During the holiday season we have been so busy that I feel burned out.  So many days in a row has it been so busy that I am looking forward to my days off.  One thing I know though is that next year it may not be as busy, so we must make use of this time.  Now that most of the holiday season is over I can tell that we are slowing down slightly.  Recently we have probably been getting about 60-70% Japanese customers.  It’s been great practice for me to practice what I learn.  I am very hesitant to use some phrases but others I get such great responses from.  One example is “keizoku wa chikara desu”  I always hear wow thats great when I use this phrase so I try to use it often.  I am still working on using “bushi ni nigon nashi” when I say it they really don’t understand, so I have to say it a few times.   They are so amazed that I would know these few phrases it makes me feel good to know that I am making some progress.  I have noticed that more and more Japanese can speak English very well.  Some of them don’t study abroad and can speak just from normal schooling in Japan, which I find completely amazing.  For me I have to engulf myself in the language and try repeatedly using phrases to remember.  I know I am not the model student but I do know that for them to learn just by normal schooling is amazing.