NICK: Watashi wa nihongo wo benkyoo shitetu
Trip Start
Jan 25, 2006
1
20
106
Trip End
Ongoing
Okazaki,
Japan
Friday, March 10, 2006
I've forgotten how hard it is to learn another language. Michiyo's niece, Mayumi came over to visit, but ended up being my Japanese teacher since Michiyo had to teach a junior high class (I never help with those cuz they get rowdy when I come in (shrug)).
It helps to have someone who's younger (23) and knows Japanese slang. It was fun to try to make sentences (The same thing that I'm doing with my student) in Japanese to try to explain things like my hobbies, where I'm from, and how old I am. She is such a contrast to Yuuki - the house got silent after she left.
She made me realize something tho - I miss talking to ppl
01 Performance by one of the students in the club
. I miss hanging out having a beer talking about stupid stuff. Bars are far away, and even if there was one near here, I'd have no one to go with. Ash'll be back soon, so it'll be cool then. But until then, I need to learn more Japanese to hang out with ppl.I think living at the house of a fluent English speaker is slightly detrimental. Mayumi doesn't speak very much english - I think she has a basic vocabulary, but she can't put sentences together. That's a good way to learn, she taught me to put Japanese sentences together with the grammar that I already know. I also know the Japanese equivalent of "like," and "eh, whatever" now, so I can sound like a younger Japanese person. (-:
I might have a job. I'll find out in a week or so.
I went to a Japanese high school - some of Michiyo's long-time students invited me to watch their practice for their traditional dance with fans. Heiki and Genji? I don't know, and neither does Michiyo. I video taped them some..
It was really neat to see, they were just practicing, so they weren't wearing the kimonos and stuff, and they're teens, so they're not as good as professionals
02 the group
. It was still neat to see. I tried my hand at it and I'm not very good. I'm also too tall for the practice room.Aside from the permanent brain-damage that I've given myself on doorways, light fixtures, subways, etc. I'd say that being tall hasn't been too bad. I was worried that I'd end up hunchbacked like most of the taller-than-normal Japanese that I've seen. I think it's just that they dont' want to be seen as weirdos or unusual.
Dunno, just my guess. Maybe they don't have anyone to tell them NOT to slouch..
It's funny to see how much ppl around me enjoy looking at how much taller I am. Today's class was so amused that I'm about 2 heads taller than the shortest girl.
Alright, I'm tired of studying japanese now - I spent 10 hours today working on flashcards, assignments in the book, and just WRITING to try to get faster at reading hiragana and katakana.. it's not easy having 3 new character sets to learn.. and learning when to use each. and remembering each 46 character is part of this set or that set.. Kanji has a fun 1,945 characters to learn (according the the Japanese government, that's what they tell the newspapers to use to write their papers)
I'll just be happy being able to read the comics. Like Dragonball Z or something silly like that.
alright, time to work on TEFL stuff.
Comments
No bar hopping?
That's good, so that you can save money. Japanese bars have hostesses whom you have to buy the drinks for, to sit and chat with you. It will be costly.
You should visit 'Izakaya', a very small eatery (just a counter with the chef) where you can have appetizer and sake. Usually, the owner is behind the counter to serve you and talk with you.
Juicy girls
Apparently, they're called 'juicy girls' in Tokyo. John said that he's seen them around.
There aren't any bars around here - and if there were, I'd have no one to go with. That and the alcohol tolerance limit is 0.0 percent BAC, so anything to drink, and you can't drive. Period.
Bars are expensive - each beer is roughly 5-6 bucks (no tipping necessary!) Happoshu is the best value, but it's still NOT a beer.