Illiterate, but not for long!

Being in Japan is not only being surrounded by voices you can’t understand.  Unlike many European countries, you can’t even sound out words you see on signs and billboards around you.  You can’t read anything, including signs that might say “Don’t take photos,” “No trespassing,” or even the names of stores and restaurants you go to all the time.  Japan has three types of written languages: Kanji, which is made up of thousands of Chinese characters that represent full words and other meanings in combination with each other; Hiragana, a syllabary alphabet that has over 60 characters that you can use to spell words out; and Katakana, which mirrors hiragana, but uses different symbols and is used to spell mostly foreign words and names.

Some days it feels impossible, but I have not given up on learning enough Japanese to function properly here.  So today’s step is to start where every little Japanese child has to begin… at the beginning.  We entice our children into learning with games, toys and fancy place mats, so why not adults as well?  My attention span for studying letters I can’t read is about as good now as it was when I sat at the kitchen table at 6 years old completely frustrated because I couldn’t read Cat in the Hat.  Thankfully, my 100yen shop (like a dollar store) has just what I need.  For the next month I will be learning my Katakana with the help of bright colors and pictures elephants, kittens, and alligators…  This time next month, I should be reading like a pro! Or at least, like a 5 year old.