Have you lived there? Not my experience. I felt like I was welcomed. I was welcomed into their cultural activities, I was welcomed into their homes. I did put effort into learning the language and the culture, and followed their norms to the best I can.
No, but a lot of other people have and you’re a definite minority saying that, so, X to doubt basically.
It’s not just people who don’t bother trying, either. BBC’s long term Japan correspondent wrote an article about it when he finally left, and I’m pretty sure he’s fluent.
… BBC’s long term Japan correspondent wrote an article about it when he finally left, and I’m pretty sure he’s fluent.
I wouldn’y be too sure about being fluent part. I am an Indian and I have seen bulk of so called indologists (professors in American and European academia) unable to pronounce common sanskrit words - despite writing bestsellers on the subject.
