Spring Break Hajimarimasu!
This week is the beginning of my spring break. In Japan spring break comes at the end of the school year, much like our summer break, therefore I have a lot of free time now. My teachers recommended we study every day over break so that we can do well on the placement test in March (and so we don't forget Japanese). But they didn't really give us an idea of how to study.
I wonder how many of my classmates will actually persevere. I got a hand-me-down book from someone who is leaving. Already I like it better than the text book were we using in class. It's full of practical reading exercises. I also ordered a grammar dictionary off of amazon.co.jp to help me better understand. I know from personal experience that studying a language by one's self is hard. So it will take extra effort to get it down.
In a few weeks I plan to go visit friends in Oita and Hiroshima. I am especially excited about Hiroshima. I hope the museum has explanations in English. I have noticed that museums just aren't worth going if you can't understand what is being presented. One of my classmates says they wouldn't feel right going to Hiroshima because it was us Americans who bombed the place. Therefore it would be offensive to go. I think the opposite. Shouldn't we want to go and learn about what the previous generations were involved in? Isn't the saying "knowledge is power" true?
Oh and this Saturday I am going to the concert of my favourite singer! I have been waiting for this opportunity for some time now, and it was one of my fun goals for studying in Japan. I think I shall leave you all with this new music video she has; http://youtube.com/watch?v=l1_akHFlwpE Do you recognize the melody?