Probably a good thing you don't have great communication skills...heh.
A very good thing. Hitoshi refuses to tell me any bad words exactly for this reason. Telling her she was nosy was pretty harsh. I guess it would translate more into calling her a persistant busybody.
I think it was proximity. But if I was Japanese, I know she would have let it go. She would have given me the eye, and 90% of Japanese would ignore it unless someone obviously in need showed up and then only 50% would give up their seat.
My husband tells me that old people here are completely lost (generalization but often true) when they leave Japan so they assume foreigners will be equally as lost.
He also says that I look approachable so people feel comfortable to talk to me or confront me. He told me to ignore these people and the one time I did, the person just kept tapping me on the shoulder to get my attention until I completely lost my bicsuit and yelled "leave me alone" in Japanese. The person kept at it. I found the best defense is to actually to snap back right away. I hate being snarky. Once I start it's hard to stop. Hey! I'm like a Pringle's Chip! Eat me! Heh.
Sometimes people have tried to do me a favor in passport control and tell me to go in a different line for visitors not Japanese nationals except I have a visa to live here so I have to go through the same line as them. In fact, there was a sign one time right in front of the person who was telling me the wrong stuff.
Another thing that is funny is how if I am with a friend who is obviously not Asian but the friend has dark brown hair or brown eyes, many Japanese people will direct their conversation to that person even though most of my friends only know basic, basic Japanese and it quickly becomes evident. One time I translated for the waiteress who looked at my friend the whole time. I'd say she must have been better looking than me but it was a girl. Who knows. Maybe it didn't matter.
I'm actually pretty good at Japanese. I just don't know how to give a decent insult.
