．．．どうしてですか。

Why Japanese????

Well, I am half-Japanese. But I cannot speak the language. Although I have been very fortunate to visit Japan and my Japanese relatives many times, I still do not know Japanese, and my inability to converse with my grandparents and the rest of my dad's side of the family is incredibly frustrating. I would really like to become fluent in Japanese (eventually) and possibly live in Japan for awhile after college (or study abroad). Besides finding part of my identity in Japan, I absolutely LOVE Japanese culture. The food. The music. The immaculate and always on time subway system. The food. The crazy hairstyles. Anime. The dramas. Oh, and did I say the FOOD?!? While I am pretty well versed in culinary lingo, this year I want to expand my vocabulary and the range of grammar structures I can employ in conversations. Also, I am excited (albeit slightly intimidated) to begin learning kanji.

The first couple of weeks of class have been a little shaky for me. I seem to have forgotten much of the vocabulary from last spring; however, it's all slowly coming back to me. I just need to study and practice more.

Lastly, what truly inspires me to learn Japanese is TV game shows like this (one of my favorite youtube videos of all time!!!):

じこしょうかい

おはようございます。はじめまして。

わたしはあだちみちえです。じゅうきゅうさいです。たんじょうびはさんがつにじゅうはちにちです。シカゴからきました。はは はアメリカじんですが、ちちは日本じんです。わたしはにほんじんとアメリカじんです。

わたしはコロンビアだいがくのにねんせいです。日本でかぞくがいますか ら、だいがくでにほんごをべんきょうします。いまにほんごがあまりわかりません。にほんごわむずかしですが、とてもおもしろいです。

わたしはりょうりがあまりじょうずじゃありませんから、レストランがすきです。そして、りょこうとスポーツがすきです。スポーツをしませんが、テレビでみます。

ありがとうございます。どうぞよろしくおねがいします。