Why Japanese - is that even a question?

Japanese has always held a special meaning to me since I was very little. Like many children growing up, I adored watching Saturday morning cartoons - many of which were - to my pleasant surprise, Japanese in origin (Astro Boy is adorable). It became a bonding activity with my older siblings, and to a certain extent, when I became older and started to study Japanese throughout middle school and high school, a chance to learn about a different culture and how its various aspects are manifested through language. In fact, I still remember when I went to my first cherry blossom festival in D.C. and being able to actually observe the various entertainers in kimonos and appreciate the sakura flowers which adorned the area. Japanese is challenging and really interesting - which is exactly why I love it. I'm excited to review a lot of what I may not remember (in terms of greetings, characters, etc) and hopefully gain a new perspective on the Japanese language and culture. By the end of the year, I want to be able to speak Japanese without thinking too much about what I'm trying to say - which - let's face it, is going to take a lot of practice. My classmates are extremely hardworking, so learning in my Japanese class is very fun - it's a really good working environment.

Switching back and forth between Japanese and English is a challenge, but hopefully, with enough exposure, I'll be able to overcome that. :) がんばります！