Crazy Gaijin? CHECK!

There are some days when the Japanese language causes me to want to bash my head repeatedly against a hard surface - any hard surface. There are some days when I swear that the language itself is out to get me. There are some days when no matter what I try to say in this #%^%!@ language it just won't come out right (I've had friends say the same thing, so I know I'm not the only one). And then, once in a while there are days when it actually makes sense. When my host mother says, out of the blue "wow! Your Japanese has gotten SOOOO much better!" Or when I sit down to read an assigned read for class and, after beating myself up for taking hours to read 20 pages, realize I understood it pretty well, and didn't even use my dictionary!

My host mother's complements aside, being complemented on your Japanese skills is not always a big complement, as it often comes after you've only uttered a few simple words. I still bristle when I remember having my language skills complented by an older Chinese waitress in an alley-way yakitori shop. Her accent was so thick that I barely understood her (although the condesension was crystal clear, thank you very much!), and had to bite my tongue from replying nastily "yeah, my Japanese is better than yours, @#$%*(!"

I am amused to report that despite any difficulties I may be having with the language, apparently it is the best one for me... nice to get the confirmation I suppose! (although I'd hardly throw in the towel and move to the other side of the world if told I was better suited to learn Swahili, as tempting as it may be...)

You Should Learn Japanese

You're cutting edge, and you are ready to delve into wacky Japanese culture. From Engrish to eating contests, you're born to be a crazy gaijin. Saiko!

What Language Should You Learn?