it has been long

[uzauza]

i have finished putting all my things away. it is very strange being alone home here now. i hope i will run into someone who remembers i remember.

japan already looks very different when i can read most of  some of  a few of the street signs. in nagoya we were not supposed to leave school without senior older students, and most people at the dorms were changing  switch  also from other countries. i am not sure where to go to find something good to drink. can i ask one of you  someone?

i've been trying to brush up on my japanese, but its definitely more difficult than my practice books. i would like to practice, but if im more understandable in english to people that is okay too. maybe that is easier for people who can speak it? 

(ooc: strikethroughs are alternate phrasings or words he couldn't remember that didn't actually make it into the post. italics are things typed in english.)

Comments

[gtl_yukimura]

Oh, you're the one that tried to kill Akaya...

Your Japanese has gotten better. Has your tennis?

(ooc: strikes deleted // italics english)

[uzauza]

thank you. ive taken lessons, but im not sure how well they are holding up in practice. i didnt know you spoke english, yukimura-san, that is good to know. i think my tennis has gotten a little better since i was really young the last time you saw me play, but its been a while since ive had the chance to play. do you still play much?

[gtl_yukimura]

I think you'll get the hang of it eventually. It's easier than English, in my opinion. I had to get better at it when I was on the pro circuit. Might as well put it to use.

I play as often as I can. I'm on the team at Tokyo University of the Arts. Unfortunately, it seems like most of the people that used to play don't anymore.

[uzauza]

back home we are taught english from a young age. its also related to german, so maybe that is why its easier for me. it was useful during my year in nagoya, because most people in the exchange program were fluent, but not that many spoke japanese.

i was a little surprised how few people i remembered from japan appeared on the pro circuit over the years. it is unfortunate what happened with you, it would have been good to watch you in the bigger competitions i think. i have good memories of how tennis was played in japan, im looking forward to trying my hand at it again.

[gtl_yukimura]

That makes sense. I think being more immersed in an area with less English will help you.

Unfortunate indeed. There are still a few which is better than none at all. That said, not everyone that played was good enough to go pro, so it's not all that surprising. We can play if you would like.

(ooc: strikes deleted)

[uzauza]

im hoping that with a more solid foundation it will be more helpful to my japanese than last time. that isnt to say i didn't appreciate yagyuu-san and oishi-sans help of course.

there are some who would have been good enough among the ones that chose to stop, but its also a mentality that you need that isnt for everyone. i found it hard to deal with. im not sure if i am good competition anymore since i am rusty, but i think a game could be fun.

[gtl_yukimura]

The longer you're here, the better I think you'll get.

It's that or they physically can't. Like Sanada for example. His knees can't handle that stress. Let alone friendly matches with me. In any case, maybe playing again will shake off the rust.

(ooc: strikes deleted)

[uzauza]

i hope youre right.

i did not know that, that is unfortunate. there were a lot of injuries even in our age group back then, in hindsight. i think i will be able to play a decent game still, i havent been completely slacking off.