Blowing Off Steam

I pushed open the doors and stepped inside, the bright lights overhead made my eyes have to adjust focus for a second.

But much to my dismay, as I looked around the room I only saw one other person there. She wasn't even a local as far as I could tell. A blonde Caucasian girl, about my size. Just stretching idly in the corner.

"Is this the open mats place?" I asked. I had been in Japan for about five weeks, but still caught myself doing that stupid thing tourists do where they talk a little louder and slower than normal if they aren't sure if the person they're talking to spoke their language or not.

"Well, I wouldn't come here for the dumpling soup..." In a sarcastic Queens accent.

Great, came half way around the world to try out the local flavor, and I got another American...