Everything is in Japanese…

but the children didn’t seem to notice when we got here. Keiji arrived here last year, speaking only English. Although Yuki spoke to him in Japanese since he was a baby, he would always reply back in English. Yuki was the only one speaking to him in Japanese at the time and his only other exposure to the language was from the Japanese tv programs Yuki would rent. But after just a few months of living here, Keiji picked up Japanese so quickly and now can easily switch from one language to the other. At first he would speak to other children here in English. Once he realized they would not respond to him, he’d say the same thing but in Japanese instead. It amazed me how easily he was able to comprehend both languages with such ease and so naturally. And he still amazes me when he speaks Japanese. He already knows the proper use of grammar and phrases – probably more than me! What’s funny is that people here are amazed to hear him speak English because they think he is full Japanese. So I’ve often been told in Japanese, “Oh wow, he speaks English so well.” I just nod and smile.

Arisa amazes me just as much. She is only just learning her words, but she already understands me and Yuki as well. If I say to her, “Where is Hana-chan? (her doll)”, she points over to the doll and says “Deh’!”(that’s Arisa talk for “there”). And when Yuki says to her, “Hana-chan doko?”, she points over to the doll and says “Deh!”.

As for me, it’s not so simple. Everything is really in Japanese. I suppose this makes sense since it is after all…Japan. For some reason, I didn’t really think about it too much before moving here. I figured I’d just learn gradually once I was here. But at the time I focused more on the speaking aspect of the language, and seemed to have forgotten that I can’t read any kanji. I am just happy that I already memorized hiragana and katakana early on. At least I don’t have to tackle trying to learn it now that I am here. But it’s still quite strange walking around and not being able to read what signs in kanji say. It’s very frustrating not knowing how to fill out forms, not being able to check the small print before signing something and not being able to benefit from the abundance of written information available here. I feel like there’s all this wealth of useful information hidden from me, yet it’s actually all right under my nose. This results in two different reactions: it motivates me to learn, but yet also discourages me from trying new things. When I am motivated I don’t mind going everywhere and trying my best to speak, asking a million questions until I have the information I need. But when I am tired, I avoid doing something that requires any Japanese communication, until it really must be done. It’s officially been a year and 2 months since we’ve moved here. I guess it’s time to stop using the excuse that I just arrived and really start taking my Japanese language studies seriously. How I wish I could absorb language as easily as Keiji and Arisa.