Fool the fool

@sol_cee (38224)
Philippines
July 26, 2017 3:31am CST
I have this Canadian coworker who has been living in Japan for ten years now. The first question I asked him when we first met was ‘Can you speak Japanese?” to which he answered a cool “No.’ I felt comfortable knowing I’m not alone in my non-Nihongo world. But I caught him laughing while eavesdropping on one of the many phone calls of my Japanese coworkers in the office. Such a great pretender! But I have forgiven him. He’s my go-to guy now for anything foreigner related. Then along came Aki Abe, the first lady of Japan, who sat beside Trump in one of the many bigtime dinners during the G20 summit in Hamburg. Trump claimed that Aki can’t speak English. Like not even ‘hello’. So they didn’t say anything to each other for two hours. Must have been a torture for his excellency. You know, not being able to open his mouth and speak his mind. So the real puzzle now is Aki Abe’s English speaking skills. She went to English-speaking schools in Tokyo and later worked for a global PR firm where English plays an important role. And as of writing, YouTube videos of the first lady giving speeches in English are floating over social media. Can’t help but think that she really pretended not to speak English to avoid talking to him. Lol Photo is from Google.
24 people like this
27 responses
@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
26 Jul 17
Haha she didn't want to have a conversation with him. I don't blame her
5 people like this
@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
26 Jul 17
@sol_cee In a some way it's good. lol.
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
26 Jul 17
Must it have been such a blow to his ego. Lol
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (454850)
• Switzerland
26 Jul 17
May be she told she does not speak English not to be annoyed by the big mouth of the Donald.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (454850)
• Switzerland
27 Jul 17
@sol_cee Too bad he is not a duck.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Jul 17
@LadyDuck Hahahaha
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Jul 17
The Donald. hahaha
3 people like this
@sishy7 (27169)
• Australia
26 Jul 17
There are advantages of being bi/multilingual...
3 people like this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
26 Jul 17
Oh yeah. I heard about my friend, she's on a bus, she can understand Japanese, and two passengers were talking about her, in their native tongue. Sad, sad situation.
1 person likes this
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
2 Aug 17
@sol_cee Did she say anything to the passengers on the bus? I had a Hispanic-looking friend in High School who said white girls often didn't realize she could speak English. She'd hear them talking about her (in front of her) in the bathroom and when she'd make a comment, they'd get really embarrassed. On the flip side, she said she'd have other Hispanics asking her questions in Spanish and she'd be totally clueless as to what they were saying--they just assumed she could speak the language. Guess that's one of the reasons why they say to never judge a book by its cover, eh?
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64363)
• United Kingdom
27 Jul 17
She sounds like a wise woman. Do you speak any Japanese at all?
3 people like this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Jul 17
A big NO. haha sorry..
2 people like this
@AliCanary (3043)
29 Jul 17
I would do ANYTHING to not have to talk to him! Pretending to not speak English probably wouldn't be too hard, since he doesn't listen to anyone else, anyway, lol
2 people like this
@ilocosboy (45161)
• Philippines
26 Jul 17
Ha ha, I think Trump need to learn speak Japanese too so he can speak to her.
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
26 Jul 17
He speaks fluent sarcasm. lol
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45161)
• Philippines
26 Jul 17
@sol_cee its sarcasm versus silentness
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
26 Jul 17
It seems a very smart move on the part of First Lady of Japan to convey to US President that she is not conversant with English. However, I am surprised because whenever any foreign dignitary visits another country, his/her full details (including qualification, skills etc.) are conveyed to the host country, so how come details about First Lady were not conveyed to US authorities, is not clear to me. What is the source of your information about First Lady of Japan that she did not speak to US President because of English? Also, your Canadian worker seems very smart, he tried to fool you that he did not know Japaneses but actually he knew it, so you beware of him.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
26 Jul 17
It's all over the news Deepak. Trump is under the spotlight. haha
2 people like this
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
27 Jul 17
@sol_cee This is in news in Japan?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Jul 17
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (34723)
• Philippines
28 Jul 17
I think she doesn't want to talk to Donald? Just guessing. My go-to co-worker was sent to Japan to support our Japanese counterpart in Tokyo.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (34723)
• Philippines
29 Jul 17
@sol_cee He is a Japinoy!
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
29 Jul 17
Is he/she a Japanese?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
27 Jul 17
Good for her and wow what a way to keep that man from talking to you lol
2 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
28 Jul 17
I saw an article that says the same - she was just pretending so she didn't have to talk to him.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
30 Jul 17
@sol_cee Not sure. His handshake is terrifying though
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
29 Jul 17
Do you agree?
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26163)
• Singapore
5 Aug 17
Interesting indeed. I was working in Indonesia and was able to converse in simple terms after three months. Once it is for the long haul better to learn the basics of the language. It is wise of Aki Abe not to open her mouth when sitting beside Trump except to put the food in! siva
1 person likes this
@sishy7 (27169)
• Australia
5 Aug 17
Bahasa Indonesia is very close to Malay which I believe is one of the languages spoken by many in Singapore. Do you speak Malay too?
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26163)
• Singapore
6 Aug 17
@sishy7 Yeah, they are quite similar but the accent is a bit different. I speak Malay not that often as most here can speak English - siva
1 person likes this
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
2 Aug 17
So to avoid talking to Trump (should I ever cross his path) I can just pretend that I can't speak English? Genius! I could totally get away with pretending to only know Gaelic, since I've got the whole red-headed thing going on! Now I just have to learn how to say, " I don't speak English" in the Gaelic tongue!!
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
2 Aug 17
Can you control the urge not to speak your mind? hahaha
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
2 Aug 17
@Genipher not with the kids, A-G, around please. haha
2 people like this
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
2 Aug 17
@sol_cee More like I'd stick my foot in my mouth.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
27 Jul 17
Well, Aki made a good excuse for not speaking to Trump.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
28 Jul 17
Would you? Haha
1 person likes this
• Philippines
31 Jul 17
@sol_cee I'll pretend that I'm deaf.
1 person likes this
@dollaboy (6048)
26 Jul 17
Still Needs to be careful , Sherlocked.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
26 Jul 17
What do you mean?
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
26 Jul 17
@dollaboy Oh, good advice. :)
2 people like this
@dollaboy (6048)
26 Jul 17
@sol_cee Means even if some one says that he/she does not have any info about a language, we still need to be careful and never abuse them , they may know some words
1 person likes this
@MGjhaud (23069)
• Philippines
26 Jul 17
haha nice one! one point Japan, zero for the US.
1 person likes this
@MGjhaud (23069)
• Philippines
26 Jul 17
lol
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
26 Jul 17
I hope he doesn't know about this scoreboard or else.haha
2 people like this
• Pamplona, Spain
26 Jul 17
A couple of times I have pretended I cannot speak Spanish that is over time of course. It was because they were rude and arrogant people and I did not want to associate with them at the time. I am not usually like that. I think she can speak English and very well I am sure I have heard her if only a little on some program ages ago. The Chinese people who live here do that also sometimes as I can appreciate they need to speak their own language. Maybe I would pretend only to know Spanish if I was sitting right next to that Mr. Trump.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
27 Jul 17
If that time comes, do share here. :)
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
27 Jul 17
I don't blame her. I did hear that story reported in the news.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
28 Jul 17
Completely agree. Maybe she can't swear back. Haha
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66861)
• Philippines
30 Jul 17
heheh! maybe the first lady did not feel like talking to this man, who has that infamous pouting lips saying You're Fired!
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
30 Jul 17
The Apprentice!
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70601)
• Davao, Philippines
26 Jul 17
How I wish I can speak and understand Korean so that I won't have to deal with subtitle anymore that give me so much pain. Urgh.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
26 Jul 17
Ann young has say yo!
1 person likes this
@JustBhem (70601)
• Davao, Philippines
26 Jul 17
@sol_cee Haha. Kon'nichiwa ..
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40250)
• United States
27 Jul 17
At least if Aki Abe didn't know English, she didn't have to listen to Trumpster lol... on the other hand what a great excuse. No English! lol
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
28 Jul 17
And Trump must have been so itching to say something. Anything. Lol
1 person likes this