Why am I studying Japanese?

It is a good question. Up until last year, I was required by all of my schools to take a language, and so up until last year I studied French. Having studied French for so many years, it was no longer exciting to me. Instead, French class felt like the same grammar lesson over and over again. I forgot about why I was taking the language: so that I could speak with people from France.

Last year, I reminded myself what is exciting about studying languages. So when I started to consider where in the world I would like to travel to and meet people from, I came to Japan. My interest in Japan probably originates in my background in ceramics. Japanese ceramicists have always been some of the best artists in the ceramic world, and they influence a lot of other artists. As I learned more about Japan, through my Japanese friends, literature, Japanese pop-culture, and other Japanese art forms, I became more and more attracted to Japan.

Now that I am learning the language, I really enjoy the challenge of figuring out the language. Sometimes it feels like one big puzzle that I am trying to solve.

I have never been to Japan. Hopefully that will change soon. I am not sure if I want to study there, but I am sure that I will get there eventually and I will get to experience the unique culture that is Japan.