Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) has a satellite office here in Ikego. They offer a beginner level Japanese course for spouses. I signed up with another newly arriving spouse to attend on Tuesdays from 12:00 – 1:30. The course is taught by a local Japanese lady and her BFF who is an ex-pat. Today was our first class.
I learned how to say the following greeting:
1. How do you do? Or Hajimemashite. (Ha – gee – may – ma – she – tay)
2. I am Julia. Watashiwa Julia. (Wa – ta – she – wa Julia)
3. Nice to meet you. Doze yorishiku. (Doe – zeye / yo – lee – she – koo)
Did you get all that? It’s a mouth full.
The tricky think about Japanese is there are three different ways to write. Kanji, hiragana and katakana. I would describe kanji as the most formal. Hiragana the most common. And katakana as the easiest way to write if learning Japanese as a second language. However, signs will be a combination of all three.
Katakana and Hiragana
We were taught how to write our names in katakana. I’m fortunate because Julia is actually a common Japanese name and therefore easy to write. Each of the syllables are present in the Japanese language.
Julia in Katakana
I especially like it because it starts with Ju which is a smiley face!
Japanese to English
Another important word I learned was “please” or “kudasai” – (koo – duh – sigh). I have already accomplished and discussed with you, “thank you” – “domo Arigatōgozaimash”. Now that I have “please”, I feel like I can be simultaneously clueless and polite.
My favorite part of the class was a quote from the instructor, Junko (June – ko NOT junk – o). Junko said, “When we hear Japanese from you, we will be happy. Because maybe you love Japan.” It brought me back to the concept of “wa” or harmony. If we as foreigners are trying to learn Japanese, it demonstrates we are trying to assimilate into the culture. We are trying to find harmony and harmony is good. Sayonara, friends.