On our first week in Japan, we noticed some fliers announcing free writing classes to learn the Hirigana and Katakana alphabets (the Kanji alphabet I will work on in the near future). Now, after these classes my brain can process the characters into sounds, which turn into words. Even though I might not know the word, it's better than being fully illiterate like I was before.
Since I'm only a beginner, watching TV is too fast for me as the characters quickly flick across the screen and then disappear before I'm able to sound it out. Out in town I can recognize things like the name of the city of Yokosuka. I've also been spending time translating the stickers and directions on appliances in our hotel.
Everytime I blowdry my hair, I puzzle over the characters on the switch on our bathroom mirror. Here's a picture of the switch below:
The left side is written in Kanji, and I think it means "off" because when the switch is that way, the light turns off. On the right side, I can read the characters perfectly now: kumaritome......I didn't know what that meant so I took to the internet and tried to translate it...no luck...so, I broke my new word up into pieces to see if maybe pieces of it would translate....
Kumari = fogginess
tome = stopping
So, stopping fogginess.....buuuuuttt wait, I thought this switch only turned a light on above my bathroom mirror. I slowly bring my hand up to touch the mirror. It's warm. The mirror is heated. Oh snap. Oh snappity snap snap....I just had my first successful translation experience!!!! I discovered the bathroom mirror was heated!!
You are like a super hero!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cute and encouraging story and I really liked reading it.
That is so awesome! Get your learn on girl!
ReplyDeleteMy friend has been taking Japanese classes in college and I play a game with her where I will text her pictures of Japanese words and she will sound them out and tell me what the product is. It is really fun and a good way for her to practice. Maybe you and John can play?