AntiNEC

When I first went to Okinawa with Nadu 2 years ago, I remember how difficult it was to communicate with her family, since I don't speak any Japanese beside my 10 word vocabulary. I vowed that I would learn at least some basic conversational Japanese for my next visit. Everybody there is really great about the language barrier, and they dig up what English they know to help me out. But I think I really should be speaking Japanese there, after all, it is their country, not mine :P

So, here I am, 2 months away from that 'next visit'. I've had 2 long years to learn at the very least, some basics. Not problem, all it takes is a day or 2 a week of work. Easy.

Whoops.

I've learned maybe another...50 words. Yeah, that's it. And that's being optimistic. I can't think off the top of my head 20 Japanese words that I know now that I wouldn't have known 2 years ago. But I must have figured out something by accident in that time, maybe listening to Nadu speak to her parents on the phone, or talking to her cousin here.

When we go to Okinawa, we are having a wedding reception, for all of her family who could not make it to Canada for the wedding here. I am determined to do my speach in Japanese. Memorized. No paper. No flash cards. No key words burned into my retinas.
All of a sudden, two months does not seem very long!

So, I am going to try to learn as much Japanese vocabulary as I can before I go. Any words at all, useful or not. I figure knowing the Japanese term for monkey is better than not knowing anything at all. By the way, saru (さる) was one of the first Japanese words I learned, so that was just an example.

If I have time, I will list all the new words I learn here. Here is the first installment, the words I learned today and within the last month or so.


Sorry - Gomen

Sunday - Nichiyoubi
Monday - Getsuyoubi
Tuesday - Kayoubi
Wednesday - Suiyoubi
Thursday - Mokuyoubi
Friday - Kinyoubi
Saturday - Doyoubi

Please (polite) - Onagai shimasu
Handshake command to a dog - Otte (what a pointless thing to learn!)