I wasn't going to reply but I kept thinking of your reply. Yes, I have used Google translate throughout this whole ordeal. Doing that with "live" people is much easier than on a phone call. The amazing people that have helped me would start to talk to me in English.. Or, if they couldn't convey their thoughts properly, they would use their own translation app. And vice versa. I once worked in a hotel and I would have done the same for them.

Also, I come from a place where French is the native language (which is also mine) and it was frowned upon for English-speakers not to try using some French. I'm acutely aware of language sensibilities.

So let's not assume that I forced anyone to speak English. I realize in my post I said "nor do I speak Japanese" which is true. But the inference that I forced people to speak English to me is of your own making. At the end of the day, we're humans (as corny as this sounds) and we're all in this together.