The expression answers a question: Genki desuka? Pronounced like gen key desk ka...students are asked how they are are at the beginning of the class while the teacher does the roll call. Genki desu to a visitor in Japan would mean "I am fine" to make the meaning less complicated.
Through an interpreter, a student asked me about Philippine culture.
"Gloria-San, do you have vegetables in the Philippines?" a lady interpreter translated the question posed by a student in Nihongo to English for me.
Vegetables? I always had the impression that Japanese are healthy eaters that's why they have long lives. That explains the interest on vegetables.
"We have lots of vegetables in the Philippines. We have eggplants, cabbages and many others."
The lady interpreter looked bewildered but she tried to repeat her translation to me. Subhadra Rai who was standing next to me chuckled.
" Oh..I am sorry...oh yes, we have lots of festivals in the Philippines. We celebrate the birthday of our patron saints and we call them feast days or fiesta. They are more of festivals."
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