands over the other to make an "X," indicating something about that bottom shelf vs the ones on the top shelv

es. I didn't understand if he meant the bottom one was half the size or if they cut it in half or what. Most of all, I didn't understand why he didn't seem to want to sell it to me.

I said one of the only phrases I know in Japanese, which is wakarimasen ("I don't understand"), so he tried to re-explain, in Japanese. >_<

If I'd known how to say "I don't understand Japanese," that would have been better. Maybe it wouldn't have helped much, but then maybe he'd try to explaining to me in other ways instead of in Japanese, perhaps using more sign language. (Mental note: I need to write down some survival words/phrases on a little card to carry with me. And maybe get a pocket translator.)

I ended up pointing to a bun at the top because it seemed not to be off-limits. This is what I got, next to my hand for scale.

At least it's big.

But I walked home, feeling like an idiot. This must be how many people feel when they first arrive in America.