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The Last Day of Class Before Break

Wow.. Winter break is finally here.

Yesterday was the last of class at 信州大学　before classes resume again on January 5th. Class was great, and yesterday we started to learn　敬語　（Keigo）, which is the most polite form of the Japanese language. It is interesting to see how verbs and other expressions change when speaking to someone of higher status or "rank" than you. It made me laugh when the instructor told us that most Japanese students don't speak Keigo like they should to their professors at the university, but we learn to and use it.

I know that it is winter break, but I can't stop studying. My good friend Jake and I went to the bookstore, and I bought a short story collection from a very famous author that he recommended. The Japanese is pretty difficult at times, but I think that it is fun trying to look up words and see if I can get the context right. If I get stuck, Jake reads novels like they were newspapers, so I can always ask him for help on difficult grammar. I feel better and better about my ability to speak and understand Japanese everyday, and I really think that by the end of the stay this year, I will be able to really express my thoughts, feelings, and desires in Japanese. I have a long way to go before I am at the level I want to be (JLPT 1), but I will continue my studies when I move back here after I graduate. Nothing to worry about at all.

Yesterday evening, I was invited by my friend Suzan to meet her family visiting from Europe, for a night of dinner and conversation. It was a wonderful time, and they are wonderful people. When I think about it, it is funny that a table full of students from 4 different countries (plus Suzan's family), can sit around the table and talk about daily life and the things we enjoy.

I don't really have any big plans for this holiday break; I am going to buy a bed, a rug, a new jacket, and a few other things to make the place a little more cozy.　I enjoy my futon because it is very cozy, but I really don't like having a bed on the floor where the blankets and all just rest on the hardwood. I really want the rug just to make the place look a little spruced-up. Most apartments and such here are without central heat and air, so the floor tends to be a bit chilly to the bare foot most of the day. I think the rug will take care of that.

Today I am going to have a mountain picnic with my friend スジョン, to a mountain where we can see all of Matsumoto. The weather is beautiful today, and the sun is shining, so it will be a great time. I hope to travel some more this break, but as of right now, the only destination I have in mind is Tokyo for a day or two to see my friend Grace when she comes to Japan for a few weeks. I am really looking forward to it. Most of my big travel plans will happen when our 2 month long Spring break arrives here. I have a lot of places I want to go see, and I can't wait to get out and just get lost. Even if I had to walk from place to place, that to me would be such a wonderful memory, and an experience so different from that of other travelers.

In my Tuesday night multicultural understanding class. My friend ヒョンウ and I. He is such a funny guy that are presentations are always funny.

This magazine that a student so skillfully edited, made me crack up for personal reasons, so I thought I would share this guys joy with you.

山本先生 (Yamamoto Sensei) is one of my favorite professors here at the university, and this is her posing with her diagram of how keigo/regular speech work between different people at different "ranks"

This is an apple she brought to class that she made a design on. From what I got from her explanation, she bought it when it was green, made a sticker-like design on it, and then let it ripen to where the color would change leaving the colored part lighter. Cute isn't it?

I am Alive

I just wanted to show everyone that I am alive still, and things are going very well in all categories; life, linguistics, and love (lol, just kidding on that one) here in Japan. As Wednesday is the beginning of 冬休み, there will be plenty of posting time.

Wow...I Need to Post More Often

Hello everyone!

Sorry that it has taken me so long to drop a line, I have been extremely busy lately with class and studying. Things are going great here in Matsumoto, and the weather is finally taking on the familiar winter traits; frost, ice, and cold humid air. Everyday I walk to school, the mountains seem to have more and more snow on them. I really hope that I can go snowboarding during our winter break. I might go this weekend, but in order to do that, I need to buy some heavier winter gear (I know.. I should have brought a heavier coat) and psyche myself up mentally for the beating my body will take. Last time I went snowboarding, I was on my knees or my @ss most of the time. Yeah... I don't want a repeat of that. Nagano Prefecture is very famous for being one of the ski hubs of Japan (besides Hokkaido) because it is in the Japanese Alps. I am really looking forward to trying it out here. I really have no idea what winter break will bring, but I am really thinking of taking a weekend train to Nagano City to explore and enjoy a day or two outside of Matsumoto.

Classes are still going well right now, and we are still flying! Today we just finished lesson 35 of 48 in our book series. Earlier this week was our Japanese test, and I am happy to say that I did well :) I have been spending a lot of time studying, and I really think that it has paid off. I know I have a long way to go until I am at the level I want to be (native), but I think I am on the right track to getting there. There is no easy way to learn, and it really takes a lot of practice; both in learning out of the book, and with speaking A LOT. I have yet to encounter anyone here (even those foreigners who can speak at a near native level) who has said that Japanese is easy for them. The fact is that it kicks everyone where it counts, and for Americans especially, things are pretty rough since we don't have the kanji advantage like the Chinese students, or the similar grammar structure like Korean students do. We are literally up the creek with a paddle in this world.

That is all I really have to say for the moment, so I should probably get ready to head to bed. Maybe I will actually get around to posting some pictures and video this weekend :) Take care.