I can speak five languages!

Actually. I can't speak five languages. I can say 'no' in five languages!

Tagalog: No.

Spanish: No

English: No

Portuguese: Não.

German: Nein.

See. I'm good at this language stuff. 

Okay, I'm not, but what I am good at is understanding someone who is trying to speak English. You don't think that's a talent? Well, a talent like this certainly won't get me scholarships, or land me jobs translating famous Latin texts into mediocre English (Oh! I can say 'no' in Latin too: Non) but, really, I think this 'talent' of mine helps me empathize better. Because I'm an Asian-American I can tell Asian ESL students what Americans are looking for (in job interviews; in conversation) but can also tell Americans how Asians generally perceive the American culture. 

Lately, I've been doing some volunteer work: tutoring in its loosest form. More like glorified conversation. And, while I am 'teaching'- while I am helping my students, I am really envious. ESL is so popular but I almost wish there were KSL or CSL or RSL or TSL that would teach me. (Respectively: Korean, Chinese, Russian, Tagalog.) 

I'm told over and over again that English is difficult to learn, but I keep meeting and teaching people who can speak it as well as their native tongue; even read it as well! 

Perhaps it's not as hard as I imagine it to be. Perhaps it's easy to switch from one alphabet to another. 

Why can't I do that?

Is it because my learning another language isn't a necessity? I already know English- it's everyone else that needs/wants to know English. 

I should've been an ESL student. I should've been born and raised in a different country for it seems all the rest of the world is destined for bilingualism, while I am cursed with mono-lingualism.

Okay, I'm totally being dramatic. Of course I can learn another language if I really want to. 

An elderly Russian couple has come into work lately, and we recognize each other enough where I can ask, "How do I say 'thank you' in Russian?"

"спасибо."

"Spa-cee-bua. Spa-cee-bua."

"Yes. Good. You're good."

"Oh, well, thank you. спасибо."