Refelection on things learned
I should probably be studying Japanese right now, but I am putting it off for another hour or so because I don't feel like it at the moment. I still have a ton of formalities that I have to go through before I am finally settled in. So, right now I am reflecting on things that I have learned. For example, I have learned that more is not always better. For example, lets say that I didn't understand what one Cambodian was saying to me, so I would say "I don't understand, could you say it again?" Then 3 more Cambodians would start saying the same word that I didn't understand (along with the one who origionally asked the question) at the same time, but not in unison. Hence, I learned that having the same word said over and over by several different people at the same time does not help me understand the word. I have also learned that words that I never thought rhymed in English do rhyme. For example, the Cambodians taught me that the words eat and river (or maybe it was meat and washer) ryme. I never noticed before, but now I think they are right after listing to them say the words (and misunderstanding one for the other). Not that I'm complaining, my Japanese pronunciation is probably horrible.
On the 18th of this month my Japanese teacher will come to Tokyo from Fort Worth/Dallas. I don't know if I will go to meet her this weekend (she will be here a while), but I do plan on going to Tokyo to see her when she comes down. Currently I have a meeting with Yuji-san (from the partnership program) scheduled. He just returned from America.
Actually there is one thing that I did that's worth talking about. I participated in a type of camp thing called WaWaWa Night, organized by some students interested in meeting students from abroad (so that they could practice their English and we could practice our Japanese). We were suppose to make something from our home country for others to eat (I made Mashed Potatoes-without salt, they were not a big hit-if I had only remembered the salt). Now, you may ask, "Why Mashed Potatoes Ben???" Well, I looked at other recipes, but they required to much work (ingredients required for mashed potatoes are as follows: potatoes, 1 cup milk, 2 table spoons butter-nothing else-sounds like a winner to me). I have learned that in Japan, everything is better if it has lots of salt (not my personal taste). For example, have you ever got up in the morning, made a nice cup of coffee and then forget if you put salt in it, or maybe you forgot to buy salt at the store and you don't have any salt to put in your coffee. Well, lucky you, because now in Japan they have pre-made coffee with the perfect amount of salt already added. I drink three cups every morning (incase sarcasim doesn't come accross in writing, I am laying it on pretty thick-I don't like salt in my coffee, I bought the wrong coffee by mistake). I have learned that if you can't read everything, maybe it is better to read nothing. For example, I know very well there are many different types of envelopes to present money for many different types of reasons in Japan. So I go to the convenience store to buy some basic cash giving envelopes and I pick out a nicely decorated one that has the symbol for payment on the front plastic container (I had to present money to one of the professors who bought the books for the entire class so that we, the students, could get a 30 percent discount). So, it turns out that I bought the envelope for presenting money at a funeral. It was kind of funny I guess. When he told me what it was for I ofcourse offered my sincere condolences (I won't make that mistake again). He thought it was very funny. I have learned that the professors contradict themselves about the Japanese language again and again. For example, I used a negative ending with a word that means "often" (yoku in Japanese). Then I was told that I can't do that in the Japanese language. However, it is in 3 different textbooks that I have and it is used that way. Also, I have herd the professors use it themselves (wait a second, I remember the professor who told me that I could not do that use it too. Strange.).
Also, I should say that it is Mother's Day in America (and Japan) and Happy Mother's Day to Betty. I will send a post card tomorrow if I can remember(I will write it down in my things to do list).
Well, I'm having a great time in Japan. Summer vacation is coming up in July and I am thinking of returning home for a short visit (or maybe traveling around Japan). I will definitely go to visit my favorite Japan Times writer at Shiraishi Island (that will be a great story I am sure). Talk to you later. Since I am lazy today, my quote is one that I enjoy, but not one with pretty words. It was said by one of the most influential people in world history (he conquered more than half of the known world back in the day).
"The value of any action lies in seeing it through to the end." -Ghengis Khan
On the 18th of this month my Japanese teacher will come to Tokyo from Fort Worth/Dallas. I don't know if I will go to meet her this weekend (she will be here a while), but I do plan on going to Tokyo to see her when she comes down. Currently I have a meeting with Yuji-san (from the partnership program) scheduled. He just returned from America.
Actually there is one thing that I did that's worth talking about. I participated in a type of camp thing called WaWaWa Night, organized by some students interested in meeting students from abroad (so that they could practice their English and we could practice our Japanese). We were suppose to make something from our home country for others to eat (I made Mashed Potatoes-without salt, they were not a big hit-if I had only remembered the salt). Now, you may ask, "Why Mashed Potatoes Ben???" Well, I looked at other recipes, but they required to much work (ingredients required for mashed potatoes are as follows: potatoes, 1 cup milk, 2 table spoons butter-nothing else-sounds like a winner to me). I have learned that in Japan, everything is better if it has lots of salt (not my personal taste). For example, have you ever got up in the morning, made a nice cup of coffee and then forget if you put salt in it, or maybe you forgot to buy salt at the store and you don't have any salt to put in your coffee. Well, lucky you, because now in Japan they have pre-made coffee with the perfect amount of salt already added. I drink three cups every morning (incase sarcasim doesn't come accross in writing, I am laying it on pretty thick-I don't like salt in my coffee, I bought the wrong coffee by mistake). I have learned that if you can't read everything, maybe it is better to read nothing. For example, I know very well there are many different types of envelopes to present money for many different types of reasons in Japan. So I go to the convenience store to buy some basic cash giving envelopes and I pick out a nicely decorated one that has the symbol for payment on the front plastic container (I had to present money to one of the professors who bought the books for the entire class so that we, the students, could get a 30 percent discount). So, it turns out that I bought the envelope for presenting money at a funeral. It was kind of funny I guess. When he told me what it was for I ofcourse offered my sincere condolences (I won't make that mistake again). He thought it was very funny. I have learned that the professors contradict themselves about the Japanese language again and again. For example, I used a negative ending with a word that means "often" (yoku in Japanese). Then I was told that I can't do that in the Japanese language. However, it is in 3 different textbooks that I have and it is used that way. Also, I have herd the professors use it themselves (wait a second, I remember the professor who told me that I could not do that use it too. Strange.).
Also, I should say that it is Mother's Day in America (and Japan) and Happy Mother's Day to Betty. I will send a post card tomorrow if I can remember(I will write it down in my things to do list).
Well, I'm having a great time in Japan. Summer vacation is coming up in July and I am thinking of returning home for a short visit (or maybe traveling around Japan). I will definitely go to visit my favorite Japan Times writer at Shiraishi Island (that will be a great story I am sure). Talk to you later. Since I am lazy today, my quote is one that I enjoy, but not one with pretty words. It was said by one of the most influential people in world history (he conquered more than half of the known world back in the day).
"The value of any action lies in seeing it through to the end." -Ghengis Khan
posted by Ben at 4:08 AM
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