A Taste of Misunderstanding
- A fictional narrative text that based on a true story

The airplane touched down at Chubu Centrair International Airport, and Alifah pressed her face against the window, admired the scenery, and smiled. “We’re finally here again,” she said, her voice full of excitement. Her brother groaned sleepily. “Six hours on a plane, and you’re still excited?” Alifah laughed. “Of course! You don’t?”

After grabbing breakfast at the airport food court, the family took an express train to their hotel. The scenery outside was calm — neat houses, quiet streets, and people walking quickly yet politely. When they arrived, her father said, “Alright everyone, get yourselves ready. Today’s going to be a long day.” Alifah and her siblings nodded, already planning the places she wanted to visit in her head.

The rest of the day was packed with fun. They explored the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, took photos with robots, and even tried the interactive exhibits. By evening, they were starving. Her mother pointed at a small restaurant near the station. She suggested eating there.

Inside, the place smelled amazing — but the menu was a challenge. Everything was written in Japanese. No pictures. No English. Alifah frowned at the menu. “Okay… I think this says chicken, wait no- but i’m sure that this says chicken,” she guessed, pointing at a random line. Her father raised an eyebrow. “You think?”. “Well,” she said with a grin, “fifty-fifty chance.” When the waiter came, Alifah tried to ask, “Umm… this one, chicken desu ka…?” The waiter nodded eagerly, smiling and speaking a stream of Japanese she didn’t understand. Alifah turned to her dad. “He said yes… I think.”

But when the food arrived, everyone froze. It wasn’t chicken — it was seafood, and none of them could tell if it was halal.“Oh no,” Alifah whispered. “I think I just ordered… something mysterious.” Her little brother poked it with a fork. “It’s moving?” “Stop that!” she laughed nervously.

Her mother chuckled. “Alright, let’s just ask again, properly this time.” Using her translation app, Alifah typed a message and showed it to the waiter, explaining the situation. The waiter’s eyes widened; he bowed quickly and apologized, then offered to change the dish.“It’s okay, It’s our fault too,” she said kindly. The waiter smiled and soon returned with rice and vegetables instead. The whole family ended up laughing through dinner.“Well,” her father said, smiling, “at least now we know one Japanese word — chicken desu ka?” Alifah giggled. “Yeah. My new survival phrase.”

That night, as they walked back to the hotel, Alifah sighed happily. “You know what? Even our mistakes are fun here.” Her mom smiled. “That’s what makes a trip memorable.” The next morning, they visited Namba City Mall, bought souvenirs, and enjoyed the city at a slower pace. Ordering food became easier — and Alifah proudly used her phone translator before speaking.

When it was finally time to leave Japan, Alifah watched the city lights fade through the airplane window. The trip had been full of laughter, surprises, and small lessons — including one about menus written entirely in Japanese. She smiled to herself. “Next time, I’ll learn more Japanese words,” she thought. “At least enough to order dinner without starting a mystery.” The memory of that trip stayed with her — not just for the places she saw, but for the laughter that came from every little mistake.

#narrativetext
#english