My journey to Japan(ese)

How long has it been? O_O

2012-01-09T12:19:00.001+01:00

Happy new year! 明けましたおめでとう！ It's been so long since I posted something on here. I don't even know if anyone reads this. XD But I wanted to make an update anyway. Since my last post I've worked my way through most of Tae Kim's Grammar Guide and Japanese in Mangaland 1. For the latter I bought the Workbook, which turned out to be incredibly useful, so I've already ordered book 2 and the

Progress as of May 13th

2011-05-14T01:00:00.000+02:00

Well, lately I've really been getting into it again. My energy is slowly coming back (though I'm nowhere near well yet, which bothers me but which can't be helped, I guess) and it also makes it easier for me to focus on learning more Japanese. What's also fun is that I'm starting to recognise more and more things that I've learnt (both vocabulary and grammar) in the dramas and movies that I'm

Progress as of February 25th

2011-02-25T09:41:00.000+01:00

Oh dear! 4 months since I last posted something. >< Well, that's because I got a burn-out and I've been home with absolutely no energy since early November. So I also didn't have the energy to learn more Japanese. I decided to stop doing RTK2, as it was taking up a shitload of time doing reviews and I couldn't add any more. Also, while I'm learning vocabulary, I'm also learning the

Progress as of October 24th

2010-10-24T20:22:00.001+02:00

So this past week I had a holiday and I got a lot of Japanese done. I've also got more of a clue now on how to progress, so I'm progressing faster and further. So here's another update on how I'm doing. I've started RTK2 again, so far I'm on 577 cards. Vocabulary for N5 has me on 191 words (I think I'll add some more today, so I'll be past 200 then). I've just finished Tae Kim's Basic Grammar,

2010-10-22T09:56:00.003+02:00

Watch these little fish as they follow your mouse, waiting for you to click and leave them some food. (Warning: very addictive)

Progress

2010-10-16T21:54:00.000+02:00

Wooooh I've finally caught up with where I left off in RTK2. Like I said in my previous post, I had suspended all my RTK2 cards before my Japan trip, so I wouldn't have a whole load of reviews when I got back. And just now I unsuspended the last cards and I'm up-to-date with my reviews again! ^^ I am quite pleased with myself. I have been studying more N5 as well. I am up to exactly 100 words

Progress

2010-10-12T21:16:00.000+02:00

Well, it's been a while since I've updated. But I've started my studies again. I've been studying vocabulary off the N5 (former JLPT4; Japanese Language and Proficiency Test, the easiest level). That's going quite fast, because I know a lot of the words already and, which I am very pleased about, I no longer have to learn the kanji, because I know them all. So it's just learning the pronunciation

My Books

2010-09-12T12:50:00.000+02:00

Over the years I have collected some pretty good (and not so good) books on the topics of the Japanese language and culture, so I thought I'd list them here. It all started with 'Japanese in Mangaland' by Marc Bernabe, which is a nice book to get started with, as it touches on the most important topics and teaches you the most important words and sentences. All of this coupled with examples from

Dreams

2010-08-26T11:37:00.002+02:00

I'm now really beginning to process everything, I can tell. This past week since I've been back I've had dreams about being in Japan or talking about Japan every night. They're quite restless, though, so I hope they become more relaxed soon. :P I was pretty relaxed in Japan (after the initial few days) so I hope to get that feeling in my dreams as well.

Home

2010-08-21T09:28:00.001+02:00

Two kilos lighter and many experiences richer, I am now typing this from my sofa, overlooking a garden that looks like it has been touched with Japanese nature's lusciousness... The grass is super high and weeds are everywhere. I guess part of my day today will be spent on making it look Dutch again; neatly trimmed. But you want to hear about my experiences in Japan, not in Holland, so I'll get

Greetings from Hiroshima, Kyoto and Tokyo

2010-08-17T09:29:00.001+02:00

Here's my second-to-last update about the holiday, I'll probably send the last one when I get back to Holland. We're flying back on Thursday already! In the beginning everything couldn't go by fast enough, but now it's almost time to go home, I want to stay longer! I especially wanted more time in Kyoto, that city is difficult to navigate so it's hard to see lots of things in a short time. Also

Greetings from 広島

2010-08-12T12:17:00.002+02:00

I can't believe it's been almost 2 weeks since we got to Japan. And only 6 days left! I left off at Monday, I think. We went to Nara by train, took us only 45 minutes. The scenery on the way was great; lots of mountains and nice little villages. We stayed at Nakata B&B, a cute little traditional B&B run by a 60-year-old man named Nakata-san. There were tatami mats on the floors, low tables and

Greetings from Osaka

2010-08-09T04:09:00.001+02:00

Hi everyone! Another update from me. We traveled to Osaka from Tokyo on Friday. We spent 3 hours on the shinkansen (bullet train). I thought since it tilts in the curves you wouldn't feel it riding at all, but the thing shook and shuddered very much. Anyway, it did go fast and we had great views from the train. Fuji was in the clouds, however, that was a shame. We only saw its base. Perhaps on

Second update from Japan

2010-08-05T12:40:00.002+02:00

Second update from Japan, on the last night we will spend in Tokyo before traveling to Osaka this morning. We've been able to do and see a lot more, because we've been feeling better. My IBS is almost gone, we're getting used to the heat and for the past 2 nights we've been sleeping through the night instead of waking up at 1am and not falling asleep again until 5 am. I believe I left off on

First message from Japan!

2010-08-02T10:49:00.000+02:00

Hey everyone! Here's my first update from Japan. The subject line says Greetings from Tokyo, if you were wondering. Excuse any spelling mistakes and missing punctuation, it's an annoying keyboard. The space bar is about 2 cm wide and next to it is a button that makes me type in Japanese letters so whenever I accidentally press it, I have to press another button and delete what I wrote. Anyway,

Final Preparations and Setbacks

2010-07-25T13:42:00.000+02:00

Well, in 5 days we will finally be leaving! It's getting so close. Eddie is coming here on Wednesday and on Friday we will head to Japan! ^^ Unfortunately there is a minor setback: Himeji castle is closed from April 2010 until somewhere in 2011 for renovations. I was really looking forward to seeing it. >< However, I've found a good alternative; Okayama. A small town which is also on the way

Getting up-to-date

2010-07-05T17:30:00.000+02:00

So I got my computer back and the virus is gone, yay! But it did leave me a few days behind on my onyomi reviews (I had about 300 due), so I finally managed to catch up with them yesterday. Just a shame after three weeks in Japan, loads of them will be due again. XD I've also been making all kinds of final arrangements for the trip to Japan. I've ordered my Rail Pass and I've printed out all the

Computer problems

2010-06-26T10:18:00.000+02:00

So my computer has a very nasty virus that 2 days and 2 IT-guys at work haven't been able to get rid of. So now it's going to have to be reformatted! I am soooo happy I recently joined Anki online; it keeps all my Anki progress online as well as on my computer. So when that is all deleted off my computer next week, I'll still have the cards I added and the reviews I've done online. However; I

Progress as of June 13th

2010-06-13T19:34:00.001+02:00

I've finally made it past the 1/4 point on my Onyomi cards! ^^ RTK2: 517 cards in Anki Pimsleur: Japanese 2, Unit 17 done

Progress as of June 10th

2010-06-11T07:02:00.000+02:00

Ugh, school has been getting busy again, so I haven't had much time. I'm hopelessly behind on my Pimsleur, I don't think I can finish it before going to Japan. Same with RTK! But I'm not too bothered; perhaps I can do some more once the holidays actually start, but I think I'll also need my rest then. XD One thing's for sure; I went to the Efteling (Dutch fairytale theme park) yesterday and I so

Progress as of June 6th

2010-06-06T17:15:00.001+02:00

IBS is slowly getting better. ^^ Pimsleur: Japanese 2, Unit 13 RTK2: 420 cards in Anki. Almost at the 1/4 mark! ^^ I want to see if I can't make it that far today, but I'm a bit worried about the amount of reviews I'll have tomorrow if I do. Everything I add today, I'll have to review tomorrow, and I've already added 28 today. If I add 100 more... Well. We'll see!

Progress as of June 1st

2010-06-01T20:09:00.000+02:00

So my IBS has really been flaring up, so I wasn't able to do a lot. Yesterday I did a bit, though, as well as today, so my progress at the moment is: Pimsleur: Japanese 2, Unit 9. RTK2: 392 cards in Anki.

Remembering the Kanji by James Heisig - part 2

2010-05-24T14:24:00.000+02:00

In my previous post I explained how Remembering the Kanji 1 helped me learn the meaning and writing of 2042 kanji. So that's great and impressive at birthday parties and all, but completely useless if you don't also know the pronunciation. So that's what Remembering the Kanji volume 2 is all about. It took me a while to get started, because it doesn't really give a set way of studying, like

Remembering The Kanji by James Heisig - part 1

2010-05-24T00:19:00.000+02:00

So I have already explained a bit about this topic, but I'll explain it with a bit more detail now, so you guys know exactly how I've been learning the Japanese writing system. First a short explanation of this writing system. Japanese consists of three different sets of 'symbols'. - Hiragana (ひらがな): Each hiragana symbol represents a certain syllable/sound. There's the vowels a, i, u, e, o.

Progress as of May 23rd

2010-05-23T23:04:00.000+02:00

Pimsleur: Japanese 2, Unit 5. Getting a bit easier... RTK2: 343 cards in Anki.

Progress as of May 22nd

2010-05-23T00:13:00.003+02:00

Pimsleur: Up to Unit 4 of Japanese 2 done. This is harder than Japanese 1, though. I hardly understand anything of the conversations at the start of each unit, as they are speaking so fast. XD RTK2: 322 in Anki. Did 35 today, now I'm tiiired.

Progress as of May 16th

2010-05-16T13:54:00.004+02:00

Pimsleur Japanese 1 is done (30 units), now on to Japanese 2! ^^ After finishing Remembering The Kanji 1, this is my first new major milestone. RTK2: 273 cards in Anki

Pimsleur

2010-05-15T21:26:00.001+02:00

Some people have been asking me: What is Pimsleur? Pimsleur is a method for learning simple Japanese conversation skills. There are three parts, Japanese 1, 2 and 3. Each part consists of 30 units, containing sound files of a little under 30 minutes each, supporting notes and extra reading material on the Japanese culture. The sound files are most important. When you listen to them, you are

Progress as of May 14th

2010-05-14T22:30:00.002+02:00

Pimsleur: Unit 29 done RTK2: 255 cards in Anki

Acupuncture

2010-05-14T22:29:00.001+02:00

Wooh so it's been a few days since I've updated, but my two friends Megan and Patrick were visiting me. I had a great couple of days, I wish they could have stayed longer. But that's not what this post is about, since it has nothing to do with Japanese or Japan (though Patrick seemed to be having fun practising my Pimsleur with me (more about Pimsleur in a later post) and I think he was doing

Progress as of May 11th

2010-05-11T19:07:00.003+02:00

Pimsleur: Unit 27 (did that one twice) RTK2: 233 cards in Anki

Hostels!

2010-05-10T17:35:00.003+02:00

So despite not being able to get into all the hostels and hotels I wanted (stupid hostels making me think you can only book up to three months in advance) I did find some very nice-looking hostels for our stay in Japan. I've mentioned them in a previous post, but here I've listed them again, including links to their websites, so you can check out what they're like! Saturday, July 31st and Sunday

Progress as of May 9th

2010-05-09T13:47:00.001+02:00

Pimsleur: Unit 26 RTK2: 204 cards in Anki

Progress on the trip

2010-05-09T11:13:00.000+02:00

So on July 30th, 2010, Eddie and I will embark on a (little under) three week trip to Japan! :D I don't know how it started out; we were on the phone and Eddie mentioned he wanted to go to Japan with me, and I mentioned how I'd loooove to go there, and suddenly we were making real plans and eventually booking flights and hostels. Like I said, we will leave from Schiphol Amsterdam on July 30th

Progress so far

2010-05-09T11:04:00.002+02:00

Because I decided to start posting this blog over a year into beginnig to study Japanese and making plans for a trip to Japan, I have already made quite a bit of progress that I will share with you now. Please keep in mind that I work a fulltime job, so progress is slow but steady. :) I'm using a few excellent books and online resources that I can recommend to anyone. I started by getting a

Welcome to my blog!

2010-05-09T10:37:00.001+02:00

Welcome to my blog! On here, I will document my learning of Japanese (very slow) and the preparations for my upcoming trip to Japan (approaching very fast). Please enjoy and leave a comment if you like!