So I'm visiting Yokohama, Japan (about 30 minutes south of Tokyo) as a post-semester vacation. My mother's here on business, and let me tag along.

She works during the day, so I'm by myself. I know next to no Japanese (well, just enough to be annoying), and surprisingly few people here know English.

So I go into Starbucks, get a coffee, and sit down. Directly across from me is a very cute girl sitting by herself reading and browsing on her phone. Perfect. I've got a few phrases on my ipod, but no internet connection. Crap. Now I have no clue how to tell her she's cute! (And I don't think 'kawaii' has the connotation that 'cute' does in the US) Alright, here goes nothing.

I walk over to her, give her a big smile, say 'summimasen' (excuse me), and ask her (in Japanese) if she speaks English. Nope. Oh well, I ask for her name. Moonspeak Not sure if that was her name, or something else. I tell her my name. And then I stand there and tell her that she's cute (in English). Welp, not much else happening, so I give her one last smile and walk away.

Despite that approach being one of the most awkward ones I've done, I couldn't have walked away happier with myself. I'm proud that I had the balls to try and break the language barrier, even if it didn't work. This country is excellent!

Now, off to try and get some Japanese girls who DO speak English...