Go Travel English

I'm currently learning Japanese and it's not easy. When I first started school I noticed a lot of improvement. But, there comes a point (I noticed the samething when I studying Spanish) when the progress seems to slow drastically. 

It's easy to talk in class when we are only focusing on one concept or chapter. However, when I try to speak in Japanese normally, I feel all these grammar concepts, and vocabulary is a lot to sort through in attempt to contruct a correct sentence. It can be frustrating. 

I think I need to review and practice more on my own. I enjoy learning the language though. Very interesting.

In America, especially California, we depend on our cars. I know some parts of Japan are car culture, but many cities I've been in, train and bikes rule. I like Kyoto because of this reason. For the most part, bikes rule. The trains are fairly pricey and it's a small city in regard to area, thus making じてんしゃ my means of transportation.

It's nice to rely on myself for getting around town. I feel more connected to the world around me when I ride my bike often. Trains and cars you can feel very detached from it all, being protected from many elements. There's no escaping these elements on a bike. Also, if you see someone you know, it's far easier to stop and say hello.

In a car you see the building rush past you. It's easy to not pay attention to the things that are important. On trains you have the option of a book, which is nice, but there's still something missing.

The exercise and connection to the world around is hard to beat.

http://www.gotravelenglish.com

Music is a big part of my life. I don't play any instruments really, but I enjoy listening. Different songs and different artists mark a certain time in my life. A song or album slips me back into that time. Whether a pleasant or depressing time it was, I enjoy remembering.

Music helps me look back at my life and see what I've done or what I haven't done. It helps me keep things in perspective. However, sometimes music can keep me in a certain state of mind for awhile. A rut, if you will. It can be difficult to get out of this and sometimes I need a break from my collection and turn on something I'm not used to. It usually does the trick, pops me out of the rut and back on track. 

Lyrics have different meanings for different people. Sometimes I don't even think the intention of the artist isn't alway important. What's important is that I relate to it somehow. Whether it just be the sounds or to the words in the way I interpret it.

Songs change, but stay the same. I recently put on an album I hadn't listened to for years. I heard things I don't remember hearing. I interpreted the lyrics completely different. It brought me back to a time in the past, but I see things differently now. 

Life is perspective.