わかりました。

For this week's topic, let's hear about instances where you could actually read, hear something in Japanese outside our class. Or you made someone understand with your Japanese.　So わかりました could be "(わたしは）わかりました。"　or "（someone elseは）わかりました。"

Let me share mine with you.

きのう　エッサベーグルへ　いきました。エッサベーグルはイーストサイドの51ちょうめと　3rd　アヴェニューです。When we went in, the guy at the counter looked at us, and asked "こんにちは？" He asked if we were Japanese by saying the greeting with a rising intonation. We got the bagels and creemcheese and came back to the checkout counter. The man said どうもありがとう（I don't remember if he said ございます afterwards...)。　Then he said, "また　きます。"

また is again. So it was "(You) come again." Because it didn't have "てください" form, it wasn't "(Please) come again."

Of course I could guess he meant to say "Come again." I had an urge to tell him that he should say "また　きてください," but I held it back, my professional/personal obsession to teach...　Contrary to his expectation, I didn't say anything in Japanese. Maybe I should have to make him feel good about himeself speaking Japanese to us. But then I again, I didn't know what to say. If I said anything too long, he wouldn't have understood. And the awkwardness would have continued.

But then again, I do the same thing. I say "Bona cera" to one of the staff in my building just because he is from Italy. It's just a friendly gesture and my naive use of the language.

It doesn't have to be entertaining (mine certainly isn't...) or anything, this is just an example to get you started. Maybe I wrote too much. It can be shorter.

Let's say your deadline for your post is by this Friday.
Also, please feel free to comment on each others' post.

hiroshi