Last year on a previous incarnation of this blog I posted some pdf flash cards for the JLPT Level 3 and 4 Vocab. Its been a while since then, and in a effort to save paper and hassle, I started using a piece of software called Mnemosyne.

Its completely free to used and according to the website it is compatible with Windows, Mac OS and Linux.

I created some files to use with Mnemosyne, but then decided to learn the Kanji in the order school kids do.  There are some files for that on the Mnemosysne website in the Japanese section

anyway.. some links to some files.. (right click, save as .mem, not text)

JLPT Level 4 Vocab

JLPT Level 3 Vocab

JLPT Level 4 Kanji

These are flash card files i have created, and as a non-native speaker of Japanese, (actually a non-speaker of japanese) I make no assurance about their accuracy, if you do find anything wrong please let me know. Also I do requests, time permitting….

頑張ってください

The Typhoon came and went. Its not like I wanted the Typhoon to flatten everything in its path, but I was hoping it would arrive at a more convenient time, instead I woke up at about 3am to the sound of rattling windows and bikes falling over. My sleep pattern was almost normal, well normal for me anyway, and Melor has set me back, at least it didnt send me back to the Land of Oz. I couldve killed the wicked witch of the east and hung out with the Munchkins.

I have just been outside to look for any signs of the winds strength, but theres really not that much. An umbrella skipping down the road, but that nothing unusual, a row of bikes that look like dominos, again nothing really unusual there either. Seems that we were lucky here and got away with very little damage. There were quite a few tree branches in a park, but then there are quite a few trees in that park. I doubt any one was out walking their dog at 3am.

I quess that they are used to this kind of thing and are prepared, I wonder if there are leaves on the line…..
…continue reading: We’re not off to see the wizard

woohoo !! Its not Godzilla but it will have to do, Typhoon Melor is expected to hit tomorrow morning at 6am (9pm UK).  A Category 2 Typhoon aswell, Im not sure what that means, I think its means its might be a little breezy out. According to the note through the door the wind could get up to 180kph (111mph). It also says if you have a bicycle to tie it a pillar with rope. 100mph+ winds is nothing, anyone who has been anywhere within 4 feet of Coley has experienced worse.

Its a good job I didnt bring the kite, or I could’ve ended up like this guy:

Typhoon Melor Heads for Japan – Bloomberg.com

I had my assessment on Monday morning, I dont think it went well. The was no pass or fail, it was purely an assessment, so if you couldnt answer a question it was ok to leave, and quite a few people left as soon as it started.

The conversation part of the went even worse, I was asked my name, and then they introduced themselves, except I thought one of them said something else, so I had a blank look on my face, said that I didnt understand, and then finally realised that she was telling me her name, how embarassing. Oh well…

I managed to get a half decents nights sleep but still woke up at 4am, but 5 I had decided trying to sleep was pointless so I went for a walk. I walked past a big mall, a bathroom show room, and a couple of flower shops, I believe the technical is florists. I went to the Castle and the park around it, the best bit was the foot bridge crossing the river, there are lots of carp in the river that come to meet you as you lean over the barrier. As I walked along they followed me, gasping at the surface for the food that I couldn’t throw to them. Oh, I forget to mention that all this time it was raining.

I managed to escape the fish, but took a wrong turn and ended up looping back on myself, only to be trying to walk against the tide of kids heading to school, 4 hours later I arrived back.

Later, I went to a 2nd hand bike shop, but it was shut. And its still raining.

I finally made it, about 27 hours after I woke up I finally got some real sleep. The first leg of the flight was ok, nothing special, the second flight was much more entertaining. When I booked my flight I selected a seat that had no one arround it, hoping to be able to stretch out and have 4 seats to my self and get some sleep. However by the time of the flight those seats arround me had been taken and I was stuck. To make matters worse I had gotten all my gear sorted then I get asked if I wouldnt mind swapping so some lady could sit with her friends. Ever the gentleman I moved.

As it turns out this was quite good, I would end up sitting next to a Japanese Lady who had studied English at Durham University. I watched The Hangover and ate Lasagna. Didnt get any sleep, and didnt need to pee once.

The flight arrived almost on time, however the bus from the airport got stuck in traffic. A trip that should’ve taken 1 hour 30 mins took over an hour longer. But I eventually arrived, feel asleep for far too long and spent the entire night wide awake.