This conversation took place with a Japanese friend at a cafe in Yokohama: Me: …I thought it was a very interesting article! What do you think? Yoko: Of what? Me: His argument that both Gaikokujin and Gaijin essentially mean the same thing: Not so much foreigner, but not-Japanese. Yoko: You think so? Me: Well, yeah, [...]
After I had been studying Japanese (Nihongo) for over a year and still couldn’t hear it if my life depended on it, as you might imagine, I started to get a bit discouraged. I worried that maybe my brain had gotten too old to take on the challenges of learning a new language. They say a [...]
Got on the train this morning and found myself standing next to one of my buddies from “the company”. He was listening to his I-Phone and hadn’t noticed me so I nudged him. He didn’t respond. I nudged him a little harder. He pulled his earphones out of his ears and turned on me like he [...]
…So, with Nanpa eliminated as a motivating force for study I moved on to the motivation that has given me the lowest level of gratification. Nevertheless, the hope of doing it effectively someday still springs eternal: Retaliation! In English, I have a whole arsenal of expletives at my disposal for use in those situations where [...]
After I had been studying Japanese (Nihongo) for over a year and still couldn’t hear it if my life depended on it, as you might imagine, I started to get a bit discouraged. I worried that maybe my brain had gotten too old to take on the challenges of learning a new language. They say a child’s brain is like [...]
Well, it should go without saying but I’m gonna say it anyway: #3 in my 10 ways how NOT to go Loco is: Learn that Japanese! I studied French for 2 years in JHS, 4 years in HS and 2 years in University, and if you asked me right now how to say anything in French except “Would you [...]
...cuz we all need defense against the dark arts!
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Raw Like Sushi
