Totally agree, but you really never know where would be insulated from everything

I mean surely in the 1930s Hawaii felt like an excellent place to be insulated from war…

Totally. But “down pat” and conversational are a bit different.

US ex pat here:

I agree with a big decision, but I strongly disagree with needing the language down pat before you go. You should know some for sure, and mostly have a willingness to learn it. You’re going to learn so much faster while there than you will studying in the US.

Just need enough language to get by at first

Does… Does this person reach through the legs from the front?

And dont bring hair dryer!