Never too old to learn ...

[Nekosan]

Greetings from a newcomer just beginning Japanese with the Pimsleur method. And a pile of instructional books ... and tapes ... and podcasts. If I can find a patient native speaker to chat with, might even be able to break out of Pimsleur-ese.
I am a native of Northern Ireland living in the United States some 40 years now. Still think and write in British English. I came to all things Japanese through Zen Buddhism. Am simply captivated by Japanese art, craft and design, hope against hope to be able to visit Kyoto and Oaska within a few years.

 

[Jericho Desu]

Hello Nekosan, welcome to the forums!

 

[justin]

Welcome to jref and good luck with your Japanese!

 

[Nekosan]

Domo arigato! Have found many useful comments and tips already, hope to be able to contribute more in near future.

 

[Mars Man]

From the golden moments of yet another up-coming Japanese year end--with all its party and merry making--to the Golden State itself, I send you my greetings along with a big WELCOME !! As time goes on, and you work ever harder on your Japanese, I'm sure you'll find more and more help here, and chances to practice your Japanese in written form. Please enjoy !!

Catch you on a later click ! MM

 

[Nekosan]

Yoi otoshi o ! Shujin and I were visiting Japantown in San Francisco today. I met a young American woman who has studied Japanese five years and speaks very well, so that was a great encouragement to carry on. Tomorrow, I will try to make mochi. I love to eat it, so will see how much labor it is to make.

 

[Mars Man]

Same here too--making omochi day is tomorrow. We used to do it the hard way--back muscles, elbow grease, and beer--but have since bought the mochi machine, and so only have the beer part left (well, for me that is).

Yep, regarding learning the Japanese, you can do it. As you may have some idea of now, there ain't any 'speak in day' miracle to be found, but with much effort and time, you can do it !!