Japanese Survey
These days I've been busy surveying Japanese people about their opinion on Zainichi Kankokujin (Korean residents in Japan). At first, it was kind of a test and I since wasn't sure whether people were gonna be willing to answer or not, I also wasn't sure I was gonna be able to use the results for my presentation, which is in two weeks.
However, the results are so interesting to read, and most people really took time to write very interesting stuff, supported opinions, etc. In two days I had more than 30 replies, which I thank my friends for, since they all contributed to spread the survey to their own friends. To be honest, I was really surprised, because everyone accepted to help, even people who didn't know me. I don't know if I would have been so willing to do for someone I don't even know... Maybe I will from now on. It really does help.
I won't post the details of the results yet, but in short, I think we can really look at our generation positively. At first, I thought "maybe it's just a reality they don't think about", but then reading more and more answers, I think it's more "wow, our generation is able to look at people for who they are, more than where they come from". And I think that's something very important. The Earthling within was very satisfied to find out so.
This Japanese Survey has been taking most of my time. Followed by Japanese Kanji. At first, I was gonna be satisfied just to be able to read some and speak at the conversational level. I can express most things that I want in Japanese... I thought it was gonna be enough... but no. I want more. I wanna keep studying it and study harder and harder. Even if it takes me for ever. Even if Japan is not a country I wanna live forever in... (Well Korea isn't either..) But I realized that if I lose this language, I'll regret it forever. I'll find a way to keep studying it. I want to.
I had somewhat of an hesitation about my grad school language choice... but after talking to some wise people, I realized maybe not continuing Korean would be an even greater mistake. I'm kind of torn between the two, but maybe it's better to keep doing Korean until I reach that desired level (which was always a higher level goal, more than a conversational one)... and who knows maybe I can keep learning Japanese at the same time. I'll force myself to know Kanji and to study the equivalents in each language.
And then... as for my Masters... well of course, I haven't decided my thesis choice.. but I find myself more and more interested in the relationship between Korea and Japan. Historically, and now socially. The research I am doing about the Zainichi is something that fascinates me too... If I learn both languages, it will help me meet more people from each country. If I study both cultures, then I'll keep learning about their particular relationship... I don't remember being so suddenly passionate about such a specific topic... And I don't know if it's gonna lead me anywhere... but... who cares, right? I'll end up working somewhere and I'll be happy and satisfied of my choices at the very end. Or maybe I'll hate it, but I'll still have learnt something. Ganbarou...
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