Good morning! Welcome, please help yourself to a cup of hot or cold beverage and join me for a quick chat.
I’m not sure when I have ever looking so forward to the weekend but it isn’t like I will be going anywhere this weekend. It’s been cold and snowing on and off since Tuesday and it’s predicted another few inches will fall today and tomorrow. I think Mother Nature is trying to make up for 2 months of snow in a week. The mountains have been accumulating over a foot of snow each day since Tuesday. I’d bet ski enthusiasts are over the moon about the fresh powder.
So, I’ve been stuck at home all week. I haven’t been wanting to go out, afraid I will slip on ice and hurt or possibly break something. I’ve slipped on ice a few times and those traumatic and painful memories tend to stay with you. I also have a hard time getting warm once I’m out in the cold, no matter how much clothes I have on or how high I turn the heat, I’m still cold. It’s the thing about having an autoimmune disorder – the body has a hard time regulating body temperature.
I am now 187 days into learning Japanese on Duolingo and though progress has slowed, I feel I can understand a few sentences whenever I watch Japanese TV shows or anime. Is that good? I don’t know. Most people say they don’t become fluent until year 5.
A few nights ago, I learned my aunt (mom’s youngest sister) will be returning next month. I don’t know how I feel at the moment. Part of me is excited while part of me is filled with dread.
I think I’m excited because I finally have someone to go on hikes with but really, do I really want to go on hikes with anyone? I’m filled with dread because she’s the type of person who asks stupid questions – the kind that I have to answer a million times. I also dread that my bathroom will once again be a shared bathroom and that she’ll occupy it for hours at a time.
In the meantime, I think I will spend this weekend doing some indoor seed-starting. I started sprouting some ginger last weekend. There’s no activity so far. I think I might start some peppers and perennial seeds since they tend to be slow-growers. I’ve ordered some asparagus seeds, which I hope to pick up next week when I head to the office. Those will need to be started before the end of the month. I’m looking forward to all the fun of indoor seed-starting.
#weekendcoffeeshare is hosted by Natalie of Natalie the Explorer. I appreciate you stopping by. Until next we chat. 🙂
This is Another Story 
The snow looks beautiful! I can relate…. Company can be difficult, often disrupting our routine. Good luck with Duolingo! Learning Japanese isn’t easy! I admire your effort! Enjoyed your post today! 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, glad to hear you enjoyed the post. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
The US government’s foreign language training program for diplomats ranks Japanese as THE single most difficult language for native English speakers, requiring an average of 6-years of full-time study to master. If you can make out traditional kanji, however, you’ll have a big advantage with reading. With kana characters down, you only need about 900 of the 2,100 “Joyo” kanji to be able to read 95% of most written material.
Listening is difficult, because informal Japanese is spoken like Aussie-English… compressions, slang, mispronunciations, regional accents… Don’t learn to speak from listening to informal talk! Use a language program or something like NHK, and pay careful attention to the rhythm (“moras”). I’ve met US Marines who learned Japanese from their girlfriends. Yeah… And an American accent sounds like you’re from Osaka… which could be good or bad.
Good luck. Took me years just to recover what I grew up with.
And I recommend boot-chains. I keep a pair on my shoveling boots… beats sliding down the driveway with a broken wrist or hip. お気を付けて、ください。
LikeLiked by 2 people
Really? I would’ve guessed Chinese, not Japanese.
Fortunately, I’m not a native English and I have the advantage of knowing Chinese. So far, most of the kanji hasn’t been hard. I find the pronunciation the most difficult, especially when spoken at natural speed.
I do have chains for my boots but it’s not easy putting them on and taking them off, especially for the few steps to take out the garbage and get the mail.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chinese is in the top 5, with Cantonese slightly outranking Mandarin. Japanese has an extra point for the levels of formality, “on” and “kun” readings, and the unique grammar. You have a big advantage with the kanji and insight into “on” readings.
I think most people struggle with the rhythm and timing. You can see the intervals when written in kana. But the stops, breaks and drawn out sounds are pretty different from other languages. Think: くつ (shoes) vs. くつう (agony). 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
After learning kanji for the last 6 months or so, I feel there are some “on” reading of kanji might had been derived from Cantonese. I’m more fluent in speaking Cantonese than Mandarin, so those kanji felt more natural to my tongue.
I am definitely struggling with the rhythm and pitch when it comes to speaking Japanese but I think that can be improved as I keep learning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re learning at your rate and that’s good enough. I have learn Hebrew course and I have not started it yet. I’m still mucking about with the alphabet. I’m not in a good learning phase. But the year in young.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good luck with your learning.
LikeLike
Good luck on learning the new language! And with your Aunt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. 😊
LikeLike
Don’t be afraid of the snow. Just wear boots with good tread and take your time when you walk. Also, get some hand warmers and wear a hat (and hood, for that matter). I try to walk in the snow instead of icy areas, like sidewalks and streets.
Congratulations on learning Japanese! I’ve been learning Spanish and French on Duolingo since the first year of the pandemic I think that I read it better than I speak it but I’m determined to learn it well enough to speak Spanish with my neighbors. As for French, I just always thought it was a sexy-sounding language. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, it’s the ice I’m afraid of. Snow is nice and fluffy. Ice can be anywhere and it can easily be blended with the pavement.
I’ve been wanting to learn Spanish since middle school but never got around to it. Perhaps, after Japanese, I’ll learn Spanish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s definitely the ice but in your case, I also meant going outside in the snow as well, since you mentioned that the cold bothers you because of your autoimmune condition. I want you to enjoy the season! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never go anywhere without a hand warmer these days and a woolen hat, wrist warmer, and scarf.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, that is a lot of snow and congrats on learning Japanese.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks.
LikeLike
Hi, Yinglan! I think snow is pretty, but I’m like you: I hate cold weather! I’ve lived in it, but now I’ve been in Florida for many years.
Have a good week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was born in the south, so I think unless one is born in somewhere cold, it’s nearly impossible to be used to the cold. I wish I’m living in a warm place.
LikeLiked by 1 person