I have launched my new project. Well, “launched” is a pretty hefty word. Perhaps it would be better said, I have thrown my new project at the world, while holding out a faint hope that the world doesn’t throw it right back.
It can be found at https://mygaijinlife.com.
In the beginning, I fully expect I will be making liberal use of Google Translate and jisho.org. I will not be using Google Translate to translate English phrases to Japanese, as that would be cheating and contrary to the purpose of the site. But I will be using it to make sure that the phrase at least passes a “smell test”. I assume I will need it less and less as I become more proficient in the language.
I think this may be the best way for me to learn. The lessons are helpful, but I’m stuck. And maybe this will help me get out of my stuckness.
The point of the blog is to describe life in Texas to a native Japanese person, from the viewpoint of a native American (as opposed to a Native American, which is a different thing entirely). I’m hoping the entries will become more interesting and complicated as I learn how to express myself better. But I guess you have to start somewhere. I think I have just enough knowledge of Japanese to start to bootstrap this.
Japanese people can watch me grow in the language, I suppose. Or ignore me. Probably better off doing the latter, honestly.
Anyway, that’s my new project. Enjoy or not.
Note: I mentioned before that I use the word gaijin deliberately, even as some gaikokujin find it offensive. I understand the difference. I do not see myself as a gaikokijin. I see myself as a gaijin. And not just when it comes to Japanese culture, either. I’ve posted about this before. Just wanted to clear that up.