110 Days of Japan: March 2012

Today by far was my best Japanese speaking experience. I met four Japanese people and we interviewed each other, asking questions like where they lived, where have the traveled, what school I went to, what I liked doing in my free time, what was my hometown famous for and other questions.

On top of answering the questions, I had actual conversations.

me: 外国へいったことがありますが。(Have you traveled to foreign countries?) [given question]
them: はい、ヨロパいったことがありました。(Yes, I've been to Europe)
me: 私もヨロパいったことがありました。高校の時イタリアにいきました。気礼奈で、食べ物はおいしかったです。(I've also been to Europe, When I was in Highschool I went to italy. It's beautiful, and the food is delicious.) By the way my Kanji is not that great, but this wonderful machine takes all my hiragana and transform it, so thank God for technology.

I was so proud. Don't get me wrong, their was some difficulty. At first I was a bit confused when they gave me their name, but I got the hang of it. I was asked why I wanted to study japanese, and that was difficult to explain, I didn't know the proper vocabulary to explain, but I talked around it, and I think they got the point. My second interviewee asked me all the questions but that was fine with me.

On my third interview my sensei came around and said it was time to speak in English, however my partner was not feeling that, out of respect I kept up the conversation in Japanese, and I was not the least bit upset. It was funny because they wanted to speak in Japanese and I wanted to as well. We were forced to go to english, and I went slow and asked the same questions, still responding in Japanese mannerisms. It was a fun experience.

My fourth interview was supposed to be entirely in english but she buttered me up to speak japanese, She thought I was soo Kawai (cute). That made me smile, She probably haven't seen too many little black girls, but I was happy to accept the compliment.

Today was a good day, Praying that my exam went well, this is the most confident I've been after an exam so hopefully all is well. With this trip coming to a close, I'm excited that my 3 months of learning is turning into something tangible. After all my goal was to be conversationally fluent, And as long as I keep abreast of my vocabulary I'm getting there. We actually finish our Genki I textbook next wednesday and move on to the first two chapters of Genki II. I have basically learned a year's worth of Japanese language (2 semesters) in three months. And although I'm not the top in my class, this is my very first experience learning Japanese, one of the most difficult languagesfor Americans to learn. I'm happy to be added to Japanese speakers.

But that's all for today.

Until Next Time,

These days are piling up fast, whose excited, I am of course. yesterday was a very exciting day. First off I took my crazy one day trip to Hiroshima. It took 9 hours did get there, and that's because the train had an issue, but I made it safe and sound.

Hiroshima is a pretty vibrant city. It looks like they have a lot to do, many stores and many people. Upon first look you wouldn't think that this is where the worlds first bomb was used to destroy people only 72 years ago. And it was the first time since being in Japan that I was around so many different races. I saw Indians, Spanish, Europeans, and many more all at the Hiroshima peace museum, it was nice to not be the only diverse person. I also realized how diverse america really is. You know I don't really get to many stares in Japan, maybe a few children but besides that nothing, at least non I notice, but a few people have asked me where I was from. I thought it a general question, not thinking that my makeup may confuse some, especially when I wear my hair curly. A Japanese lady asked me where I was from at the museum and when I said America, she said oh, thank you. And another Japanese man asked me was I from Indonesia. So that was interesting. And way for me to be global, I feel like when I come back someone will ask me where I from, And I slip and say America they will look at me crazy. Experiences change your life. I know when I ask someone for their number, and they don't give me the area code, it takes me a minute because I'm so use to dealing with people from everywhere.

But back to Hiroshima, pics:

view of Hikone at 5:30am had to start my trip early

But Guess who is alive, awake, alert and enthusiastic?

why little ole me

Just outside of Hiroshima Station

The tram line, they work like trollys and look like the people mover in detroit

The A-Bomb Dome, a tribute to all the lives lost since they could not be recovered from the blast. One of two buildings that withstood the blast

What it originally looked like

view of the city from the peace park

peace park, it's huge

again

Memorial

my ticket to the museum, how about it was only 50 Yen, thats like 50cent, what museum you know in america that cost 50 cent

So the museum basically took you through how World War II started, how Japan got involved, and then mentioned Pearl Harbor. They then went to talk about why the US started creating the bomb, which was before Pear Harbor, originally intended for a defense mechanism against Germany. And then how the ide evolved to be used against Japan. How the "benefit" of ending the war outweighed killing of thousands. And it explained why Hiroshima was targeted, one of the reasons being their were no hostages held there.

Then It talked about the bomb striking, the recovery after the blast, the movement to end weapons of mass destruction, what are nuclear bombs, how they are created, what countries have them. And then it shows you the tragedies of the the bombing.

I watch found after the bomb, stopped at 8:15, the time the bomb stiked

What Hiroshima looked like before the blast

After

replica of the current Peace Park.

Picture of the Annual Peace festival

sold in the gift shop, interesting

So at first I was like, They sailing Jesus pins in here, but it's actually a child holding up a crane, remember the story about the girl who made a 1000 cranes to make a wish