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?
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