I took one year of elementary Japanese in high school, but have since forgotten almost all of what I learned due to lack of practice. I wanted to study Japanese again, this time more seriously, for various reasons. Firstly, I want to learn Japanese to keep in touch with my Japanese friends and to be able to communicate with them better. Secondly, I want to learn Japanese for travel. During previous trips to Japan, I found it difficult to get by with little to no knowledge of Japanese. Although, I was fortunate to have Japanese-speaking friends accompany me, I would like to have better command of the language so that for future trips, I will be able to get by on my own. Thirdly, I am hoping that better understanding of the language will deepen my understanding and appreciation for Japanese culture. I would also like to eventually reach JLPT N1 proficiency and possibly work in Japan in the near future.
Here are some pictures from my recent trip to Japan in March:

