There was this adorable two year old little boy on the train yesterday. He sat across me and quietly sang the word `densha` (train) to himself for about 10 minutes until it was his stop. Today he was on the train again. It looks like he rides the train with his mother at about the same time every day. If I catch the early train (1:02), then we are on the same train.
When I ride the train, I ride in the second car back because that is the same train car that another member in my class (Michiyo) rides. We usually meet up at Takaishi eki (station) and talk on the way to and from class. Michiyo said that our walk together is my Japanese study time. I think I learn 5-10 new words every time I talk with her. She also teaches me Osaka-ben on purpose. She thinks that I should learn some of the dialectal words. I also learn a lot of onomatopoeia from her. We talk only in Japanese about various topics. It is very good practice for me to try explaining various things - what Utah is like, what I like about Japan, what is different in Japan, and various other things. She is the one member of my class who does not belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It has given me some great opportunities to explain the church to her, both in class and out of class. Besides the topics in class we have discussed missions and the Word of Wisdom. I also invited her to come to church with me sometime, but she said she is busy - politely telling me `no.` That`s ok. Right now I am just glad that I can tell her a little bit about the church and that she is willing to listen.
Today I also got my commute pass for the next month. With this pass I can go between Kishiwada station and Suwanomori station as many times as I want for a month.
I really like the trains. I kind of wish there were trains like this in Utah. It is fun to sit on the benches and just let the scenery go by. I am more used to listening to the announcements (and I have the station order memorized), so now I don`t have to focus so much on getting off at the right station. Now I can nap, listen to music, or do homework. Speaking of the announcements, the other day the guy saying the train stops was hilarious. He said everything in a super low ominous voice. `ドアが閉まります。ご注意下さい。‘ (The doors are closing, please be careful). I didn`t know that this phrase could sound so intense. Basically everyone else on the train was asleep, but I was sitting there and laughing. It was great.
No comments:
Post a Comment