This happened to me three years ago when I was on holiday at a friend’s in Nagoya. I undertook to go to the nearest konbini (convenience store) which was located 2 minutes away on foot from where we were staying. Now, I get lost everywhere and all the time but I had been to that konbini before and it was REALLY close.  Still, I managed to get lost.

tokyo-shibuya-junction

It’s not that I was comfortable reading japanese road signs so all I could do was ask for directions – understanding the reply was another matter… I approached a woman and managed to explain my situation, to which she replied something of the sort: “Oh, well! I was just about to go there myself. Just come with me and I’ll show you.” I felt relieved and thought “well now that’s lucky!”

We finally arrived at the place (after a twenty minute walk…ehem). I thanked her profusely. I also noticed she was only buying a pack of chewing gum which I found slightly odd after the walk we had done but well…

After a confusing bit of shopping – I wish I could read labels on products!! – I started on my way back home… and got lost again (I know I know…) Hopefully, I had copied the address of the place we were staying at humpteen times while filling in the arrival cards of all my friends on the plane so at least I knew what to ask for when I met someone. That someone appeared in the shape of a VERY old lady who happened to be in her front garden when I passed by. I asked her for directions and she said: “Well, actually, I was on my way to visit a friend who lives very close to where you are going so just follow me!”. To which I thought “now that’s VERY lucky!”

She accompanied me almost to the door. I thanked her but it was really difficult to match her bows; she was bowing a lot and having a seriously bent back already I thought her forehead would hit the floor! I appeared in front of my friends – who were getting slightly concerned – and explained my story starting with “Guy, I am sooo lucky, everytime I asked for directions the person…” My expat friend’s expression was not enough to make the penny drop so he had to explain: “Marie, you were not LUCKY. These people were telling you they were going your way so that you wouldn’t feel guilty for bothering them!” I felt totally  silly.