Watashi wa sakana desu.
Today was the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, or JLPT, which is held around the world every year on the first Sunday in December. It was my first ever go at this exam, after studying Japanese in Year 6, a semester in my final year of university and after spending 10 months in Japan itself. Needless to say, I attempted the lowest level. Needless to say, I’ll fail miserably.
I didn’t study as much as I’d have liked since my adopted onee-san is currently in Australia and living with me until she gets her own digs. This means I’ve been spending a lot of time with her and travelling a bit. She’s helped me study a bit but memorising kanji is something that’d I’d have to do myself.
Ah well, I’m not too fussed. I didn’t need to pass this exam. I won’t be working in Japan anytime soon. I basically just did it for myself, because I’d like to watch, read and play Japanese media without the aid of subtitles one day. At any rate, I used today to get the jist of how the exam works so I can try for Level 3 next time.
I learnt one thing though - even if I had studied everything that I had planned to study, then I still would’ve had trouble today. It’s very fast paced - 40 questions in 25 minutes - and of course everything is written in Japanese. The main thing I’ll need to practice is reading hiragana and katakana quickly.
Anyway, now that my so-called studies of Japanese can be relaxed a bit, my next goal is finally clocking Final Fantasy VII. I can’t see the obsession with Sephiroth, personally. Vincent is clearly the better bishie. In human form, anyway.
One last thing tonight: Thoughts go out to Duane’s family. Duane was a former Rover who died tragically today. He’ll be missed in Scouting circles. Rest in peace.