Konnichiwa, watashi no dokusha.
Hello, my readers.
Welcome to post number one (一番). I'm writing this in my lime-green walled bedroom, embracing this final week in my comfort zone before venturing to Tokyo, Japan, where a bare, white-walled apartment awaits me. No complaints, here, though. The apartment's white walls serve as a blank slate, waiting for me to color them with my sense of awe and adventure. I'm embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to a city I've only been able to dream about until now.
It's less than one week away from the day I leave for 東京. My sleek, black suitcase stares at me expectantly in our upstairs family room. Piles of clothes, electronics, and a plethora of vitamins and cold medicine decorate my bed. Organized, of course, but daunting nonetheless.
As I begin to stuff (neatly) my belongings into each crevice and cranny of the black abyss, I slide a photo of my sister and me in between two creased book pages. A smile spreads over my face as I think back to how I became interested in Japanese vicariously through my 姉.
In junior high, high school teachers visited classes, trying to persuade preteens to take a certain foreign language. I can still picture Shelby climbing into our van and informing us that she chose Japanese: it appealed to her artistic side. My mom shook her head. I giggled. Shelby was in trouble.
"If that's what you want," my mom finally sighed. "Just don't expect me to be able to help you with Japanese. I took French!"
The next year Shelby began Japanese 1, not once regretting her decision. She brought intriguing stories of her Japanese class to our dinner table. One of these stories involved learning the word "kyuu kyuu sha"（救急車）or "ambulance." Located near a fire station and hospital, the high school heard several fire truck and ambulance sirens on a daily basis. In her Japanese class, Shelby began to cry out "kyuu kyuu sha" whenever one would whiz by. She became known as the ambulance siren of her class.
When it was my turn to enter high school, I spent a week going back and forth between Spanish, French, and Japanese. Spanish was out: I had already attempted the language in elementary school to no avail. French was out: it was friends with Spanish after all. Finally, Japanese called my name. I accepted.
On my first day of high school, I strolled into period one: Japanese 1. The bell shrieked. All of my peers and I scrambled into our seats as Sensei read out our English names and asked us to choose a Japanese nickname. Most students called out names of their favorite protagonists from Anime or Manga. I had never even heard of either one before.
When Sensei finally reached the end of the alphabet, she read aloud my name. "McKenna san?"（マッケーナさん？）I thought for a moment, trying to recall everything Shelby had taught me. My mind went blank. Suddenly, the Japanese word for ambulance stepped forward. "Kyuu kyuu sha." Sensei chuckled and nodded, approvingly.
Thus, as I searched for a title for this blog, Kyuu Kyuu Sha Diaries felt fitting.
As I begin to stuff (neatly) my belongings into each crevice and cranny of the black abyss, I slide a photo of my sister and me in between two creased book pages. A smile spreads over my face as I think back to how I became interested in Japanese vicariously through my 姉.
In junior high, high school teachers visited classes, trying to persuade preteens to take a certain foreign language. I can still picture Shelby climbing into our van and informing us that she chose Japanese: it appealed to her artistic side. My mom shook her head. I giggled. Shelby was in trouble.
"If that's what you want," my mom finally sighed. "Just don't expect me to be able to help you with Japanese. I took French!"
The next year Shelby began Japanese 1, not once regretting her decision. She brought intriguing stories of her Japanese class to our dinner table. One of these stories involved learning the word "kyuu kyuu sha"（救急車）or "ambulance." Located near a fire station and hospital, the high school heard several fire truck and ambulance sirens on a daily basis. In her Japanese class, Shelby began to cry out "kyuu kyuu sha" whenever one would whiz by. She became known as the ambulance siren of her class.
When it was my turn to enter high school, I spent a week going back and forth between Spanish, French, and Japanese. Spanish was out: I had already attempted the language in elementary school to no avail. French was out: it was friends with Spanish after all. Finally, Japanese called my name. I accepted.
On my first day of high school, I strolled into period one: Japanese 1. The bell shrieked. All of my peers and I scrambled into our seats as Sensei read out our English names and asked us to choose a Japanese nickname. Most students called out names of their favorite protagonists from Anime or Manga. I had never even heard of either one before.
When Sensei finally reached the end of the alphabet, she read aloud my name. "McKenna san?"（マッケーナさん？）I thought for a moment, trying to recall everything Shelby had taught me. My mind went blank. Suddenly, the Japanese word for ambulance stepped forward. "Kyuu kyuu sha." Sensei chuckled and nodded, approvingly.
Thus, as I searched for a title for this blog, Kyuu Kyuu Sha Diaries felt fitting.
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| Kyoto, Japan Summer 2008 |
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| Capybara Souvenir |
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| Free fans from passersby |
