First things first

Hmm. Last time I posted was on a Sunday too. Maybe I can make this a regular thing. Sure beats making plans that end up falling through! Anyway. Getting back to textfugu! I completed Season 1 Chapter 1 awhile back but I wasn't really committed yet and knew it would be awhile so revisiting tonight.

First off, I learned (though can't really recognize plainly yet) the kanji for forward (like opposite of backward) and it is 前 (mae). To me it looks like it's capped by a 侍 (samurai) helmet then underneath on the left hand side is I believe maybe whole or in part the kanji for 'gate' and what looks like 'ri' on the right. Pretty interesting. On the contrast, backward is　後ろ (ushiro? - confusing considering the back and forward buttons only show one kanji each - like it instead says ushi but the kanji for that one is different. Hmmm.)

There are some great quotes mixed in this chapter. I'm going to share a few of them but first I just must say that I really like how textfugu is written so far. Koichi-san is funny and it's written SPECIFICALLY FOR the self-learner. I couldn't think any higher of the preparatory/precaution steps he has you take before getting started. They feel like they will ultimately help you succeed. I feel like Koichi-san genuinely wants to help people learn　日本語 and that's a new feeling considering all the other ways I've employed so far to help me learn the language. Did you know that 90% of all self-learners quit 日本語 studies in the first two weeks?? All the more reason you start off with precautions.

Here's that first quote. Maybe at some point down the line in my studies I will try to convert these to real 日本語!! “The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.” – Sven Goran Eriksson

Question 1: Why are you learning Japanese?

Well, I'm learning 日本語 because I want to live and work in 日本 someday! Anyway I can and the sooner the better!!

Question 2: What excuses could hold me back from studying 日本語?

Time (don't have enough of it now)
No one to study with
$$ (hopefully this will become less and less of an issue as I move 前)
Can I put it to use right away?
Afraid I won't finish or reach my goal
Not very good at it so far

Task 1: Decide on your '日本語' study space.'

I'm writing from here now! This is my exclusive Japanese study cubby. I call it a cubby because it's a built-in desk in between my bedroom and dining room. I never used it for anything before designating it for my textfugu learnings. I've got my netbook, a monitor, my 日本語 dictionary and some tofugu printouts on the walls. I'll try to post a picture sometime.

Task 2: Tell someone you talk to often that you're studying 日本語

Task 3: Tell the world you're studying 日本語

Well, I guess that's about it for now. Stay tuned for moar!

またね!!
P.S. Moar quotes from Chapter 一　(ichi)

“The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started.” - Dawson Trotman
“No one ever excused his way to success.” – Dave Del Dotto
“Try and fail, but don’t fail to try.” – Stephen Kaggwa