「日本語 上手ね」

多くの日本人

My desk mate from Japanese language school, a curious Korean man some 15 years older than I, will be returning to his home town soon. So we met up yesterday night at an izakaya to toast our year together and bid each other farewell.

I spent one year at the school and from the 2nd until the 4th and final term we sat besides one another, always at the front right desk of the classroom. It could have been that we were two of the eldest characters of the class, or that neither of us were particularly outgoing, that caused us to gravitate to one another. In any case, we enjoyed each other’s sensible demeanours and studied well together, comparing examples and understandings.

He was a curious fellow. Quiet, polite, but quick to chuckle at a clever remark and respond with his own.

In the end, he will return to South Korea in lieu of pursuing employment here in Japan. His primary reason being concern for his elderly parents. Carrying ample experience in the finance sector, I’m sure he’ll secure employment with little effort. I hope that the Japanese skills, along with a modicum of Chinese and English language skills too, will serve him well, and that perhaps our interactions have served to boost his comprehension.

At the izakaya, we enjoyed a casual chat along with drinks and delicious food (the thick cuts of sashimi were delightful). We discussed our former classmates, plans for the future, our histories, previous partners, our dreams, all manner of things. The kind of chat one should have with others whose paths temporarily intersect our own.

After consuming adequate alcohol to stymie our ability to walk in a straight line, we bade each other good night. I sure do hope to see him again, perhaps if I do get the opportunity to visit Korea in the coming years.

Today started, due to the aforementioned alcohol, in a lethargic fashion. Intentions fell away to impulse as I lounged at my desk, until passion eventually found it’s way back into me and I completed week 2 of the edX course “How to Write an Essay”.

It has been truly fascinating learning the essentials of good English writing. I have started with the essay course to, hopefully, immediately improve my blog writing. Learning first the key terminology (clause, predicate, phrase etc.) and then the keys to good sentences (strong verbs, conciseness, avoiding vague words and wordy phrases etc.) will lay the foundations upon which I hope to build proficient writing skills.

In the afternoon until evening, I worked at the English school. The typical lessons were enjoyable, but handing out flyers was not. This month alone I have to distribute advertisement flyers out on the street, and it has led me to understand that I truly lack any kind of charisma as a salesman. If people approached me and asked me about the school, I’m certain I could explain proudly. But approaching strangers and interrupting their day to suggest they spend money is not something I feel comfortable doing. I have just one further shift of that next week, then I am not scheduled for it next month, for which I am thankful.

For this reason, I know it to be certain that I could not be an entrepreneur.

Now, the hour grows late. I wanted to spend some more time setting up this new website, but alas I whiled away the time watching the first episode of the Steel Ball Run anime on Netflix. Then by rewatching some choice clips of favourite movies (Kong vs Godzilla, Fury).

But if I am to improve my writing skills, I must write often. And so I write this. For I do love writing, and intend to improve. As long as my laziness does not interrupt too often.

Perhaps one day I may even become good at it, if I might be so bold.

Good night reader, I hope your dreams are delightfully curious and perturbed.