Springer-JCCC

  Today I read a "Level 0" story in Japanese called "ちょっと…". This short story follows a day in the life of college student Marina, and how she uses the Japanese expression "ちょっと…" ("chotto...") throughout her day.  From context clues throughout the story, we learn that "chotto..." has several different meanings. It seems similar to the English phrase "a little bit...", which can also carry a different meaning depending on the context. It could literally mean "a little bit" as in "a small amount". In the story, when Marina makes an omelette, the recipe requires a little salt: ”しおを ちょっと いれます” - Add a little salt. It could be used paradoxically, to mean the opposite. In the story, Marina has to ride her bike to the University, because it's "a little far", meaning it is too far to walk: ”だいがくは ちょっと 遠いです” - The University is a little far. It can also be used to say "sorry" or "excu...

  名刺交換　めいしこおかん　"meshi kokan" The Japanese Ritual of Business Card Exchange I've worked in the Software Development industry for over 15 years, and the "client meeting" is something I've experienced many times. It can take a number of different shapes: a sales meeting, a product pitch, a multi-session technical discovery, or even a contract negotiation over lunch... I've been a party in so many that it can be difficult to remember how stressful my first experiences were.  It wasn't always this way. When I started as a Junior Programmer, I guided to a shadowy beige cubicle far from any human traffic, and then summarily ignored. Like a jar of canned cucumbers, I was tucked away until I had sufficient time to pickle.  My first client meeting experience wouldn't happen for another two years. I was working for a company who sold a web application that allowed government workers to track and report erosion at construction sites. (Pretty heady stuff, huh...

  I was excited to learn Katakana because it was the second big milestone for learning Japanese after learning Hiragana. Ooh, I learned a syllabary , and now on to... the second syllabary! I'm doing it! I'm learning Japanese!   I decided it is important to force enthusiasm upon yourself when you start something. Especially if that something is a Category IV "Super Hard" Language as rated by the FSI.  But nevermind that! THE NAME SOUNDS COOL, doesn't it? KA TA KA NA! The syllables are sharp and strong, you can almost imagine someone slashing a sword to cut the characters into the air.) セーター　means "Sweater!" (Image unrelated!) The easiest Katakana to memorize for me were the characters in the vowel-row: アイウエオ。I chalk this up entirely to their being first,  rather than being intrinsically easier to learn. With any memorization task, being first in line means you get the most repetitions over time.  By the time I worked by way over to the N- and M- rows, it...

I am the first of three boys born to a white family from Minnesota. My father was a mechanic, and my mother stayed at home to raise my brothers and I. As the eldest, I grew up with a strong sense of responsibility. My mother later confirmed this as part of her plan, recounting that than when my brother Joe was born, she would tell me to fetch diapers, blankets and other baby things to ensure I was an active participant in his well-being.  When I was a teenager I was ordered to walk my youngest brother Chris home from school after he was being bullied by some other schoolmates. If memory serves, two of my first ass-kickings were received at his defense. That's me in the center. I was a clever kid who got good grades throughout school. Mom made sure of that. I was also thin and short; the traditional "90 lb. weakling" throughout much of my public schooling. My older, rougher cousins (raised on a Wisconsin farm) pushed me to join Football and Wrestling in Junior High to rect...