Nihongo progress (or lack thereof)
For the past 2 years i've been casually studying Nihongo, largely because I travel to Japan frequently, but also because I just wanted to use my brain a little more. Once a week, i'd meet with a tutor and self-study for the remainder. Despite studying at an N3 level, progress has admittedly been slow. I find myself cramming the day before my classes rather than studying consistently throughout the week, so retention isn't all that great...
When I fractured my wrist a few months back, i've had to put the classes on pause as I couldn't even hold a pen. At this point i'm well enough to resume, though i'm still trying to financially recover from the medical expenses, so it might be a while until I reach out to my tutor again... That said, nothing's stopping me from continuing self-study, though lately i've put more effort into earning my fitness coaching certification.
When I trained in Japan, the little Nihongo I did know was invaluable. For the majority of my stay, I didn't have an interpreter, but I was able to get by well enough. I feel like the people there warmed up to me because I earnestly tried to communicate. So I'd feel embarrassed if I ever return and my Nihongo somehow degraded.
Starting this week i'll be trying to put a little more effort in my studies. Maybe try to consume Japanese content more frequently. My YT algorithm has pulled some "what's in my bag" videos and they were fairly easy to follow. Maybe eventually i can move onto Japanese podcasts or video essays...