in article 2torgqF22mfpoU2@uni-berlin.de, Ryan Ginstrom at
ryang@TINNED.MEATgol.com wrote on 10/21/04 1:16 PM:

> 
> "m.yoshida" <masa@yahoo.co.jp> wrote in message
> news:2todqoF22jbgaU1@uni-berlin.de...
>> Apparently you lack the ability of reading Japanese, Mr. Schaal.
> 
> Apparently? He demonstrably lacks the ability to read or speak Japanese.
> 
> I wonder what it says of Ernie's opinions of the Japanese when he lives in
> Japan, is married to a Japanese, and works among Japanese, and yet hasn't
> taken the trouble to learn the language.

Ryan,

You make the assumption that I haven't taken the trouble of learning the
language. That is not a good assumption. I have taken lessons, and I have
studied, and I can carry on simple conversations in Japanese, but I know
that until I have passed the 1st grade of the JLPT I had better not show my
progress or lack of it.

Why did you make such a stupid assumption?

What have you been doing since your retirement to improve yourself?