Journal Entry #3: Final 3 Days of Summer Camp

Day 3
My classmates and I learned a lot of useful phrases such as, What do you recommend?", "I have a question, is it okay?", "How much is this?", "Do you have X?", and other such phrases that are useful when visiting a Japanese store or restaurant. We were preparing for day 4, where we will go to Little Tokyo and speak in Japanese to the store clerks.

Day 4
We went to Little Tokyo. My classmate, Taylor, and I went to a Koban, Kunikuya Bookstore, and 3 ramen shops while the other two classmates went to sushi shops; of course, our sensei and administrator accompanied us. This was my first time using Japanese outside of the classroom. Practicing my Japanese with store clerks, even though it was just basic, definitely gave me the confidence to speak more Japanese. The store clerks did not look down on us for our basic Japanese (as I had always imagined). Instead, they were optimistic when we spoke Japanese to them; a few clerks were astonished or surprised...

From now on, whenever I am in Japan town or Little Tokyo, I will definitely use Japanese as much as I can. After that we went to the classroom and played Shiritori.

Day 5
My classmates and I had to do a presentation in both Japanese and English. Parents, administrators, and workers/directors of the Japan Foundation went to see us present. We also had to wear yukatas during our presentation, which was something new for me (I wore a pink one). It took a while for that Japanese lady to put on our yukatas, www. It did not really feel comfortable; it was tight for us and my classmates and I looked like we were walking like penguins. Anyway, I was a little excited because I never wore a yukata before, but a little nervous because our presentation was a last-minute decision. For our presentation, we introduced ourselves in Japanese, explained what we learned in Little Tokyo (what the ramen shops had, what they recommended, their prices on a few food items, etc). Then in English, we explained in English some aspect of Japanese culture that we had learned. I talked about the Tabanata Festival (tanzaku) and some history that I learned about Little Tokyo (such as EO 9066 during WWII happening on San Pedro St.), and how the "Discover Little Tokyo" camp gave me a new insight of the LT district. My classmates talked about the maneki neko, Konukinuya bookstore, darumas, and the Bon Festival. After the presentation, we went to the Japanese garden on the back of the building to take lots of pictures in our yukatas. Finally, it was time to say sayonora, even though I will contact my sensei and a few of my classmates through Skype and email.

So this was the first and last time I will do this sort of "Japanese teen summer camp" type of thing, since it's the last year of my teenage years (18). It definitely was a fun experience and would definitely help you learn a lot of the Japanese culture and language. Actually, this was Japan Foundation's first time to do a Discover Little Tokyo Teen Summer Camp. Since we were the first class, the Japanese sensei and administrator said that we will be remembered for a long time. Also, since it was the first class, pictures of my class might be posted on their website. I definitely recommend this summer camp if your 14-18 years old. Even though it is only 5-days, it will be intense for a beginner of Japanese.

Ｊｏｕｒｎａｌ Ｅｎｔｒｙ ＃２

So I mentioned my second day of class on my previous post called "Journal Entry #1". I will give an everyday account of the 5-day summer class until it ends. I didn't mention what my first day of this Japanese class was like , so I will casually talk about it.

じゃあ、きのうは　クラスに　いきました。　
Well, yesterday I went to class.

On the first day of class, I was surprised to learn that there were only 3 students in the class. Tali, a Jewish high school student who recently moved here from Israel (I believe), Taylor, a 6 feet white American dude who surprisingly is only a middle school student, and me, a soon-to-be college student and the oldest in the class. Interestingly, they look older than me or about the same age. A great combination, isn't it? Middle school student, high school student, and college student in one class. During our breaks though, I did have a conversation with them. Despite our huge age differences, we did have similar interests because we're all into Japanese language and pop culture.
I definitely enjoyed this class compared to the adult equivalent that I took a month prior. This one was more interactive and fun while the latter was boring and redundant as hell. Since I'm 18 years old, I got the best of both worlds; I am eligible to go to both the class for teens and the class for adults. Anyway, what I most enjoyed in this class was the freebies; an Erin (mascot of Japan Foundation's website) pen, practice notepad, Hiragana & Katakana poster, folders, and anime stickers. I didn't get shit in the adult class. We learned to introduce ourselves, but of course it was just review for me and Tali (Tali has been self-studying for 2 years on-and-off). It was totally new for Taylor, who has the worst Japanese pronunciation in class to be honest. He could only read Romaji, so you can guess how he introduced himself in Japanese; imagine him enunciating all the "u's" with an American pronunciation of all the Japanese words. Despite my criticisms of his Japanese, he is a great guy. I enjoyed talking to him today and yesterday and he sounds pretty mature for his age. What I found most interesting about him was that his fave anime was Revolutionary Girl Utena (seriously?) and that he is obsessed with tbat Rilakkuma bear even though it is girly. What we do have in common is our obsession of Japanese school supplies. We buy as much as we can if we're near a Japanese shop because American school supplies are of poorer quality and unstylish in comparison. About Tali-san, she is a sweet, pretty girl with near-perfect Japanese pronunciation. I enjoyed talking to her too; she is into Japanese folktales and shonen manga. I think we might keep in contact after class ends since we exchanged skype usernames. So to sum it up, we learned greetings, classroom expressions, introductions, here/thank you/sorry phrases, Katakana, numbers, and additional random worlds like food & interests.

My introduction in class was: はじめまして。わたしはジョーンです。だいがくせいです。　いちごとホラーがすきです。よろしくおねがいします。My other two classmates said exactly the same sentences but applied their own names and likes, since we had to use the phrases from the board.

テイラー:　（In a Romaji-derived accent) はじめまして。わたしはテイラーです。私はちゅうがくせいです。私はオレンジがすきです。　よろしくおねがいします。　

タリ:　はじめまして。私はタリです。　私はこうこうせいです。　そばがすきです。　よろしくおねがいします。

Intro's in translation:
Joan: How do you do? I am Joan. I am a college student. I like strawberries and horror movies. Nice to meet you.
Taylor: How do you do? I am Taylor. I am a junior high school student. I like oranges. Nice to meet you.
Tali: How do you do? I am Tali. I am a high school student. I like soba. Nice to meet you.

Now that I think about it, our introductions are pretty laughable. wwwwwwww

Journal Entry #1

こんばんは～。きょうは　おもしろいね。　にほんごクラスえ　いきました。　それから　スターバックスえ　いきました。　それから　きのくにやほんやええ　いきました。　それから　としょかんえに　いきました。　それから　にほんのレストランえ　いきました。らめん　と　アイスｸﾘｰﾑをたべました｡

Ｇｏｏｄ　ｅｖｅｎｉｎｇ．　Ｔｏｄａｙ　ｗａｓ　ｉｎｔｅｒｅｓｔｉｎｇ．　Ｉ　 ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｃｌａｓｓ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｈａｔ，　Ｉ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　Ｓｔａｒｂｕｃｋｓ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｈａｔ，　Ｉ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　Ｋｉｎｏｋｕｎｉｙａ　Ｂｏｏｋｓｔｏｒｅ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｈａｔ，　Ｉ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｉｂｒａｒｙ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｔｈａｔ，　Ｉ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　ａ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｒｅｓｔａｕｒａｎｔ．Ⅰａｔｅ　ｒａｍｅｎ　ａｎｄ　ｉｃｅ　ｃｒｅａｍ．

Ｔｈｉｓ　ｉｓ　ｍｙ　ｔｅｒｒｉｂｌｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｉｎ　ｔｒａｎｓｌａｔｉｏｎ．　Ｓｏ　ｆａｒ，　Ｉ　ａｍ　ｏｎ　ｍｙ　ｓｅｃｏｎｄ　ｍｏｎｔｈ　ｏｆ　ｍｙ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｓｔｕｄｉｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｈａｖｅ　ａ　ｌｏｎｇ　ｗａｙ　ｔｏ　ｇｏ．

Ｓｏ，　Ｉ　ｅｎｒｏｌｌｅｄ　ｉｎ　ａ　５－ｄａｙ　Ｓｕｍｍｅｒ　Ｃａｍｐ　ｆｏｒ　Ｔｅｅｎｓ　（１４－１８　ｙｅａｒｓ　ｏｌｄ）　ｗｈｅｒｅ　Ｉ　ｉｎｔｅｒａｃｔｉｖｅｌｙ　ｓｔｕｄｙ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍｙ　ｃｌａｓｓｍａｔｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｔｅａｃｈｅｒ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｃｌａｓｓｅｓ　ａｒｅ　３　ｈｏｕｒｓ　ｆｒｏｍ　９：３０－１２：３０　ｐｍ．　Ｔｏｄａｙ，　ｗｅ　ｂａｓｉｃａｌｌｙ　ｌｅａｒｎｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｉｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｅ　ｏｕｒｓｅｌｖｅｓ　ｉｎ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ａｎｄ　ｌｅａｒｎｅｄ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　Ｋａｔａｋａｎａ　ｃｈａｒａｃｔｅｒｓ．　Ｉｎ　ａｄｄｉｔｉｏｎ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｎｔ　ｏｎ　ａｎ　１－ｈｏｕｒ　ｔｏｕｒ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｏｕｒ　ｇｕｉｄｅ　ｅｘｐｌａｉｎｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｄｅｔａｉｌ　ｍｏｓｔ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙ，ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇｓ，ｓｔｏｒｅｓ，ｓｔｒｅｅｔｓ，　ａｎｄ　ｎｏｔａｂｌｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　Ａｍｅｒｉｃａｎｓ　ｉｎ　Ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　Ｔｏｋｙｏ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｔｏｕｒ　ｇｕｉｄｅ　ｉｓ　ａ　ｎｉｓｓｅｉ　（ｓｅｃｏｎｄ　ｇｅｎｅｒａｔｉｏｎ　Ａｍｅｒｉｃａｎ）　ｗｈｏ　ｈａｓ　ｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｉｎｔｅｒｎｍｅｎｔ　ｄｕｒｉｎｇ　ＷＷＩＩ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｈｅ　ｗａｓ　ａｂｏｕｔ　１１　ｙｅａｒｓ　ｏｌｄ．　Ｗｏｗ，　Ｉ　ｌｅａｒｎｅｄ　ｓｏ　ｍｕｃｈ，　ａｎｄ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｐｒｏｂａｂｌｙ　ｎｏｔ　ｌｏｏｋ　ａｔ　Ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　Ｔｏｋｙｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｓａｍｅ　ｗａｙ　ａｇａｉｎ．Ｅｖｅｎ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ　Ｉ’ｖｅ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｔｏ　ＬＴ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｔｈａｎ　ａ　ｄｏｚｅｎ　ｔｉｍｅｓ，　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｎｅｖｅｒ　ｌｅａｒｎｅｄ　ｈｏｗ　ＬＫ　ｓｔａｒｔｅｄ　ａｎｄ　ｄｅｖｅｌｏｐｅｄ．Ｉ　ａｌｓｏ　ｈａｄ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｆｏｕｎｄ　ｏｕｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｈｉｄｄｅｎ　ｓｐｏｔｓ，　ｓｕｃｈ　ａｓ　ｔｈｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｇａｒｄｅｎ，　ｔｈａｔ　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ａｌｗａｙｓ　ｏｖｅｒｌｏｏｋｅｄ．　Ｍｏｒｅ　ｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｌｙ，　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｌｅａｒｎｅｄ　ｓｏ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｎｅｗ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｗｏｒｄｓ　ｔｏｄａｙ，　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｂｅｌｉｅｖｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｅｗ　ｍａｔｅｒｉａｌ　ｈａｓ　ａｌｒｅａｄｙ　ｒｅｉｎｆｏｒｃｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｍｙ　ｍｉｎｄ　ｓｉｎｃｅ　Ｉ　ｌｅａｒｎｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｓｕｃｈ　ａｎ　ｅｎｊｏｙａｂｌｅ　ｗａｙ．Ｄｅｆｉｎｉｔｅｌｙ　ｔａｋｅ　ａ　ｔｏｕｒ　ｏｆ　Ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　Ｔｏｋｙｏ　ｉｆ　ｙｏｕ　ｗａｎｔ　ｔｏ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｍｏｒｅ　ａｂｏｕｔ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｉｎ　Ａｍｅｒｉｃａ．Ａｌｓｏ，　ｃｈｅｃｋ　ｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　Ｊａｐａｎ　Ｆｏｕｎｄａｔｉｏｎ，　ａ　ｇｒｅａｔ　ｏｒｇａｎｉｚａｔｉｏｎ　ｔｈａｔ　ｐｒｏｖｉｄｅｓ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｃｌａｓｓｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｉｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎ　ｏｎ　ｌｅａｒｎｉｎｇ　ｍｏｒｅ　ａｂｏｕｔ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ　ａｎｄ　ｃｕｌｔｕｒｅ．