Nanjin?

This afternoon at Lake Suwa, a little Japanese boy of about 7 spoke to me in Nihongo. He kept talking and asking questions. After a dozen questions none of which I understood, I said, "No......english...."

Since I was against the light, he came closer to peer at my face. He circled me, trying to see better. Then asked, "Nan jin?"

I answered, "Firipinjin".

He looked confused, "Firipinjin?" Paused and pondered. "Spainjin?" No. "Indo?" No. "Francejin?" No. "New Zealand?" No. "Amerikajin?" No.


(Dodong, dad-on nako ka sa Pilipinas para makabalo ka asa ang Philippines.)

From the Mouth of an Eight-Year-Old: Keep Clean

Yuan: Tita Khonie, why is your car so dirty? You should clean it!

From the Mouth of an Eight-Year-Old: Canned Food

Yuan: Food from a can is not healthy, like MaLing, sausage. I like chicken. Chickens don't come from a can. They're too big.

From the Mouth of an Eight-Year-Old: Sugared

Me: You don't like ice cream? Cake?
Yuan: No. Too sweet. Too much sugar will make kids crazy and "sugared". Like in Captain Underpants, the kid turns around and around so fast and all the dust comes up.

(sugared = hyper)

From the Mouth of an Eight-Year-Old: Party

Yuan: I don't like Tita Kate's party.
Me: Why?
Yuan: They're only talking, eating pizza, and drinking beer. I like McDo party.