Too Young!

So the Japanese intern came into the lab to see me yesterday with her digital camera.  Her spoken English has improved greatly, but her comprehension is still poor.  She pardoned herself for interrupting (I think I was shopping for shoes...), said she had a picture, turned on her camera and proceeded to find it.  Once she did she pointed to my computer, then the printer, and asked if I could print it for her.  I told her of course, and she left, bowing, I assumed to go get the cable so I could print.  She comes back in a few minutes with her laptop and the camera.  Over the next 10 minutes we tried to work out the fact that I couldn't print from her laptop because I couldn't read Japanese (yes, I probably could have put it next to mine and found my way to the printer setup, but it seemed a little much for just one picture) but if she brought me the cord I could print it from my computer.  I thought at the end of the conversation that we both understood what was going on, she said she would bring it tomorrow - yet today she didn't have it.  Or maybe she didn't want to come in while I had kids in the room.

Personality wise you have to love her.  After our photo printing conversation, she looked around the lab and said, "All of this... you are too young!  Everyone else... old!" (said while throwing both hands towards my door).  I laughed and said I had been teaching for 14 years, that I wasn't that young (imagine had she known me when I started at the age of 21!), and she said, "yes, yes, you YOUNG! You no..no..." all while rubbing her hands on her face next to her eyes where most people have crows feet and laugh lines.  She couldn't think of the word for wrinkles. :)  I laughed and thanked her.  That made my day.  I would imagine that when she taught in Japan her kids all loved her.  She seems to always be bubbly and sparkly.