I’ve sometimes thought about becoming a true polyglot, speaking languages the world over. But then I think about what is probably my main barrier in gaining the ability to be multilingual, which is opportunities to use the language, and the problem with opportunity lies with my personality.
In Japan I could have used Japanese a lot more, but I didn’t go out with friends often. When I think about my friends who socialized with their classmates a lot more, I wonder how much better my Japanese could have improved. Even now, with a lack of practice partners, I find my speaking skills rusting, and if I really had the drive I would be going out of my way to find native speakers. I learned Spanish in junior high and high school but that’s withered away to just rolling my r’s whenever I feel like it.
Once the JLPT 2 is over though, I’ll probably try to reinforce the Cantonese that’s supposed to be my second language. After that, who knows.
And yes, I know that I already technically qualify as a polyglot, but it doesn’t seem appropriate when I only have true command of one language.
OGIUE MANIAX 
That was a similar problem for me when I moved to Germany and had to learn the language (I was 14 at that time) – the first 5 years I communicated mainly with my russian-speaking friends, but then the language just happened. So I had these ‘talking with Germans is no fun’ and then ‘talking with Germans is fun’ distinct periods.
Still, you know, a lot of people think you’re a genius if you can make yourself understandable in more than one language (sometimes not counting english). And then, I often hear those who can do it (including me :-)) say ‘what? no no, my [language] is not good at all’. It’s one of the most clashing perceptions of reality I ever saw :D
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I do practice Japanese language too.
I think my Japanese-practicing has gone too far. Why?
Cause even Japanese writings I do practice them too.
They now think im a freak.
Wait.. What?
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Yeah, this is an annoying problem, especially if you’re not the immediately outgoing type, i’ve always had my second language (thai) turn ‘dormant’ because i don’t bother speaking it even when i’m around thai people, it’s annoying when you have to keep constantly speaking a language otherwise you pretty much lose most of it, i studied German at school and i always had to be coerced into doing any lengthy speaking.
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