My response is a little over 300, but hopefully it won't matter too much? Also, I know I used improper English later, but it's intentional so please don't fix that part! :)
Imagine looking through a window at any environment that is particularly significant to you. Reflect on the scene, paying close attention to the relation between what you are seeing and why it is meaningful to you. Please limit your statement to 300 words.
I wanted to thank my host mother, but my mouth felt dry as a cotton swab. I have always dreamed of conversing with a native Japanese speaker to improve my Japanese, but as I faced her, I feared I would appear foolish. Arigatou gozaimasu. Thank you very much. It flowed like a gentle stream of water; at least, that's how Japanese sounded to me. Maybe I shouldn't say it. I could using the wrong honorifics. But my host mother smiled warmly, making courage surge in me.
"A-Arigatou gozaimasu," I shyly stuttered, staring at the snacks in front of me. I noticed one of my favorite snacks. "Yakuruto! Oishii (delicious)!" I quickly glancing up, curious to see her reaction.
Her face lit up, a twinkle dancing in her dark eyes. "You speak Japanese!" she cried in wonder. "Are you Japanese?" she asked, her eyebrows lifting.
"Gomen nasai (I'm sorry)..." I switched to English. "I'm Korean."
Excitement rather than disappointment etched into her face. She stood up suddenly, dashing to the closet. She returned with several magazines, pointing to a cover excitedly. "You know...?"
"Yon-sama?" I referred to the term Japanese fans used for Bae Yong Joon, an influential Korean actor.
"Yes! I love him!" She quickly asked me another question. "Do you eat kimuchi? I mean kimchi. I pronounced right? My son loves it!" I nodded. "I buy kimuchi for you when we go to supermarket."
It was a trivial conversation, but I still remember it. We were able to share our cultures, something I hope to do at Williams with fellow students. Language barriers did not matter. However, I love learning languages and hope that after learning Japanese, I can go back and say, "Tadaima (I'm back home)!" and be able to converse freely with my Japanese host family who graciously welcomed me into their home two years ago.
Imagine looking through a window at any environment that is particularly significant to you. Reflect on the scene, paying close attention to the relation between what you are seeing and why it is meaningful to you. Please limit your statement to 300 words.
I wanted to thank my host mother, but my mouth felt dry as a cotton swab. I have always dreamed of conversing with a native Japanese speaker to improve my Japanese, but as I faced her, I feared I would appear foolish. Arigatou gozaimasu. Thank you very much. It flowed like a gentle stream of water; at least, that's how Japanese sounded to me. Maybe I shouldn't say it. I could using the wrong honorifics. But my host mother smiled warmly, making courage surge in me.
"A-Arigatou gozaimasu," I shyly stuttered, staring at the snacks in front of me. I noticed one of my favorite snacks. "Yakuruto! Oishii (delicious)!" I quickly glancing up, curious to see her reaction.
Her face lit up, a twinkle dancing in her dark eyes. "You speak Japanese!" she cried in wonder. "Are you Japanese?" she asked, her eyebrows lifting.
"Gomen nasai (I'm sorry)..." I switched to English. "I'm Korean."
Excitement rather than disappointment etched into her face. She stood up suddenly, dashing to the closet. She returned with several magazines, pointing to a cover excitedly. "You know...?"
"Yon-sama?" I referred to the term Japanese fans used for Bae Yong Joon, an influential Korean actor.
"Yes! I love him!" She quickly asked me another question. "Do you eat kimuchi? I mean kimchi. I pronounced right? My son loves it!" I nodded. "I buy kimuchi for you when we go to supermarket."
It was a trivial conversation, but I still remember it. We were able to share our cultures, something I hope to do at Williams with fellow students. Language barriers did not matter. However, I love learning languages and hope that after learning Japanese, I can go back and say, "Tadaima (I'm back home)!" and be able to converse freely with my Japanese host family who graciously welcomed me into their home two years ago.
