Another new friend

Umeta-san and I had another of our english-japanese lessons. So I made my
way to the train station at noon. It was very cold so I had 3 layers of
clothes on, and I had my scarf and gloves on as well. It snowed heavily the
evening before, so there were still snow on the ground here and there which
sometimes obscured my landmarks and at one point made me lose my way. Then this
kind lady came by on her bike and we (she on her bike and I on foot) went
together to the station and there took place an interesting conversation. I
understood what she said for the most part but it was not easy to give the
right responses every time, with the right word. I found myself searching
through my limited vocabulary, but she was patient and didn't seem to mind.
We talked about the weather, where I came from, the station, trains, where
she was going and finally we arrived at the station and she was gone.

The second stranger materialised as I was going down the stairs to catch the
train to Meidaimae from Shinsen. We chatted a little and she asked if I'm a
student which I replied no. I was telling her about my work and I ran out
of japanese, so had to tell her nihongowa choto mada wakarimasen. Then she
said egogawakarimasuka? and when I replied wakarimashita, we continued the
conversation in english. She speaks english very well for a japanese. She
showed the violin she was carrying. She said that she'd just finished
performing violin in a meeting. She said she is a violinist by proffession
and that she gives violin lessons at her apartment. Just before she got off
at Shimokitazawa, she gave me her business card and I gave her my email, so
we'll see. I have a feeling that something interesting is going to come out
of this.

The third stranger helped me find the right platform at Meidaimae. I think
he is a european. I don't think I look too foreign, but the english
conversation on the train gave me away. Anyway, he was another kind
stranger, though I'd call him a kind, cold stranger.

Well, I have another reason to be proud of myself. I switched to the right
train without having to ask someone. The kindly cold stranger left me on
the platform as his train was already there. I listened well to the
announcements on the platform and got on to the right train. You know, it's
not always easy to listen to the japanese announcements. Usually, I am
almost sure that I heard correctly, but felt the need to confirm it with
people just in case I don't end up taking the wrong one, but I did it today,
by myself.

The fourth stranger was a deceiving stranger. I was walking home from the
train station and maybe I was thinking of the day's events that I didn't pay
attention to where I was going. I guess she meant no harm. At one
crossing, I almost collided with her bike and she pointed me to the wrong
turning and thinking I was still on the right track I kept walking till I
noticed I was on unfamiliar territory. So I turned back but I was totally
disoriented by then.

After a few minutes of fruitless attempts to get back to my original route,
some high school students approached and asked where I wanted to go. So I
said I wanted to go to the train station and there (4 of them) accompanied
me, but as soon as I recognised the roads, I thanked them and said I'd be
fine from there. I walked for a couple of metres and turned back. A few
minutes later, the students came back and told me the station was the other
way round. I didn't know how to tell them that the station was my landmark
so I said I'm going to a friend's house. I guess they must have thought me
strange.

So, there you have it, mostly helpful chatty strangers, but also the cold
and misleading ones. O well, another experience.