Goals for this blog

First a little background. 

I’m an RN, specializing in Critical Care and Emergency Nursing.  My work experience has been very interesting, with stints in Head Trauma, post-op Open Heart, Cath Lab, Burns, Multiple Trauma, etc.

I’ve worked in nursing for over 25 years, working very hard, usually 12 hour shifts that stretch into 14 when we're especially busy.  During this time, while raising four children, I've usually worked 2- 12 hour shifts per week. I think that I’ve had a positive impact on my patients and their families. 

It is a good career match for me, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this break from work for the last four years while we’ve been in Japan.  During our time in Tokyo, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to travel within Asia, learn about Japanese culture, and TRY to learn the language.  In addition, I’ve taken classes in Indian and Japanese cooking, I’ve taken up Yoga, I’ve learned to ski and to in-line skate, and I spend a lot of time volunteering at the kid’s school and our church. 

One thing I wanted to accomplish during this time was learning website creation using FrontPage. However, (like Nihongo) this has turned out to be more difficult than expected. 

私は２５年間アメリカの看護婦でした。

しかし東京で、私は働きません。

ヨガをしたり、調理クラスを取ったり、スケートをしたり、日本語を勉強をしたり、協会と子供の学校でボランティアしたりします。

自分でウェブサイトの作成を仕方を学びます。

Now I’ve got the website framed up and working properly. Since our family takes a lot of photos with our digital camera, I will take advantage of the website to share them with family and friends.  There’s already a couple of photo albums on the site, and plans for many more.  Now that I understand what to do, it’s just a matter of finding and spending the time.

これブログの目的　・ Ｇｏａｌｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｂｌｏｇ

KEEPING IN TOUCH       This can be a good interactive tool.  I hope that my family and friends will use it to communicate with me and with each other.  Jay and Steve, you hear?  In the future, I plan to make a way for folks to contribute comments off topic.  I also plan to make a separate blog for Martin, as he wants to talk about things like politics and world events. 

LEARNING JAPANESE      I have been studying Japanese for over four years, but making very slow progress, as I am not immersed and my brain is made of concrete.  I have lots of chances to practice Japanese, but not in the constant steady way that would bring fluency.  However, one thing that has helped a lot during the last year, has been writing in Japanese on my pc.  Emails, message boards, that sort of thing.   A couple of friends have been very good about giving me direct feedback and correcting my feeble attempts at Japanese.  I appreciate this so much.  My sensei for the last 9 months, Matsui-san, is so totally fabulous.  I wish she would come live with me.

So, what I hope we can do with this blog, is write in both English and Japanese.  It takes me a very long time to write even a short note in Japanese.  I try to write it as correctly as I can, considering my limited vocabulary and grammar. I use the translation websites, my electronic dictionary and my paper dictionary to check and recheck.  I write everything out with a pencil before I type it. 

I hope that friends who are bilingual and those who are trying to learn either English or Japanese will also try to write in both languages.

 

このブログには言語交換の練習するのために使いしょう。

私は英語に書きて次に日本語で同じ事を書きみってします。

日本語、英語にまたは両方書くことができます。

私達は互いを助けることができます。

SELF EXPRESSION  At this stage in my life, I find that I really need to express myself creatively to maintain and enhance my self esteem.   

ADDING VALUE       Maintaining my friendships and making new friends has added so much value to my life experience.  Similarly, this blog can be used to widen and strengthen our circle of friends as we share our thoughts.  Everyone wins.  皆さんは勝ちます。

Comments

[kofuji]

ブログ開設おめでとう！
準備がんばったねー。
できるだけ日本語と英語の併記をしてみます(^O^)。
また来ます。スケートの友人、こふじ
Congratulations on having your blog!
I think,you worked hard to ready.
I try to post as much comments as possibke by two languages(^O^).
I'll be back.(?) Your friend of sk8,kofuji

[Pamela]

こふじさん、
時々厳しい先生ので、つねに親切です。たびたびにポーストしてください。
Sometimes you are a strict teacher, but always helpful. Please post often.