I had long wanted to study Japanese, and after our trip to China a few years back, I was completely fascinated by the far east. So, as soon as we got home I did some research and reserved myself a space in a Japanese course. What made it most remarkable was that fate had picked me as one of the subjects for an article for the Helsingin Sanomat on different Finns starting different hobbies, one of which just happened be Japanese language. It just so happened the journalist contacted my teacher, and it just so happened they wanted a male student, aged at least 15, and it just so happened that I was the only male student the teacher was aware of at the time. And thus the god knows how many sided dice which the Flying Spaghetti Monster tends to throw to determine our fate chose me, out of all the other people studying Japanese.

I was invited for an interview with the journalist before the course began to talk about why I wanted to learn the language, why I was interested in Japan etc. I was quite nervous, and alarmingly aware that anything I said could be read by thousands of Finns in a few weeks time, not to mention not being able to see the picture the photographer took of me. I don't remember whether or not I had started the course before the first part was published, but it was an interesting experience going to school the following day.

My journey to the first lesson of the course was quite comical. The teacher had warned in her emails that the place was hard to find, essentially a very small, Japan related library in Eira, a quaint old area in Helsinki.  I checked the busses and trams before I left, confident I would I would find it. I got to Helsinki with plenty of time, but was now confused as to where exactly was I to take the tram again. So, with plenty of time to spare, I looked at some tourist map near the railway station to plan out my route, and off I went. I walked for a while, then realised it might take a bit too long after all and started jogging. I had decided on the simple route of going all the way to the shore, along it, and then back up again. However, for some reason I decided to deviate to what I thought would have been a shorter path; instead I got lost. I asked everyone I saw for directions, including a foreign motor cyclist who was quite surprised when a random boy ran up to him, blurted out something in Finnish, then asked for directions in English, only to run off again.

Then, as if a sign from heaven, an advertisement for a service which could give you directions. So, I called at a crossroads. Unfortunately it was just a waste of time, and I resorted to my intuition once more. I picked a direction, ran, and suddenly saw the name of the road where I was supposed to be. Hooray I was there! Just in time... slightly sweaty... 

The articles continued appearing every now and then, and I continued with the course. Apart from having to travel almost one and a half hours every Monday evening, the lessons were thoroughly enjoyable. It was interesting to hear from people who visited Japan during the course, especially when they brought back interesting snacks for the group. The group had started with ten people, but fairly soon had diminished to about six per lesson. It was during the lessons I began to consider the option of an exchange to Japan, partly thanks to one of the people there who was a member of YFU. She also told me what a popular destination Japan was, and that it was very difficult to be accepted. This might have dimmed my hopes slightly, but also strengthened my resolve and only sweetened the ultimate prize.

Eventually the lessons finished, and I made the decision not to continue to the second course, as it would have only lengthened my already lengthy journey. Instead I opted to study independently, while searching for another course. This turned out to be the third course of Japanese at Kuninkaantien lukio, which was, apparently, slightly ahead of my skills and so I studied the difference in chapters and beyond during the summer. Unfortunately the course turned out to be a disappointment. The lessons were few and far between, and while they were a good three hours, I don't recall learning anything. It was a pity, because the other people there were great, and the teacher was hugely entertaining; it just seemed he never got to the teaching bit himself, instead giving us ridiculous homework such as translating his favourite song  into Japanese. 

So now I continue to study independently, (making the most of late mornings and skips in my timetable) which seems to be the most efficient option. Still, the first course was an excellent introduction to the language, and provided me with a fruitful experience. Ultimately of course, I aim for fluency during my trip, the ultimate crash course for learning the language.