We finally whimpered, "Uncle." The MP3 player is not working for us. We can't get to the right spot, random phrases come whizzing at us at lightening speed, but nothing that seems REALLY helpful.
One of "my PWOC ladies" spent a few years in Japan with her husband. They taught English as a Second Language and worked with a church. She stopped by with 4 books. Kana Can Be Easy, Japanese for Busy People, Basic Kanji Book, and the Random House: Japanese- English Enlgih-Japanese Dictionary. Stephanie said this was the best of 8 dictionaries they tried. She thought I should get one for each of us....I don't know about that...but I'll order one tonight. It's all a bit overwhelming... Arielle is pouring over the Kana book. I quickly checked out the dictionary and pieced together, "where bathroom," the problem is that I'm not sure we are READING it right...i's are e's, u's are oo's.....I decided it was time to order a Japanese language program of our very own. One that would help us HEAR the right way to say things....
I found a $10 special on the first 4 cd's of the Pimsleur Language Program. It's advertised as BEGINNER. I decided it would be worth it. I also began to look for Rosetta Stone. I think that may be the easiest way for us to learn before we arrive in Japan. I'm a very visual learner (as are one or two of our children) and these phrases zipping at us are confusing. We KNOW we won't know much but it would be nice to be able to say simple things like...."Thank You," "Please," "Where is the bathroom, please?" Rosetta Stone is $500+....YIKES. I've talked to Jared and told him that I think switching from German to Japanese would make sense. He can get credit, we can count time out at the ramen stands as "Japanese"... ::snort:: He's considering. IF he goes that way then I wouldn't feel quite so bad scrounging the $ for Rosetta Stone. Maybe this would be a worthy goal for our garage sale.
Stephanie thought that military could get RS free. At this point, all I've found is a program where you can get it if you are working toward a special degree or in special training...and it's for CGO and Mike is an FGO. I'm still looking. I decided to return the MP3 player and a couple of books on base. I used the opportunity to see if they had RS Japanese, they didn't. They DID have Pimsleur. I got that and we listened to the first lesson on the way home.
We all dutifully repeated pick up lines all the way home. ::snort:: The kids didn't realize that is what they were learning....and they are useful phrases...just funny that it's an American man and a Japanese woman on the tape....
We stepped out of the van....all of us practicing saying, "Excuse me, I don't understand Japanese." Zander went to pet our neighbor's dog. This dog excels at anti-social behavior. She took up barking and lunging at him. Zander said, "MOM, how do you say, "Sumimasen...I want to ring your neck," in Japan. ::snort::
Learning about another culture is hard work...
We read a few Japanese folk tales today. We read more from Dangerous Journey. We had piano lessons. I worked on photos during the lesson. I talked with the speech pathologist again. They are really working hard to get Nolan dis-enrolled. I have really enjoyed the dealings I've had with this school district.
{Military Speak: NCO- Non-commissioned Officer (sgts), CGO = Company Grade Officer (Leuts, Capt); FGO= Field Grade Officer (Majors et al, I think there MUST be one more for Generals but not sure what it would be)}
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.
