About Communication

In my opinion, fixed methods of communication are very important, especially when you are unfamiliar with a person. The past week or two, we learned a number of distinctions between polite and formal Japanese used for "out group" acquaintances, versus the plain form that can be used for family, friends, and coworkers. When I decided to study Chinese, I never bothered to study the fixed expressions in textbooks. To me, they seemed irrelevant, too formal, and not really necessary. And when I lived in China, most of my friends were my age, so I could talk casually and not have to worry about being too polite. But eventually, I started studying at a university there, and I found that although I could express my opinion, I did not know how to request things from a teacher in a way that was comfortable; in other words, I always had to hesitate, because I was afraid I was being rude.
Now, studying Japanese, which puts so much emphasis on politeness levels, although the variations seem a bit abstract, I realize they'll be very useful when living in Japan or doing research there. To talk to ones friends is easy, because they can overlook small mistakes. But to avoid making an impression that makes strangers reluctant to get to know you is important if you plan on staying in a different culture for a long time; fixed expressions become very important for communication then.
I couldn't write this in Japanese, but I thought the experience in China was worth writing about....gomen nasai!

好きな物

わたしはたくさんほんがあります。わたしのしごとはgraduateがくせいですから。にほんのれいきしとぶんがくの本がたくさんあります。そして、あきらくろさわと小津 安二郎のえいががとてもすきです。にほんのdirectorのなかで鈴木 清順がいちばんすきです。まんあさん鈴木 清順のえいがをみなければなりません！

ふゆ休みに何をしましたか？ Feb 4 2014

• ふゆ休みはよくて、おもしろかったです。クリスマスのあとで、サンフランシスコへ親戚にあいにいきました。親戚はサンフランシスコにすんでいます。車をもっていません。サンフランシスコは地下鉄がありますから。サンフランシスコの地下鉄はLAの地下鉄よりとてもいいです。
• 新年のあとで両親とLA近くのHuntington庭へ行って、たくさん庭と美術館をみて、お茶を飲みました。Huntington庭は日本の庭があります。きれいで、静かな庭です。Huntingtonの美術館のなかで写真を撮ってもいいです。
• たくさん本をよんで、たくさん映画を見て、たくさん所へ行きました。ふゆ休みはとても面白かったです。