[IMAGE: https://steemitimages.com/DQmdbfaoTZsDT8P2uRTKt9v1FMhvkCga1dTCtmN1hd93hhX/IMG_6683.jpg] Whats up Steemit Community! My name is Zachary and I'm a 18 year old student who has an extreme passion for learning about the Japanese Language and Culture. My Passion started in Seventh grade when I signed up for a program called "Zero Bell" at my middle school so that I could have an extra elective. Being a loosely wound tweenager, I forgot to sign up for a language class like Spanish or German so the only class available was Japanese. The only reason I took this class was to be in the Zero Bell program like all of my other friends. As months progressed I became extremely engaged in the class and it gradually became my best and favorite subject because I felt so proud to know Hiragana, Katakana, and new vocabulary.
The next year I got accepted to an Arts High School for Clarinet Performance where the students and faculty would occasionally travel to different parts of the world such as Iceland, Austria, Germany, and Japan! As time passed, I continued to study more vocabulary and Kanji while learning to perform in an orchestra. Finally an announcement was made that my colleagues and I were going to embark on a journey to Japan to perform a broadway style show at a variety of Japanese Schools and Concert halls for ten days. My dreams shifted into reality and my excitement was flourishing because I could travel to my favorite country.
The time finally came around as we flew a 13 and a half hour flight to Tokyo. We visited 5 different cities(Osaka, Miyazaki, Kitakyushu, Hiroshima, Toyonaka), performed in 2 concert halls, stayed with 3 different host families, attended/ performed 4 different Japanese schools for one day each, and visited many different attractions such as a Waterfall Park, The Osaka Bay Aquarium, Dotonbori, and many more. This trip has overreached my dreams on a magnitude I can't express through words because it was so valuable to me. Being able to communicate with locals in their mother tongue was such an invigoration and rewarding experience that I crave more and more as I continue to learn this language.
The Japanese nature, culture, people, food, and traditions have such a sheer beauty about them that I believe everybody should witness in their lifetime. This trip has changed my life forever and I am more than grateful to have experienced Japan. My passion to learn more of this language and culture grow each and everyday. また会いましょ！ Thank you Steemit community for reading my Introduction; I am very exited to present my ideas, experiences, and knowledge on this platform. Below are pictures of my recent Journey :)[IMAGE: https://steemitimages.com/DQmdbJvaWLBPCrH6m84ftWP7bk4KQGso46Keg8DXzBUi6We/IMG_6024.jpg][IMAGE: https://steemitimages.com/DQmUBqcAtdiCBq5V9qU4GRDTsNXcsR1mmYTLpfWxDPNwVgi/IMG_6238.jpg][IMAGE: https://steemitimages.com/DQmTAuoTiN5vVudXgnZJ64tNThTYvd7jcrc4CYNzNAtiTff/IMG_6092.jpg][IMAGE: https://steemitimages.com/DQmaQTh45Gzy6rMWA2KCqV8BPJWeWJ3yX3SXwTfPwi6oFSx/IMG_6068.jpg][IMAGE: https://steemitimages.com/DQmWCd1LYXRZeVD3Y5isqkuxG4LdzvfQHeSFnGyQgsyGVxk/IMG_5945.jpg][IMAGE: https://steemitimages.com/DQmNZgzBDzFM4wLd7o6scP7C7GyZibjQqcmEn5oW4DHkFbX/IMG_6236.jpg]
