{"id":1324,"date":"2025-02-10T23:46:05","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T23:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nihonsko.com\/about\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T10:44:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T09:44:43","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/?page_id=1324","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-columns stk-block-columns stk-block stk-88953c5\" data-block-id=\"88953c5\"><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-content-align stk-88953c5-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-92c1f4e\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"92c1f4e\"><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-92c1f4e-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-92c1f4e-inner-blocks\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-hero stk-block-hero stk-block stk-e1739a1 is-style-default\" data-v=\"2\" data-block-id=\"e1739a1\"><style>.stk-e1739a1-inner-blocks{justify-content:center !important;}.stk-e1739a1 {margin-bottom:0px !important;}.stk-e1739a1-container{box-shadow:none !important;}.stk-e1739a1 .stk-block-hero__content{min-height:494px !important;align-items:center !important;display:flex !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-block-hero__content stk-content-align stk-e1739a1-column stk-container stk-e1739a1-container stk-hover-parent\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks has-text-align-center stk--column-flex stk-e1739a1-inner-blocks\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;border-radius:0px\"><strong>Fluent in trying. This is where I write about it.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-a977062\" data-block-id=\"a977062\"><style>.stk-a977062 {max-width:896px !important;min-width:auto !important;margin-bottom:65px !important;}<\/style><p class=\"stk-block-text__text has-text-align-center\">I started this blog because I needed a space to think out loud. About language, about slow progress, about what it means to carry Japanese with you for years without ever quite arriving. This is not a tutorial blog. It&#8217;s an honest account of what this journey actually looks like \u2014 the restarts, the self-doubt, and yes, the small victories too.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-button-group stk-block-button-group stk-block stk-8735be4\" data-block-id=\"8735be4\"><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks has-text-align-center stk-block-content stk-button-group\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-button stk-block-button stk-block stk-483303a\" data-block-id=\"483303a\"><a class=\"stk-link stk-button stk--hover-effect-darken\" href=\"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/?page_id=3299\"><span class=\"stk-button__inner-text\">Read the blog<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-spacer stk-block-spacer stk--no-padding stk-block stk-38621e1\" data-block-id=\"38621e1\"><style>.stk-38621e1 {height:83px !important;}<\/style><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile has-palette-color-8-color has-palette-color-1-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-16fd3768cb24512171dfa12936f84739\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:84px;border-top-right-radius:84px;border-bottom-left-radius:84px;border-bottom-right-radius:84px;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;grid-template-columns:23% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/M248-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3907 size-large\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/M248-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/M248-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/M248-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/M248-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/M248-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/M248-scaled.jpg 1706w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-palette-color-7-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7113b926c6f54b491550c139ca362a2b\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-palette-color-7-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0bb1ee15bb5d77c46226574a7f845741\"><strong><strong>Karol\u00edna<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ve been learning Japanese for over 15 years. In 2024, I finally passed the JLPT N3.<br>In 2025, I didn\u2019t pass N2, and I\u2019m planning to retake it this December.<br>I\u2019m still figuring out how to make real progress and how to integrate my love for Japanese into my everyday life.<br>This blog is also my attempt to finally learn how to write.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-divider stk-block-divider stk-block stk-152346f\" data-block-id=\"152346f\"><style>.stk-152346f hr.stk-block-divider__hr{background:var(--theme-palette-color-5, #edeff2) !important;}.stk-152346f {min-height:0px !important;align-items:flex-end !important;padding-top:0px !important;padding-right:0px !important;padding-bottom:0px !important;padding-left:0px !important;display:flex !important;}<\/style><hr class=\"stk-block-divider__hr\"\/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\"><strong>Time left until my next JLPT N2 exam.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-countdown stk-block-countdown stk-block stk-1c7899e\" data-stk-countdown-date=\"2026-12-06T00:00\" data-stk-countdown-duration=\"\" data-stk-countdown-restart-interval=\"\" data-stk-countdown-type=\"dueDate\" data-stk-countdown-action=\"\" data-stk-countdown-timezone=\"\" data-stk-countdown-is-double-digit=\"false\" data-v=\"2\" data-block-id=\"1c7899e\"><div class=\"stk-block-countdown__container\"><div class=\"stk-block-countdown__content-container stk-container stk-1c7899e-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-countdown__container-wrapper\"><div class=\"stk-block-countdown__digit stk-block-countdown__digit-day\"><\/div><p class=\"stk-block-countdown__label-day stk-block-countdown__label\">Days<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"stk-block-countdown__content-container stk-container stk-1c7899e-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-countdown__container-wrapper\"><div class=\"stk-block-countdown__digit stk-block-countdown__digit-hour\"><\/div><p class=\"stk-block-countdown__label-hour stk-block-countdown__label\">Hours<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"stk-block-countdown__content-container stk-container stk-1c7899e-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-countdown__container-wrapper\"><div class=\"stk-block-countdown__digit stk-block-countdown__digit-minute\"><\/div><p class=\"stk-block-countdown__label-minute stk-block-countdown__label\">Minutes<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"stk-block-countdown__content-container stk-container stk-1c7899e-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-countdown__container-wrapper\"><div class=\"stk-block-countdown__digit stk-block-countdown__digit-second\"><\/div><p class=\"stk-block-countdown__label-second stk-block-countdown__label\">Seconds<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-spacer stk-block-spacer stk--no-padding stk-block stk-e11fff2\" data-block-id=\"e11fff2\"><style>.stk-e11fff2 {height:25px !important;}<\/style><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-spacer stk-block-spacer stk--no-padding stk-block stk-9629160\" data-block-id=\"9629160\"><style>.stk-9629160 {height:89px !important;}<\/style><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-call-to-action stk-block-call-to-action stk-block stk-740d8be is-style-default\" data-v=\"2\" data-block-id=\"740d8be\"><style>.stk-740d8be {border-top-left-radius:0px !important;border-top-right-radius:0px !important;border-bottom-right-radius:0px !important;border-bottom-left-radius:0px !important;overflow:hidden !important;margin-bottom:95px !important;}.stk-740d8be-container{box-shadow:none !important;border-top-width:0px !important;border-right-width:0px !important;border-bottom-width:0px !important;border-left-width:0px !important;}<\/style><div class=\"stk-block-call-to-action__content stk-content-align stk-740d8be-column stk-container stk-740d8be-container stk-hover-parent\"><div class=\"has-text-align-center stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-740d8be-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-fe1d004\" id=\"strong-building-a-community-strong\" data-block-id=\"fe1d004\"><h3 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><strong>Building a Community<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-f9e8f4b\" data-block-id=\"f9e8f4b\"><style>.stk-f9e8f4b {margin-bottom:50px !important;}<\/style><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">If you\u2019re looking for people to share your study time with,<br>you can join us on Discord \u2014 there\u2019s, among other things, a quiet study room where we simply study alongside each other.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-button-group stk-block-button-group stk-block stk-c2047ff\" data-block-id=\"c2047ff\"><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-button-group\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-button stk-block-button stk-block stk-7eaee91\" data-block-id=\"7eaee91\"><a class=\"stk-link stk-button stk--hover-effect-darken\" href=\"https:\/\/discord.com\/invite\/MBx7d3FgBf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"stk-button__inner-text\">Join us on Discord<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-columns stk-block-columns stk-block stk-484a72a\" data-block-id=\"484a72a\"><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-content-align stk-484a72a-column\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-fe8f948\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"fe8f948\"><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-fe8f948-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-fe8f948-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-call-to-action stk-block-call-to-action stk-block stk-b727e33 is-style-default\" data-v=\"2\" data-block-id=\"b727e33\"><div class=\"stk-block-call-to-action__content stk-content-align stk-b727e33-column stk-container stk-b727e33-container stk-hover-parent\"><div class=\"has-text-align-center stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-b727e33-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-d89839a\" id=\"strong-strong-strong-got-a-blog-or-a-project-strong-strong-strong\" data-block-id=\"d89839a\"><h3 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><strong><strong><strong>Got a blog or a project?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-84c4d27\" data-block-id=\"84c4d27\"><style>.stk-84c4d27 {margin-bottom:39px !important;}<\/style><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">If you\u2019re writing about Japanese <br>or building something related, I\u2019d love to give it space here.<br>Send it my way \u2014 I\u2019m always happy to share honest projects with others.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-button-group stk-block-button-group stk-block stk-effac84\" data-block-id=\"effac84\"><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-button-group\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-button stk-block-button stk-block stk-b02e1bf\" data-block-id=\"b02e1bf\"><a class=\"stk-link stk-button stk--hover-effect-darken\" href=\"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/?page_id=1328\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"stk-button__inner-text\">Get in touch \u2192<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-column stk-block-column stk-column stk-block stk-af83ab5\" data-v=\"4\" data-block-id=\"af83ab5\"><div class=\"stk-column-wrapper stk-block-column__content stk-container stk-af83ab5-container stk--no-background stk--no-padding\"><div class=\"stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-af83ab5-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-call-to-action stk-block-call-to-action stk-block stk-c57b8c8 is-style-default\" data-v=\"2\" data-block-id=\"c57b8c8\"><div class=\"stk-block-call-to-action__content stk-content-align stk-c57b8c8-column stk-container stk-c57b8c8-container stk-hover-parent\"><div class=\"has-text-align-center stk-block-content stk-inner-blocks stk-c57b8c8-inner-blocks\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-a898fed\" id=\"strong-strong-want-to-share-your-story-strong-strong\" data-block-id=\"a898fed\"><h3 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><strong><strong>Want to share your story?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-text stk-block-text stk-block stk-5473b3f\" data-block-id=\"5473b3f\"><style>.stk-5473b3f {margin-bottom:43px !important;}<\/style><p class=\"stk-block-text__text\">I\u2019d love to include other voices here too.<br>If you want to share your Japanese learning journey, feel free to reach out \u2014 your story might resonate with someone else.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-button-group stk-block-button-group stk-block stk-379eecc\" data-block-id=\"379eecc\"><div class=\"stk-row stk-inner-blocks stk-block-content stk-button-group\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-button stk-block-button stk-block stk-46f2166\" data-block-id=\"46f2166\"><a class=\"stk-link stk-button stk--hover-effect-darken\" href=\"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/?page_id=1328\"><span class=\"stk-button__inner-text\">Tell me your story<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-spacer stk-block-spacer stk--no-padding stk-block stk-b5b84dc\" data-block-id=\"b5b84dc\"><style>.stk-b5b84dc {height:89px !important;}<\/style><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fluent in trying. This is where I write about it. I started this blog because I needed a space to think out loud. About language, about slow progress, about what it means to carry Japanese with you for years without ever quite arriving. This is not a tutorial blog. It&#8217;s an honest account of what [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1324","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Karolina","author_link":"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/?author=1"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Fluent in trying. This is where I write about it. I started this blog because I needed a space to think out loud. About language, about slow progress, about what it means to carry Japanese with you for years without ever quite arriving. This is not a tutorial blog. It&#8217;s an honest account of what&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1324","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1324"}],"version-history":[{"count":123,"href":"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1324\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4015,"href":"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1324\/revisions\/4015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nihonsko.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}