Last night I went to London to meet up with Lydia, but we ended up just getting together for lunch today, with Roxani. The conversation was casual; no important topics were breached. It is amazing how Lydia’s hair has darkened since AC.

After lunch I stepped into the Carnaby Street Muji store to buy some chopsticks, and I had a “proper” Japanese verbal exchange with the girl behind the counter. Of course, part of our interlocution was in English, and the Japanese parts consisted mostly of expressions of courtesy, but she was a native speaker, and we communicated, and I felt proud. Shortly after, I found myself in the Oxford Street store, looking at clothes. A young black girl-clerk asked me if I needed help. I automatically replied “no thanks, just browsing.” She said “well, this is not a PC you know.”

I devoted a few miliseconds to pondering how the most common use of the verb “to browse” is now Internet related. We chatted. She extracted the information that I am Greek, proceeded to introduce me to her Greek friend, Matina, who also worked there, and I taught her a couple of Japanese greetings.