Excuse me, can you let me off at the corner?

When Osamu had a lot of baggage, he couldn't take the bus so he took the taxi. Osamu felt uncomfortable because he couldn't speak English fluently. Also, he felt nervous because he was in an enclosed space with the driver. He felt very anxious because he didn't have a sense of direction especially when they went through areas that he wasn't familiar with. Americans don’t take taxis that often because it’s expensive and you have to tip. We would only take it if there were an emergency and no other transportation is available. It is considered a luxury to have someone drive you. Most taxi drivers are honest but a few aren’t. They might take advantage if the person is a tourist and doesn’t know the language or the city. He might try to take them on a longer route and get more money. You should ask how much it will cost and how long will it take. We sometimes call the taxi a “cab.” In Hawaii, there are cags around the city at major shopping centers or places of entertainment. You can catch one there . At obscure places, you may have to call the taxi company on the phone and request a taxi.

ダウンタウンへはいくらかかりますか？

How much will it cost to go Downtown?

余分の荷物には追加料金が要りますか？
よぶんのにもつにはついかりょうきんがいりますか？

Do you charge more for extra luggage?

キング通りとアラケア通りの角まで行きたいのですが？
キングとおりとアラケアとおりのかどまでいきたいのですが？

I want to go to the corner of King and Alakea.

すみません、次の角で降ろして下さい。
すみません、つぎのかどでおろしてください。

Excuse me, can you let me off at the next corner?

すみません、次の交差点の手前で降ろして下さい。
すみません、つぎのこうさてんのてまえでおろしてください。

Excuse me, can you drop me off just before the next intersection?

11/1/1992

（ジャパニーズビーチプレス連載）

処方箋

（ハワイパシフィックプレス連載）

Excuse me, where is the lost and found department?

Osamu went to a supermarket that was recommeded by locals. He was proud of himself because he could go somewhere where other tourists didn't go to very often. After that, he bought something and went home. He took everything out from his pocket but realized his wallet was not there. He felt dizzy, his mouth got dry and his body felt cold. He went back there and got it. Often people are absent-minded and forget things. You should find the lost and found department if you have lost something in a big place. If you have lost a friend or someone, you can ask if they will page them for you. They will do this through the P.A. system in the store. If you have lost money, sometimes people are not honest and will keep it. If someone returned the money, you should be suprised and grateful. You should retrace your steps and try to remember where you left your things. Here are some sentences that might be helpful: I think I dropped my wallet somewhere on the 2nd floor. I left it on the conter near the Gucci bags.

バスに乗って地元の人お薦めスーパーへ買い出しに出かけます。土地の人になったようで少し得意です。午後からはスナックでも食べてゆっくり本を読む段取りです。部屋に戻り、いつものようにポケットの中のものをテーブルの上に並べました。次の瞬間、頭がクラクラとなり、口の中はカラカラ、五体はすくんでしまいました。財布を忘れてきたのです。スーパーへ取って返し、ともかく事なきを得ました。

私もうっかり物（an absent minded person）で、トイレの中で大切なものを置き忘れ、あわてたこともあります。まず、遺失物取扱所／lost and found department／を見つけることです。意外にも親切な人が届けてくいてくれたりします。迷子（missing children）の場合には、「子供が迷子になりました。どこへ行けばよいけしょうか？／I lost my child. Where should I go?」と尋ねてみて下さい。

遺失物取扱所はどこにありますか？
いしつぶつとりあつかいしょはどこにありますか？

Excuse me, where is the lost and found department?

１時間ほど前に、ここに財布を置き忘れたのですが・・・
いちじかんほどまえに、ここにさいふをおきわすれたのですが・・・

I think I left my wallet here an hour ago.

誰か届けてくれていませんか？
だれかとどけてくれていませんか？

Did someone turn it in?

9/15/1992

（ジャパニーズビーチプレス連載）

Could I exchange this? / This seam is ripping.

Osamu bought good aloha shirt at the department store. But one of the seams was ripping. It also has a stain. If he were in Japan, he would complain right away. But he was here in the U.S. so the situation was different for him. He had a good time with his wife in Hawaii and if he complained, or got in trouble, their trip would be unhappy. He was afraid about that because he knew he couldn't make a good negotiation. So he gave up thinking about returning the shirt. He just left it in his suitcase. Japanese people might feel a little hesitant to go back and replace something. Maybe it’s shameful. Americans care more about getting their money’s worth than embarassing themselves. So they will not be hesitant about returning something. They will feel this way only if it’s very inconvenient to go back to that store. Always save your receipt. With the receipt you can return almost anything. If the store is closing, they may have a sign “All sales final” and in this case you must keep all purchases even though it's defective.

今日、これを買ったのですが、交換して頂けますか？
きょう、これかったのですが、こうかんしていただけますか？

Excuse me, I bought this today. Could I exchange this?

しみが付いています。
しみがついています。

It has a stain.

縫目にほころびがあります。
ぬいめにほころびがあります。

One of the seams is ripping.

穴があいています。
あながあいています。

It has a hole.

ボタンがとれています。

It is missing a button.

8/15/1992

These pants are too long / Can you alter them?

Osamu went to the department store and found a stylish looking pair of pants. He wanted to try it on and walk around. The salesclerk brought him to the dressing room but the pants were too long. His wife told him to alter it there but he couldn't because he didn't know how to. He felt irritated at his wife was because she kept telling him to speak English, yet she wouldn't speak if she had to. Usually only high class stores have a tailor who will alter your clothes. Some places can refer you to someone. Many people like to shop in Hawaii because the stores have a lot of petite clothes for Asian women. Sometimes that is bad because all your size gets sold out. On the mainland, people are bigger so there is not so many small sizes. On the other hand, you might get lucky and find some bargins in your size. People might buy clothes that are too long and just shorten them themselves because there might be a charge for the altering.

試着したいのですが、試着室はどこですか？
しちゃくしたいのですが、しちゃくしつはどこですか？

Where can I try this on?

丈が少し長いので、直していただけますか？
たけがすこしながいので、なおしていただけますか？

These pants are too long. Can you alter them?
Could you shorten the hem?

寸法直しに、何日かかりますか？
すんぽうなおしに、なんにちかかりますか？

How long will it take?

ハワイには、あと３日しかいないので、 出来るだけ早くお願いします。
ハワイには、あとみっかしかいないので、できるだけはやくおねがいします。

I’d like it done as soon as possible because I’m leaving Hawaii in 3 days.

8/1/1992