SOFTWARE, JAPAN, SELF-ACTUALIZATION AND

Daddy’s girl and mother are doing great! I can’t stop daydreaming about her when I’m at work
未絢（みあ）Mia Kristen Abbott
Mi ->未 (future)
A ->絢 (to spin variety, colorful, and beautiful silk = making and spinning beautiful patterns)
She was born on December 1st at 4:13PM weighing about 6.7lbs (3000g)

“Hm, it’s strange out here in the […]

I spent about 8 hours studying Japanese today. Way too much… I’m really tired now, going to sleep.
I’ve got some cool photos to share, hopefully Sunday after the test I’ll relax a little and then update here again.

On Sunday I’ll be taking the　Japanese Language Proficiency Practice Test level N3 (there are 5 levels). In two more weeks, I’ll take the official test. Nothing like crunch time!
今週日曜日に僕は日本語能力模擬試験レベルN3をします。１２月４日は本物試験です。がんばります〜〜

I passed! The Japanese Language Proficiency Test N4 is now behind me, completed, checked off the list of things to do. However, I’m nowhere near fluency, so the long march continues.
Keeping focused on the long-term trend is important, but having a few short term goals are useful motivators as well. So, my next exam […]

Yesterday, I took the JLPT as planned. It went well, I think. I had some trouble with the vocabulary section, which appears to be my weak point now (previously it was grammar). A few of the kanji that were on the test:
眠かった
港
秋
青い
石
以上の漢字はテストにありました。
昨日僕は日本語能力試験４級を受けました。よくできたと思います。単語の箇所は少し難しかったのでちょうっと心配しています。１２月に日本語能力試験２級をするつもりですのでまだ毎日勉強しています。

It’s 7:30AM, I’m packing up to head over to the testing site for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. The practice tests I took this week went well, so I have confidence that I’ll pass.
Pass or fail, however, I still have to go and endure the 4 hour exam. Fun times.

I’m tired, and can’t think of what to write at this moment. All I can think of is that July 3rd is right around the corner. Yes, I said July 3rd instead of Independence Day.
July 3rd is the day I’ll take the JLPT. I’m on track to take and pass the N2 level test in […]

The weekend was rather long. Fortunately, it wasn’t boring - instead it was rather fun. Makoto stopped by for the weekend, he had a certification exam to take in Tokyo on Sunday. Out of 1000 people that take the exam only 40 will pass it and the follow-up interview. I wish him the best.
In other […]

Over the last few weeks, I’ve managed to learn how to write and read many new kanji from memory. What gets me though, is the fact that those Kanji that look difficult at first glance:
議、職、臓、警、難　etc
Were actually not that difficult to learn how to write. However, there are a few Kanji that are easy to recognize, […]

Two meals I made recently:

Japanese style demi-glazed hamburg plate, boiled egg, rice, and vegetables. I made this for me and Ayako one night when she had to work a little late. Usually, we cook together.

For Valentines day, we cooked Okonomiyaki together! Yum!
Today, I received a new Grammar study book. So far, it looks most awesome! […]