It wasn’t until I started going to other countries, and Japan in particular that I really began appreciating the fact that I can read. Granted its only English, but I’m struck often times with how thankful I am that I can easily read my own language and not even give it a thought as I scan pages or signs.
Since being in Japan as often as I have, the words, “I don’t know how to read” have been said in my head over and over and if I’m completely honest, its very humbling saying those words; borderline embarrassing. Kanji is darn near impossible to read (for me), and no matter how much I think I’ll memorize a particular symbol for a word, its gone out of my memory the moment I step on the train or close down the app that has it. Its hard stuff.
I saw a girl on the train yesterday with a book that said “I Can Read” in English, and it was a story of a fox named Pierre and his cheese, and I couldn’t help but silently commend her for taking the steps to learn English, to the point of reading it. She wasn’t embarrassed to have a very basic elementary children’s book visible, she held it up high and then went for the next one when she was done with Pierre. I hope at some point that I don’t just learn a few key phrases and words in Japanese but also get to learn to read a bit of it as well, no matter how hard it will be.
We finally ventured out yesterday and made our way to the Ebisu Museum (beer museum) and due to a “passenger accident” (I’m thinking someone might have jumped in front of the train), the train was delayed 45 minutes, and by the time it got to our station, it was jam packed.
We got to the museum and naturally it was closed due to the holidays here. Golden Week at its finest; so we grabbed a random bite, stopped to get a massage (best choice of the day) and made the long trek back to the apartment. *not the apartment, but wouldn’t it be neat to live there!?*
G-man goes back to work today so I’ll be putting my tourist legs on and heading out to explore the sites. I’m not sure where I’ll be going, but it’ll be somewhere.
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2 comments:
Ok I gotta know....did you hold your phone up, or are you just THAT much taller than everyone?!?! Also- that is a jam packed car! geeeeeez!
and oh my gosh- let's buy that house and live there! It's amazing!
P.S. You're amazing :) now, go to sleep!
That last picture is so pretty! Is GMan letting you take pics of him?
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