So Why Did I Choose To Study Japanese?
It's quite simple really, I have one very important dream since middle school; to go study abroad in Japan. So I have been working since then to achieve that goal. Though, this is really the first time I have taken a course officially now that I am at the university. (None of my prior schools ever offered Japanese, sadly)
I want to be able to explore Japan, and all the cool stuff it has to offer, including it's music, food and sights without having to be that American tourist who is so dreadfully lost and out of place. I might still (probably will) get lost, but I want to be able to at least have my wits about me. Because I always found rather ridiculous those people who go abroad to a country so different from their own and don't even bother learning a little bit about the language. You miss out on so much! Plus you are a hazard too.
So here I am, at Columbia studying Japanese, with all the trials and mistrials of learning a brand new language completely different from what I am used to. Though to be fair, the sounds aren't bad, my pronounciation is pretty on point. As per what my sensei's (both from class and language lab) tell me. And that is because all the sounds are basically covered in Spanish and English.
Huzzah for dual fluency!
But, when it comes to writing, that's another story. (I'm glaring at you kanji) If it was simply hiragana and katakana, it would be okay. But throwing chinese characters with kon and om yomi into the mix (you have to memorize both the japanese and chinese meaning of a kanji, as if just memorizing the kanji wasn't bad enough) makes for a rather difficult task.
Wish me luck and join me on my Japanese experience!
Here and Beyond,
Nicole Valencia
