大坂城 (Osaka Castle)

クラスメートのなまえ：リさん

かいわのタイトル： 大坂城 (Osaka Castle)

リさん： おひようございます！

わたし： リさん、 おひようございます！

リさん： 日本 に いきましたか？

わたし： はい、いきました。

リさん： 日本 に　なにが　ありますか？

わたし： ええと、大坂城 と 東京タワ と 富士山　あります。そして 秋葉原 もあります。

リさん： そですか。え~と。。。大坂城 は ゆうめいですか。

わたし： ええ、 とてもゆうめいですね。

リさん： 大坂城 は　どんなたてものですか。

わたし： りっぱなたてものです。そして、大きいたてものです。

リさん： 大坂城 は あまり きれいじゃありませんか？

わたし： いいえ！ 大坂城 は きれいですよ。

リさん： そですか。

わたし の まち

わたしは イリノイ しゅうの フロスモア からきました。

フロスモアは  あまりおおくないです。でも フロスモア の こうこう わ おおきです。フロスモアはシカゴのちかくにあります。フロスモアはとてもきれいなまちです. フロスモア の えき は りつぱなです。フロスモア の えき は りつぱなです。そして フロスモアの レストラン は ゆうめいなたてものです。

Katakana Expressions

I thought when I learned Hiragana I would be using it a lot more. To my surprise I've been using Katakana a lot more. I mean when you're able to distinguish the difference between the two you realize that Katakana is everywhere. I never knew foreign words (borrowed words) were used so much.

This picture is from one of my favorite motivational videos. When I need a pick me up I watch this video and I think, "This guy really believes in me. I can do anything because this random fisherman believes in me!!" So anyway at the end of the video he randomly throws "Never give up!!" in English. So now I know how to write it in Katakana!

Oh and here are some random words in Katakana :D

ゴジラ = Godzilla

アキラ = Akira

バカ = Idiot

ヤクザ = Yakuza

カラオケ= Karaoke

コスプレ = Cosplay

My Favorite Song in Japanese (REPOST! ORIGINAL RANDOMLY DELETED)

I absolutely adore Gurren Lagann. It's a bit wacky and over the top, but I can't help loving everything about it. The music and dialouge really gets you excited and ready to take on anything! I can't mention Gurren Lagann without tipping my hat to Sorairo Days. The song itself always gets me motivated to keep progressing forward. Anywho, enjoy the song!

P.S. Hopefully I learn enough Japanese to properly sing along :D

Arthur Binardさん

Overall I really enjoyed Arthur Binard's lecture. Walking in I didn't necessarily know what the lecture would be on, but it was immensely interesting. He moved from one point about hot candy to the significance of the mushroom cloud to the physics behind a nuclear bomb. There was a lot happening in that lecture, and yet it all made sense. He was able to connect these various points into a cohesive image. Also, I really enjoyed his enthusiasm throughout the lecture. He clearly enjoys translating and studying Japanese culture. I wish I could of seen his poetry reading and everyone who did go is very fortunate! 

Daily Routine

わたしは たいてい ごせんしちじ にねます。わたし を あびます。あさごはん を たべます。がっこうへいきます。しゅくだいをします。ごごじゅうにねません。

(Accurate depiction of me at breakfast) 

First Attempt at Typing Hiragana

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNQvLECht08 (give it a listen!)

はじめまして。わたしは さまじん です。さんねんせいです。アメリカじんです。せんこうぶんがくです。どうぞよろしく。

I was having a difficult time writing my last name in Katakana, so I opted for Hiragana.

I really really reallllly love Sorairo Days by Shoko Nakagawa. You can hear this song in Gurren Lagann. I usually play this song when I need some motivation in rugby or to do my homework (which is a lot). I admire a lot of the messages presented in Gurren Lagann and I feel this song truly expresses them. I'd love to learn the lyrics and actually sing them (despite my less-than-perfect signing voice). How can someone not feel like they can do anything while listening to this? Overall I think all the music in Gurren Lagann is amazing. I'm also gonna throw in a plug for Cowboy Bepop and Samurai Champloo's music. If you're ever interested in listening to some great music give them a try :D