I do speak Spanish!

Todd: Sarah, you've taught in a bunch of different places. What countries have you taught again?

Sara: Quite a few. I've taught in Korea, Ecuador, Taiwan, Mexico, Japan, and the USA.

Todd: Okay, so you're...

Sara: And China. Sorry.

Todd: Oh wow. So you're a language teacher; you've taught in all these amazing countries. So let's talk about the languages first. Do you speak Japanese?

Sara: I don't. I'm embarrassed. I've lived here six years, but I don't. How about you? Do you speak Japanese?

Todd: I do speak Japanese-

Sara: Oh, you do?

Todd: ... yeah, but it's not very good.

Sara: Oh.

Todd: People don't hear me say it that much, because it's really bad, but I do speak Japanese. But it's bad. But what about the other languages? You lived in Korea. Did you study Korean?

Sara: I did. I did study Korean. And I did learn to read very well. But now, I've forgotten. So I can't speak it anymore.

Todd: I heard that it's relatively easy to learn the alphabet in Korea.

Sara: Yes, it is. It was invented by a scientist to be simple and easy to learn how to read.

Todd: Oh wow.

Sara: So it is very easy.

Todd: What about China? Did you learn Chinese?

Sara: I didn't. I did study a lot. But, in the end, I found it too difficult. Do you speak Chinese?

Todd: I don't speak Chinese, but I lived in Thailand for five years.

Sara: Mm-hmm .

Todd: And I do speak Thai, and I did study Thai when I was there. So, yeah.

Sara: Oh, wow.

Todd: And it's tonal, so it's kind of similar, in some ways, to Chinese.

Sara: And can you read Thai?

Todd: I can read Thai.

Sara: Oh, wow.

Todd: Yeah, I do read Thai. So actually, my Thai reading is probably better than my Japanese.

Sara: Oh, wow.

Todd: Yeah. But it's hard, because in Thai the words kind of stick together.

Sara: Mm-hmm .

Todd: Now, you were in Mexico and in Ecuador.

Sara: Yes.

Todd: So do you speak Spanish?

Sara: I do speak Spanish. That was one of my goals for moving there, was to become fluent. And I'm very happy now I can say, "I do speak Spanish."

Todd: And your husband was with you. Does he speak Spanish?

Sara: Yeah. He does speak Spanish. He studied a lot, and it really improved a lot. So now he can say the same thing. He does speak Spanish.

Todd: And your children?

Sara: They do, too. They speak Spanish.

Todd: Oh, nice. And your children are with you now in Japan.

Sara: Mm-hmm .

Todd: Do they speak Japanese?

Sara: They don't. They're learning very quickly. So I think they will improve, and in a couple of months, I can say that they can. But right now, their Japanese is very low.

Todd: So you were just in Mexico. Do you miss Mexico?

Sara: I do miss Mexico. I miss the food the most. I miss the Spanish language. And I miss the music. How about you? Do you miss Thailand?

Todd: I do miss Thailand a little bit, but not too much, because I visit there a lot. So it's not that big of a deal. I go there usually once or twice a year.

Sara: Mm-hmm .

Todd: But when I'm in Japan, I do miss it. I miss the food, especially. Now we both are outside of the U.S. We don't live in the U.S. Do you miss living in the U.S.?

Sara: I do miss living in the U.S. I often miss that I understand and I know the culture so well. Sometimes in Japan, I feel like an outsider. And so I do miss being in the USA, and being able to blend into the background. To be just another person.

Todd: Yeah.

Sara: How about you? Do you miss the USA?

Todd: I don't.

Sara: You don't?

Todd: No, I don't miss it at all. So I visit it ... I do miss my family, and I do miss some things, especially like the food and the nature. But I don't miss actually living in America. Maybe because I go back so often. So these days, it just doesn't seem like a big deal. Now, we are both in Japan. Do you plan to teach somewhere else soon?

Sara: I don't. I hope to stay in Japan for a couple of years. We are relaxed, we are settled, the children are in school. I hope we can stay here. How about you? Are you going to stay? Or do you have plans to go?

Todd: I do have plans to go, actually. And I want your old job.

Sara: Really?

Todd: I want to work for the U.S. government and I want to work in a different country.

Sara: You should do it!

Todd: I will.