能力試験！！
So today, being the first Sunday in December, is everyone's favorite standardized test... the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, or the JLPT, or the 日本語能力試験. I took level 2 today and it went... pretty terribly. I was mostly ok on the first section (kanji and vocab), but I thought the listening was way harder than the practice tests I took, and I got pretty lost on the reading section too, especially on an insanely long passage about the different ramifications of various lengths of naps. It was exhuasting and all I wanted to do (other than have another shot at this test before next year) was come home and watch this week's episode of the OC, which I did.
However, it was interesting to see such a conglomeration of gaijin. It was total gaijin!! Of course, about 90% of them were from various parts of asia, but there were the occasional clumps of white people too, a few of which were American. It was the first time I've been in a group of more than 4 gaijin at one time since August, I think... and I have to say that I might be turning slightly Japanese for the following two reasons:
1) There was an insanely long line for the bathroom. While I was waiting, I was watching other people wash their hands, and I saw everyone walk out of the bathroom in lovely zombie style (aka cold wet hands because of course this is Japan and there wouldn't be TOWELS in a BATHROOM). I however, was prepared with my towel that all Japanese girls are supposed to carry around at all times. I did not have to become a zombie.
2) As soon as the test was over, everyone rushed out of the door that instant. I didn't exactly want to get trampled so I took my time a bit and gathered up my stuff, while feeling that something was not quite right. I thought and thought... and soon I realized that the thing that was missing was AISATSU!! (the greetings at the beginning and end of... anything in Japan. You know, the part where everyone stands up together after class and says "arigatou gozaimasu" and bows together). I hadn't attended any sort of gathering without aisatsu in months. This was probably the only time in my life I have ever felt the urge to get up and bow to test proctors.
But man, this test makes me realize how I really don't know Japanese, save a few kanji, like 革靴 (leather shoes). I totally got that one... but not much else. T_T
However, it was interesting to see such a conglomeration of gaijin. It was total gaijin!! Of course, about 90% of them were from various parts of asia, but there were the occasional clumps of white people too, a few of which were American. It was the first time I've been in a group of more than 4 gaijin at one time since August, I think... and I have to say that I might be turning slightly Japanese for the following two reasons:
1) There was an insanely long line for the bathroom. While I was waiting, I was watching other people wash their hands, and I saw everyone walk out of the bathroom in lovely zombie style (aka cold wet hands because of course this is Japan and there wouldn't be TOWELS in a BATHROOM). I however, was prepared with my towel that all Japanese girls are supposed to carry around at all times. I did not have to become a zombie.
2) As soon as the test was over, everyone rushed out of the door that instant. I didn't exactly want to get trampled so I took my time a bit and gathered up my stuff, while feeling that something was not quite right. I thought and thought... and soon I realized that the thing that was missing was AISATSU!! (the greetings at the beginning and end of... anything in Japan. You know, the part where everyone stands up together after class and says "arigatou gozaimasu" and bows together). I hadn't attended any sort of gathering without aisatsu in months. This was probably the only time in my life I have ever felt the urge to get up and bow to test proctors.
But man, this test makes me realize how I really don't know Japanese, save a few kanji, like 革靴 (leather shoes). I totally got that one... but not much else. T_T
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