I was born and raised int he United States. Therefore, English is the language that I learned to speak and have used throughout my life. When my husband and I found out that he was being transferred to Japan for his job, I was very upset. It wasn’t because I would have to move away from my family. It was because I wouldn’t be able to communicate with the natives. My husband knew how to speak Japanese, as he had been dealing with Japanese clients for years. I didn’t know how to speak the language, and I knew that I would have a tough time asking for direction or even paying for my groceries. I learned instant immersion Japanese. My husband taught me some basics before we moved, but I learned more once I arrived in Japan and began to mingle with the natives.