Assumptions that gaijin cannot speak Japanese (at all)

[GaijinPunch]

Try working in finance. I knew people in the 5 year + club (maybe even 10+) that couldn't string a sentence together... at all.

And I will say that Silverpoint has a point... errr... no pun intended. I can't say I'm innocent. I thought similar things after only living there a few years, too. I think you eventually either grow out of it, or just frustrate yourself into a heart attack. There's so many more positive things to be thinking. I mean... honestly, I think you can say similar things about 80-90% of the people around the world. I don't though. If you really don't like the way convesrations go with people, why not avoid conversing with them altogether?

[Maciamo]

Try working in finance. I knew people in the 5 year + club (maybe even 10+) that couldn't string a sentence together... at all.

Typical closed expat communities; basically people who come to Japan for work but not for the country, culture or people. I'd say that such expats (along with embassy staff) are a special case, and anyway a minority of the foreigners in Japan.

I mean... honestly, I think you can say similar things about 80-90% of the people around the world.

Honestly no. I have lived in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and Australia. In none of these countries were people surprised that I could speak their language (even after a few months). They just expect it. There were a few Italians surprised that I managed to speak so well Italian after just 1 month in Italy and almost without learning the language before, but the most surprised in that case was myself ! (and now I feel like I'd need to go back there and practice a bit to keep my level for the next few years, as it's getting far in my memory).

If you really don't like the way convesrations go with people, why not avoid conversing with them altogether?

Because sometimes I meet some people that are not like that (less than 5% though) and are great people with whom to discuss about Japanese culture, politics or whatever.