-= English Below =-

３月８日２０１１年　　火曜日

私の日本語のクラスでは先生が学生に日記を書かせる。 でも、二週間に四つだけが先生に提出する。私はこのブログがあるからこのブログで書いて私の４最高のエントリーを選択するのが先生に提出する。だから、間違えば修正するおねがいしゅます！

でも、今、ことを書くがなちゃった。今日は日本語を勉強したりしごとで働いたりビデオゲームをしたりした。ちょっと楽しくない。。。

またね！

So I’ve had my first week of university – and it’s good to be back.

First thing i’d like to mention is my Japanese classes.  I was awesome enough to miss my first class on Monday – i got my times mized up… *facepalm* However, I managed to turn up for the second class.  It was scheduled to be a 2 hour class, but when I turned up the teacher (who didn’t actually tell us her name) handed out a test and told us to complete the test, then have a 1-on-1 consult with her, where she would mark our tests and give comments, then we could leave.  I had no idea we had a test! ARGH! However, i’m sure its safe to assume that I would have known had I turned up to class on Monday…

Anyway, I looked at the test.  First page: Translations.  I looked at the 5 phrases I needed to translate and immediately felt like an idiot.  I translated a grand total of 1 out of 5 phrases.  Not at all off to a good start. It was quite simply due to the fact that there were kanji in these sentences that i’d never even seen before – Ever.

Second page was grammar. No problems with that.

Also on second page, a thank you letter to a friend in Japan who sent me a Christmas present. No problems again (apart from an embarassing katakana error… guh… so out of practice).

This wednesday i’ll be journeying to the University of Queensland campus at St. Lucia to attend a Japanese placement interview.  I requested (and… actually I’ve been approved for) Japanese 3 – which is essentially the beginning of the 3rd year of Japanese language studies at UQ.  That’s all really meaningless to me and I suppose the studies I have taken part in are meaningless to the Japanese language faculty which is why I’m attending this interview to figure out if this really is the right level for me.

I haven’t really studied or prepared for it yet.  I did a bit of study over the December-January New Zealand trip but, oddly enough, I haven’t found time to study now – although, that has to be an excuse because I reckon there was time for it.

Whenever I do study Japanese I surprise myself with what I already know AND how quickly I relearn stuff that i’ve forgotten. I still kinda think Japanese 3 will be the right level though…  But i don’t really have my heart set on any particular level because essentially the numbers tacked on the end of the class are irrelevant – i’m more particular about being placed correctly in a way that I will be able to relearn and review a bunch of the stuff I’ve already covered as well as push on and learn more.

Ok so i’m takin a two second break from studying Kanji to write a little blog that could show you what I do whilst I study for these crazy little pictures the Japanese call a “writing system”.  Let’s face it, they aren’t letters, they’re pictures.  Crappy ones at that.

Ok, I’m currently studying the Kanji from Chapter 14 in my Genki 2 Textbook.  16 of them total, not so bad.  However this is just part of my study for the final exam I have this friday.  Total Kanji I need to memorize: 177.

Yep, 177 pictures that all look the same but carry very different meanings.  Ok, so let’s get started…

Wow… What a week.  The curve balls my life continues to throw at me are almost as bad as the one’s i send flying back.  But this is Japan, and everything i’ve given up is now allowing me to take hold of my dream with both hands, and run as fast and as long as i possibly can.  Half assing this trip would have made every sacrifice i’ve made completely redundant.

Japan is slowling starting to feel more like home – which is what i wanted.  I’m slowly getting used to the lifestyle, the people, the weather and even the routine of everyday life.  I love it here, and i cant wait to learn more about this country.  I feel i’ve already learned so much.

The past weekend was a long weekend as Monday, Tueseday and Wednesday were public holidays – YAY 5 day weekend!  It’s called “Silver Week” and the public holidays for Monday through Wednesday are “Respect for the Aged Day”, “Autumnal Equinox Day” and “Kokumin no Kyuujitsu”, respectively.  No real clue what they mean (except Respect for the Aged – self explanatory) or who celebrates it or HOW the celebrate it – but the long weekend was a much needed rest.  Rest from what? Well… processing Japan, its people, and its culture takes up a lot of energy.  It’s not bad! but… it’s not what I’m used to, and adjustment requires effort.  But i feel well rested and relieved.