in japan, we call premium gas “high oku”, short for of “high octane”.

after i finally got my driver’s license this year, i discovered that cars don’t run by themselves - they drink gas. i’d never filled the tank before. when i was learning how to drive, paul showed me how to fill up the gas tank. i thought i got it.

the other day, our car’s tank was almost empty. so i stopped at the gas station. unfortunately, their pump was a different style than the one paul taught me how to use. i was scared i might do something wrong and blow up the entire gas station. i decided to ask someone.

i found a mother with her son just getting out of her car to fill the tank. she seemed nice. i was totally embarrassed to ask how to use the gas pump. so i pretended that i was a newcomer from japan — even though i’ve been living here for eight years…

sorry, canadians.