Um, I'm really not joking here. It's the truth. When I was a kid, I was obsessed with this movie and learned my "ichi ni san" like we all learn our "uno dos tres." Of course, I don't hear people speak Japanese very often, so "ichi ni san" never really stuck with me; Japanese was not a language choice in middle school or high school; and Big Bird's trip to Tokyo and Kyoto faded from my memory.
Then, Junior year in college, I started going out for sushi a lot. And my interest in the Japanese culture was sparked again. The ex and I did a bit of reading since we liked to know what we were doing/ordering when we were out for sushi. And I learned things like: it's polite to drink your miso soup right out of the bowl instead of using a spoon (really good Japanese restaurants won't even provide a spoon). If you're taking food from a shared plate, always take it with the reverse ends of your chopsticks (not the end that goes in your mouth). Never pass someone food with your chopsticks. When dipping your sushi into soy sauce, always put the fish side into the soy sauce, not the rice side. The rice will soak up too much soy sauce and ruin the flavor of the sushi. Ginger is meant to be eaten in between different types of food (palette cleanser) and not with the sushi itself.
And with learning the etiquette, came a little bit of the language. I would learn simple words, "konichiwa," "arigato," and "sumimasen." I never had time to get into it much more. But I've always had this desire. I decided that once I finished grad school, I would finally learn. For my birthday, Sas bought me a learn Japanese program for my iPod. And I picked up a couple books. And now I'm off.
But it's even harder than I thought. I mean, think about it. In learning a language, like Spanish, the words all use characters in the American alphabet. So, you see "hola" and can pronounce it. Now you just need to learn what it means. But in Japanese, you see symbols from the Japanese alphabet. So, first you have to learn how to pronounce those symbols. Then you have to learn what they mean. Adding to the complication is that there are 3 Japanese alphabets (that I know about so far!), which all have A LOT of symbols.
Right now I'm memorizing the symbols from the 2 simpler alphabets. Not only is it a matter of memorizing them, but it's also being able to quickly recognize them and the words they form. It's difficult, and it's slow moving. But I'm determined. So I'm going to keep plowing through the alphabets until I get comfortable and eventually enroll in a class. And hopefully by this time next year, I'll be able to write and speak simple Japanese. That's my goal anyway. And someday, when I visit the beautiful country of Japan ,I'll know exactly what I'm doing. All thanks to Big Bird.
Oh, and if you enjoyed "Ichi Ni San" (and um, why wouldn't you have??), watch "Off to Kyoto." It's funny how things from your childhood can all come right back to you! Also, this is the most hilarious review of Big Bird in Japan: "So there's your travel lesson, kids: Run away from your tour group, as fast as your legs can carry you! The tour guide means you ill! Fall in with anonymous locals, and uncover their secret agendas! Spend the night crashing in strangers' beds! That's your key to a satisfying travel experience."
