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# Japanese learning (with a special guest!)
- URL: https://suz.id.au/japanese-learning-with-a-special-guest/
- Published: 2026-09-15T10:32:53.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T10:32:53.000Z
- Author: Suz
- Tags: new, Blog

I've been learning Japanese for a bit over a year now. I'm still only half-way through the first textbook, so it's slow going! I'm finding it a bit hard to juggle studying with all my other hobbies + work, but I am making progress in learning how to read and write kanji and grammar/vocab. Fingers crossed I can have some good basic conversations when I head to Japan soon!

Recently, my Japanese teacher organised an exchange program for a Japanese university student to come to Australia for a few weeks, and asked if anyone would like to host her for her time here, which we did! Her name is Manami, and she stayed with us for about a week. 

![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/09/IMG_9753.jpeg)

まなみさん！

She's studying Japanese Language teaching at uni, so we had a lot of practice speaking both Japanese and English together, and teaching her Australian slang! It was really fun having her around, but my brain did hurt a lot from extensive thinking of how to word things in another language for a week straight!

We did a lot of things in a week: a day trip to the Grampians, making gyoza from scratch, went to a local performance of Into The Woods (it was great!), a movie night with friends, and lots of shared meals and chats.

![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/09/e0910763-b35d-4c15-a052-83a7ab7783bc.jpeg)

We made it to the top!

![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/09/07736715-4051-4eb3-b7f0-aeaa993cc7c8.jpeg)

Aussie Brunch

![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/09/07869646-2c32-48df-8498-08efb95cc1b2.jpeg)

Movie night with lovely friends

![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/09/IMG_9740.jpeg)

Delicious Gyoza! It wasn't too hard to make actually.

![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/09/IMG_9743.jpeg)

Into the Woods!

![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/09/IMG_9757.jpeg)

The sweet letter she wrote for us <3

![](https://suz.id.au/content/images/2026/09/15c1438d-6054-46c7-b5b5-c26ff6b629bc.jpeg)

Farewell gifts

We had so much fun with Manami, and we've made plans to see her again soon when we visit Kobe (which is very soon!)

🎮

****What I'm playing**  
Pokemon Legends: Arceus (I had the urge to play a pokemans)

📺

****What I'm watching**  
Latest Taskmaster UK series!