窶堋?窶堙や?堋｢ﾂ 窶堙??堋ｷ窶堙仰。ﾂ。ﾂ。

[Ultraman]

Hello forum members
I am from New Zealand
I was compelled to join the forum when I saw the cool emoticons.
I am using the Genki (Japan Times) Lesson books to study Japanese.
I worked for a Japanese construction company for one year, and still didn't learn the language.
I might be staying in Japan for a while so I could use a hand now and then.
Sincerely RK

 

[Petaris]

Hi RK, welcome to the forums and the community!
I am sure that many of the people here would be glad to lend assistance. I would suggest looking about the forum a bit and seeing if you can find the answers you seek, if not feel free to post a question!

 

[Mars Man]

From the Japan Alps where it's not hot enough to chase away thoughts of the long winters even yet, I wish you a great time here on JREF !! WELCOME and please joing on in...as, in fact, I know that you have. See you 'round !! MM

 

[Ultraman]

Thanks guys

I appreciate the welcome from forum members.
The first time I came here I 'memorised' the Kanji for my station.
The first Kanji was too hard, so I memorised the easy ones ﾂ〜窶彡ﾂ静ｬ. If I forgot, I just looked at my ticket again.
I got off the train, put my ticket in the machine, and went for a nice walk around. Then that afternoon, I returned to the station to buy a ticket for home.
I hadn't noticed there were two stations ending in ﾂ〜窶彡ﾂ静ｬ. They were very far apart. The clue was travelling to a vast agricultural plain, when in fact I was living in a valley in the mountains.
I could speak a little Japanese at that time. The three words kore, sore, and are were all I had bothered to learn, but I could get just about anything I wanted using them. Oh, and I could bow too.
I learnt a lot about JR and Kintetsu that evening, and got home for only 3 times what it cost me to leave. I had planned for the possibility of getting lost, but still had almost all of the $1,000 emergency money I had taken with me for the visit to the shrine.
RK

 

[Mars Man]

Sounds like a good combination (in whatever varying degrees) of a good sense of direction and good luck. I'm sure your Japanese is better now, though, correct?

 

[Ultraman]

Yeah, its much better now Mars Man, but I loved the early days when I couldnt understand anything. Japan seemed so much bigger then, it was like being a kid again.

 

[RevengeBabyYeah]

Ah welcome to the jaded world of experience (not that I have any though)
Cool name btw, love Ultraman

 

[Ultraman]

The nitty gritty

I have just come back from the hospital.
My father in law is consumed by cancer.
My mother in law is taking it hard. Lots of staring out the window all day.

I returned here to look after her, and I feel for her.
The only happy thing for every one is my son.
He has no idea.
Oh to be a child again.

Tomorrow is a family meetiing with the 'uncles in law'.
Planning the funeral, and checking that we kids (the sister, wife and I) can look after obaasan.

Dinner is ready...:gohan:

 

[Ultraman]

On a lighter note...

Had dinner and a bit of shouchuu, and a quick family chat.
MIL says I should not be so serious.
Fair enough.

I will keep watering the garden until she is in the mood to do it again.

 

[RevengeBabyYeah]

Oh man, good luck with everything ok? At least every one's happy about your son.

 

[Mars Man]

My heart and self-being goes out to your mother-in-law, the immediate family, and you all !! I have been down that road, yes. . . I know the hardship involved in losing a loved one--both my wife's parents fell victim to cancer, as did my father also.

I think it is very good that you are doing what you can to take care of your wife's family and relations. I wish you all the more power !! MM