Two memes

[nwhyte]

From marykaykare in this instance, though in fact I did answer this one before. Now I have to do it again and give different answers.

Name a CD you own that no one else on your friends list does.

The Orthodox Celts: "The Celts Strike Again" and "Green Roses".

Name a book you own that no one else on your friends list does.Thanks to Library Thing this one

Comments

[applez]

What, you need to know more than 'Sushi!' 'Biru!' 'Kampai!' 'Sake!' 'Hai!' and 'Domo Ariigato'? :-)

[crazysoph]

And literacy, literacy!! My bugaboo in imagining my presence in Japan for the Worldcon is being unable to read signs in public places, and so unable to get by even on that basic level, whether manuvering the public transport (which has some English, I'm told, but it's spotty) or trying to buy a simple item in a shop...

Crazy(but, you know, trying to learn Japanese, it's just plain fun; is it okay to admit that?)Soph

[talvalin]

In major cities like Tokyo and Yokohama, you should be fine with just English. My friend and I spent three weeks in Japan and though I knew some Japanese, he knew nothing and he was fine by himself. In fact, on the few occasions I managed to get some Japanese words out of my mouth, most people insisted on replying in English! It's when you venture further afield that things get interesting.

Learning Japanese is fun, but it hurts my brain from time to time. :)

[talvalin]

"Sumimasen" (Sorry/Excuse me) is very useful.

Also, "biiru" rather than "biru", since the latter means "building". /pedant. Saying that, no confusion should arise when at a bar or restaurant.