Simviation Forums

While I just came back from vacation, I'm already planning on another one.  Actually, in all technicality, neither are vacations.  But I consider any trip (to the Galleria, to Beaumont, to Massachusetts, to Zimbabwe) to be a vacation, so harhar.  Chile was family business, and I had to tag along, but you might as well enjoy yourself, no?  This next trip is also business.  I have, for a year, been in a limbo about my career path, but to make a long story short, I've decided on translator, and my list of languages to learn has always revolved around World War II.  (I know English, Spanish, rudimentary German and I want to know Japanese, Russian and Arabic for good measure - in that order)

So I'm planning a trip for Japan, and was wondering if y'all had any advice.  I'm no stranger to travel, much less of the international flavour, but it never hurts to get other people's tid bits.  I've always had Japan in mind, but during conversation, I've had poison oft dribbled in my ear about China.  While Japan is a definite, China and Korea are still on the table.  I'm planning on going to a week each, since this excursion will be financed by yours truly.

I've only flown to Missouri and North Carolina, so I really don't have any advice for a constant traveller like you

I was in Canada for almost an hour once, so I know a little Canadian, does that help?

Use eh, and ya, and hey, and der.  For example, the only three phrases you need to know if you are traveling to Canada, Wisconsin, Minnesota, or da UP (upper pennisula of Michigan), are "ya der hey", "hey der ya", and "der ya hey".  Hopefully I was helpful.

[quote]I was in Canada for almost an hour once, so I know a little Canadian, does that help?

Use eh, and ya, and hey, and der.

Join the military and see the whole world for free!*

*it's a safe way of saying "get ready to be deployed if you do join"

Join the military and see the whole world for free!*

Translation

[quote]While I just came back from vacation, I'm already planning on another one.

[*]Singapore: 80% humidity, 30C.

In all seriousness - sounds like Houston.

For the other languages, you can always get a textbook course but you learn the most when you actually go there.

As the whole region is a mess at the moment, especially if you have an american passport or lok like someone from northern europe, try to find someone who can learn you the basics closer to home.

Russian.
Slavic language. If you have some knowledge of Latin and Greek that helps (in holland you are encouraged to have done greek, latin or both). Alphabet is the first thing you'll learn.

Well, as for the point of the trip, what if I learn the language and it turns out I hate the place?  I've often heard very negative things from people who've been there.  Everything from food to crowds.  Personally, the only thing I've heard about Japan that I don't like is Anime...

I picked Japan from a list of three places (Japan, Saudi Arabia, Russia), and Arabia was disqualified because, just personally; speaking from an American perspective, I like being alive.  However, since making my decision, I've had people tell me I look Arabic.  Especially after donning a Kaffiyeh.  In fact, the exact words I heard once were, "Jesus, he looks like an Arab!"  Which is nice after always looking like a foreigner in Chile and America (but shouldn't everyone look like a foriegner in America?).

What, if any, region speaks "standard" Arabic?  I doubt such a thing can be said with certainty; I can barely think of a place that speaks "standard" American English - that is, not Yankee or Southern.  Maybe California?  But then again, is anything normal in California?

As silly as it sounds, sometimes I transliterate Russian Red Army Chorus songs in an effort to learn the alphabet.  You know... for fun!

(most of this ripped from wikipedia)

Spoken Standard Arabic... is an artificial language and only used in formal text and literature and when there is the need to get the message further than the dialect borders

Most of the spoken arabic on the main news sources is either standard Arabic (Al Jazeera) or Egyptian Arabic. Iraqi Arabic is closest to the classical pronunciation (although the more north you go the more it sounds like Persian) but is not understood outside the language area.

For speaking: Egyptian Arabic... as that is understood by most of the region.

Major newspapers are either Egyptian Arabic or standard Arabic.

Saudi Arabia is considered to be unfriendly to westerners even when there is no regional rioting. You just don't get in contact with the locals there.
If you want to learn arabic better choose Egypt, which has had a lot more contact with western culture to start with.

And for looking like an 'arab'. Americans tend to call anyone from the region (including Iran) 'arab'...

About Japan:
It's a closed culture, and very different from european culture.
They use three different alphabets at the same time (the text on tje JAL boeings is a nice example that has all three alphabets in it)
If you don't like seafood... eating there will be somewhat problematic.