Why Japanese?

I get asked that question a lot. The short answer, of course, is:
"I don't know. Why not?"

A better answer is that I'm probably only going to get to study a foreign language at Columbia this one time and I don't want to waste it on something like Spanish, which I could probably learn anywhere; most of my family speak it as their first language.  

I've actually tried to learn Japanese before. I don't know why, I've always just wanted to. It probably has something to do with Anime and video games,but it's also Japanese music, and Japanese history. I definitely want to go to Japan and it would be great if I wasn't just
a dumb American touristwhen I'm there. Plus the language just sounds cool when people are speaking it.

I have some of those Teach Yourself Japanese books, I've tried Rosetta Stone. You can only do so much with that stuff though. What I need is a real class.

So here I am, ready to learn!*

*May not actually be me in the picture

Seriously though, there's no part of this class I'm not excited about (except for maybe the tests). I want to learn the language, have fun, and maybe make some friends along the way. I especially need to have more Japanese conversations because putting everything together has been a challenge. I know what the words mean, but I don't always know exactly how to put them together. If anyone wants to have a study group, I'm up for it.

That's about it, I have an appointment with a textbook now so I'll see you in class.じゃ　また