Speaking in another language makes you a different person, especially, I've noticed, if you happen to be a non-native fluent in Japanese. The mild-mannered Aussie transforms into a slangy tough-guy, rolling his r's and living in his own mental version of a yakuza movie. And the frank-talking American who transforms into a master of self-deprecatory, reflexively apologetic keigo (polite language) and wins the "more Japanese than the Japanese" award in her Tokyo suburb year after year.