The children aren’t supposed to speak Japanese in class, but they do. I’m supposed to discourage them but, out of laziness and selfishness, I don’t. Lazy, because when they speak Japanese to each other I can tell if they understand the day’s lesson and selfish because I’ve learned more than a few good turns of […]
Japanese
Intense Jealousy
… and as if I needed even more motivation to get cracking on my Japanese study, I have discovered Emily. Emily – a nice, super-intense American gal – is something of a YouTube Celebrity, made famous by her “Pretty Intense Japanese Lesson” clips. Sean and I have been staring at her videos for the past […]
Ehhhhh … I’m Halfway There?????
Six months to go until the Japanese Language Proficiency Test and what have I learned? That I wish it hadn’t rained today. He made me forget my umbrella! Whenever I forget my umbrella, I get wet! So I made him buy me cookies. For an apology. Whenever I eat cookies, I become happy. Cookies? Crunchy, […]
Someone’s Knocking at the Door
You never answer the door during business hours. You never, ever answer your phone when it’s a Japanese number you don’t recognize … at least not while your Japanese is still chugging along at what feels like a snail’s pace. You’re doing the best you can. Really. You’ve passed the 4-kyuu, after all. You study […]
Hmph
To the men in the train station who come to me and, even though I’m wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase (i.e., obviously not a clueless tourist), ask if I need help working the self-explanatory ticket machine … where the heck are you when I need help getting my ADSL switched from one address […]
Not Much to Brag About?
At last, my JLPT results: And a word about the 4-kyuu – not on behalf of those who passed it, like myself, but on behalf of those who didn’t, as I’m sure that there must have been some who did not. Though it is the lowest level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, the 4-kyuu […]
Chow Chow
“It is my meaning,” announced Bogey this morning, “to turn your Japanese speaking into true Kansai-ben!” Bogey is my highest level student. We have had classes together for months but only recently has he caught on that I am studying Japanese with some success. My lust to learn creates a whiff around me and I […]
Mukatsuku and Haiku, Too
Yesterday, at the end of Japanese class, Himalaya-sensei slid a sheet of paper across the folding table. I narrowed my eyes at it but it didn’t help me read it any faster. “Last year … class … one year ….” I mumbled, passing my fingertips over the text. Himalaya-sensei came to the rescue; it was […]
Coming of Age Day
Last night, I went down to the 1st floor of my building to visit Sean, who I found sprawled on his bed next to a large open box of decadent Swiss chocolates. Before he noticed me lingering at his door, his face was a mixture of beatific contentment and chocolate lust. “What?” he asked. “They […]
Frog Yoga
Like many little girls with generous, well-intentioned parents, I was sent to dance classes. Though I’m sure they were thrilled to see me prancing around in the spangly, sequined costumes of the 80s, even Underwater Saffron Snorting would have been a better fit; my coordination, grace, and desire were absolutely nonexistent. All of my unfortunate […]