Useful Japanese Words/Phrases
Days 1460 - 1466
Sunday, March 18 - 24, 2012
Day 1460 (Heated Debate)
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Went to church this morning and I mentioned to the pastor (who is Malaysian) that I should be visiting his country from April 5 - April 9. He said he should be visiting there as well but should be coming back to Japan on April 3.
Later in the evening, me and my Japanese friend had a heated argument concerning my last blog "Things I dislike/hate about Japan" . She was defending the Japanese shops and business owners who put up the signs "Japanese ONLY" on the outside of their establishments. I told her that this is racist, but she said it is not. I told her that anywhere in the world that allows one race to do something, but prevents another race from doing it, is in fact racism.... We argued about this for about 30 mins. She argued that foreigners sometime tend to go to these places and behave badly and at times destroy the property of the owners. To which the owners often have to pay for themselves. I agree with this but that doesn't mean that ALL foreigners should be excluded.
But then she mentioned that when these shop owners say "Japanese Only" It doesn't mean Japanese as in the race of the people, but actually mean someone who understands the culture and can behave like a Japanese. Not behaving badly and destroying stuff. So if you are black but a citizen of Japan and/or understand the culture, you could enter. I am personally unsure about this but whatever.
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Day 1461 ( Useful Japanese Words/Phrases)
Monday, March 19, 2012
Had only 3 classes today, so I left work at 1:00 pm.
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Konnichiwa (Hello) and Sayonara (Goodbye) aside there are quite a few useful Japanese words/phrases out there that you can utilize if you should visit Japan. He
Arigatou Gozaimasu - Thank you.
Hajimemashite - Nice to meet you
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu (*)
- This is one of the many Japanese words that is difficult to translate into English. It means something to the effect of "Be kind to me from now on" or "continue to show me your kind favors". It is said quite frequently and should be repeated if it is said to you. The ne is pronounced like the ne in net.
Sumimasen -
This literally mean sorry or excuse me. But it is also used to say thank you as well. If you want to ask for direction or something, saying "sumimasen" at first is the polite thing to do.
Gomenasai -
This means I'm really sorry. Kind of like a strong apology for doing something wrong or being late for something.
Wakari mashita - I understand
Wakaranai / Wakarimasen - I don't understand / I don't know
Genki desu ka - How are you?
Watashi - Me/I
Anata - You
Daijyoubu -
This means it is fine or I'm fine. A Japanese person may ask you "Daijyoubu? or Daijyoubu desuka?" They are asking if you are fine.
Ikura desu ka - Whats the cost? / How much is it?
kara kimashita - I am from .
Watashi wa suki desu - I like .
doko desu ka - Where is .
ga itai - My hurts.
Nani kore - What is that ?
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Day 1462 (Spring is Here)
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 { 4 Years!!! }
Today was a national holiday that marks the beginning of Spring. Yeah winter is over!!! But the truth is that Winter and Spring in Japan feels the same to me. Actually the latter part of Autumn until the latter part of spring is pretty much the same.
Today also marks my 4 years anniversary in Japan. Had no clue I would be here this long. Most of us her for over 2 years have a love / hate relationship with Japan. Loads of things we really like, likewise loads of things we really hate.
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Day 1463 ( )
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Went to work today only because I was scheduled to. Some of the staff members saw me and was surprised that I went to work today. So the head teacher (Some dude ranked below the vice principal but above the other teachers) called my English coordinator.
When the English coordinator came, she told me to organize the English stuff and put them in the English room and also to make a chart with some random English topics like "Fruits" / "Stationery" etc. with pictures. So I organized the English stuff and placed them into the English room. Then I started doing the chart thingy. Just then, the principal came to me and said that I could leave at about 11:30 am. So I stayed a bit then left at about 12:15 noon. In Niimi, I would have to wait until 4:00, even if I have absolutely nothing to do.
In the evening, I had my second class with my new student. We spoke about his job as a programmer and the different projects he gets to do as a programmer. Currently he is focused on studying how forests all over the world has been increasing in certain parts of the world but decreasing in other parts.
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Day 1464 ( Last Classes for 2011/2012 School Year)
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Had my final classes for 2011/2012 school year. Only 3 classes, all first graders. So I ended at about 11:15. After that I ran to the dentist to get the first of my 2 times a year dental check up?
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Day 1465 ( Speeches, flowers and Papers / YMCA Practice Teaching )
Friday, March 23, 2012
I had to do two speeches at my main school today. First one was for the staff members which was done in the staff room. Then the next one was done in the auditorium in front of over 700 Japanese individuals. Afterwards, I had to walk through the crowd of them with flowers and some papers. Tears welled up in eyes but I promised myself if at all possible, do not cry in front of people. Privately in my own quarters its fine but in front of people.... No!! Also I could come back to this school in April, but so far I am unsure. And that is exactly what I told them as well, that I am unsure if I will be back at this school next year.
In the evening I went to the YMCA where I should start working on Saturdays and did 2 practice sessions. I had 4 boy children ranging from grade 1 - 3. When I just started, one of the kids started crying. Oh, and their parents were all there looking on as well. I was not informed of any of this. All I was told is that I would be teaching some kids. Anyway, after the first 4 minutes, the kid that was crying was the happiest of the lot. And they were all smiling and having fun.
I just really hate that initial part though, where a kid or 2 see a black man and just freaks out....
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Day 1466 ( )
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Stayed in all day.
Sunday, March 18 - 24, 2012
Day 1460 (Heated Debate)
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Later in the evening, me and my Japanese friend had a heated argument concerning my last blog "Things I dislike/hate about Japan" . She was defending the Japanese shops and business owners who put up the signs "Japanese ONLY" on the outside of their establishments. I told her that this is racist, but she said it is not. I told her that anywhere in the world that allows one race to do something, but prevents another race from doing it, is in fact racism.... We argued about this for about 30 mins. She argued that foreigners sometime tend to go to these places and behave badly and at times destroy the property of the owners. To which the owners often have to pay for themselves. I agree with this but that doesn't mean that ALL foreigners should be excluded.
But then she mentioned that when these shop owners say "Japanese Only" It doesn't mean Japanese as in the race of the people, but actually mean someone who understands the culture and can behave like a Japanese. Not behaving badly and destroying stuff. So if you are black but a citizen of Japan and/or understand the culture, you could enter. I am personally unsure about this but whatever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day 1461 ( Useful Japanese Words/Phrases)
Monday, March 19, 2012
Had only 3 classes today, so I left work at 1:00 pm.
-------------------------
Konnichiwa (Hello) and Sayonara (Goodbye) aside there are quite a few useful Japanese words/phrases out there that you can utilize if you should visit Japan. He
Arigatou Gozaimasu - Thank you.
Hajimemashite - Nice to meet you
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu (*)
- This is one of the many Japanese words that is difficult to translate into English. It means something to the effect of "Be kind to me from now on" or "continue to show me your kind favors". It is said quite frequently and should be repeated if it is said to you. The ne is pronounced like the ne in net.
Sumimasen -
This literally mean sorry or excuse me. But it is also used to say thank you as well. If you want to ask for direction or something, saying "sumimasen" at first is the polite thing to do.
Gomenasai -
This means I'm really sorry. Kind of like a strong apology for doing something wrong or being late for something.
Wakari mashita - I understand
Wakaranai / Wakarimasen - I don't understand / I don't know
Genki desu ka - How are you?
Watashi - Me/I
Anata - You
Daijyoubu -
This means it is fine or I'm fine. A Japanese person may ask you "Daijyoubu? or Daijyoubu desuka?" They are asking if you are fine.
Ikura desu ka - Whats the cost? / How much is it?
kara kimashita - I am from .
Watashi wa suki desu - I like .
doko desu ka - Where is .
ga itai - My hurts.
Nani kore - What is that ?
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Day 1462 (Spring is Here)
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 { 4 Years!!! }
Today also marks my 4 years anniversary in Japan. Had no clue I would be here this long. Most of us her for over 2 years have a love / hate relationship with Japan. Loads of things we really like, likewise loads of things we really hate.
----------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day 1463 ( )
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Went to work today only because I was scheduled to. Some of the staff members saw me and was surprised that I went to work today. So the head teacher (Some dude ranked below the vice principal but above the other teachers) called my English coordinator.
When the English coordinator came, she told me to organize the English stuff and put them in the English room and also to make a chart with some random English topics like "Fruits" / "Stationery" etc. with pictures. So I organized the English stuff and placed them into the English room. Then I started doing the chart thingy. Just then, the principal came to me and said that I could leave at about 11:30 am. So I stayed a bit then left at about 12:15 noon. In Niimi, I would have to wait until 4:00, even if I have absolutely nothing to do.
In the evening, I had my second class with my new student. We spoke about his job as a programmer and the different projects he gets to do as a programmer. Currently he is focused on studying how forests all over the world has been increasing in certain parts of the world but decreasing in other parts.
-------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day 1464 ( Last Classes for 2011/2012 School Year)
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Had my final classes for 2011/2012 school year. Only 3 classes, all first graders. So I ended at about 11:15. After that I ran to the dentist to get the first of my 2 times a year dental check up?
-----------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day 1465 ( Speeches, flowers and Papers / YMCA Practice Teaching )
Friday, March 23, 2012
I had to do two speeches at my main school today. First one was for the staff members which was done in the staff room. Then the next one was done in the auditorium in front of over 700 Japanese individuals. Afterwards, I had to walk through the crowd of them with flowers and some papers. Tears welled up in eyes but I promised myself if at all possible, do not cry in front of people. Privately in my own quarters its fine but in front of people.... No!! Also I could come back to this school in April, but so far I am unsure. And that is exactly what I told them as well, that I am unsure if I will be back at this school next year.
I just really hate that initial part though, where a kid or 2 see a black man and just freaks out....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day 1466 ( )
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Stayed in all day.
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