全部終わったよ

ほんと、久しぶりだね！

ああ、日本語は上手です

It’s been a while since I wrote anything here, hasn’t it?

Life’s been a bit busy lately (which is a good thing), and inspiration’s been playing hard to get (less ideal). But let me bring you up to speed.

First and foremost: we’ve finished Book 1 of みんなの日本語. Yeay Yakuin!
Am I confident in my Japanese skills? Absolutely not.
Are others confident in my Japanese skills? Also no.
But I’ve improved—and that’s a big step. Progress is progress.

Now, something I’ve long suspected: Japanese people are liars.
Not malicious ones, mind you. Just the charming, polite kind.
You know the drill: “ああ、日本語は上手です!”
Very sweet. Very encouraging. Very much a lie, Pinocchio.

Still, I suppose I should take it as a compliment.
If they’re speaking at 10 words per second and assuming I understand everything, maybe that’s their way of saying, “You’re doing okay.”
Or maybe they just want to get through the conversation faster. Who knows?

Preparing for chapter 2

Good news: I’ve been accepted into FFLC! 🎉That means I’ll continue studying Japanese after my time at GenkiJACS.

Exciting, yes—but I’m also quietly dreading the departure. Genki has been more than just a school; it’s been a warm little bubble of encouragement, chaos, and questionable grammar.

Last week, I had the chance to chat with a few of my 先生 outside of class. And once again, it hit me: they’re all genuinely lovely people. Supportive, patient, funny… and yes, still very much part of the Pinocchio clan.