> I think it would interesting to see what would happen if we ethno-centric
> Americans were forced to post all our letters in Japanese instead of English.
> I think it would be a very humbling experience to say the least, and we would
> appreciate our comrades in other non-English speaking countries a bit more
> for their efforts here to communicate, not just with us, but with the rest of
> the world as well. 

I'm on a somewhat-extended stay in Tokyo and it most certainly has been
a humbling experience.  I had always been somewhat impatient with
people who came to Canada who had trouble expressing themselves in
either English or French (I'm fluent in both languages).  I know that
it's not a proper attitude to have, but I must admit that I had it
at times.

But now that the tables are turned on me, I certainly appreciate *anyone*
who can speak *any* English.  And I'm certainly happy when people are
patient enough to try to understand me.  This morning's conversation
with the hotel manager had me saying something like:  "Uh.  Shower.
atsuii mizu arimasen.  Um.  ..shower no mizu wa tsumetai desu".  Now
the fact that he actually listened to that and was patient enough to
decode it into something inelligible, I was very grateful for.  

Yes, this is humbling indeed.  I only wish I would have had the chance 
sooner.

 - Drew