Problem: Article: Kanji is commonly known as Chinese characters. Kanji characters differ from the English alphabet because they describe an idea rather than represent a specific letter. This is unlike the other two Japanese language systems, Hiragana and Katakana, which do not have meaning on their own but rather are used for grammar and to write non-Japanese words. Many people may assume you only need to learn to speak Japanese, without learning to write kanji. Understanding kanji increases your vocabulary and can familiarize yourself with the nuances of the Japanese language. For example, kanji is similar to some English affixes. For example, a word starting with “re-” in English, like reunite, means “again” or united again. Similarly, when seeing specific kanji characters you will come to understand that the meaning of the word may change based on the kanji. Flashcards are a great tool to drill new information. For example, commit 30 minutes everyday to learning at least 7 new kanji characters. Don’t forget to quiz yourself on the previous lessons to ensure the information stays fresh  Remember to learn the meaning of the word, how it is said, and how it is written. When possible, use mnemonics to glue a word to memory. Mnemonics works by associating a word with a funny, silly, or memorable story. While you can create your own mnemonics there are also numerous apps and online resources to help if you feel your creativity waning. Learning another writing system can be daunting so it is important to clearly define your endgoal in order to map out the appropriate steps you’ll need to attain it. Learning how to write in another language is a vague goal so perhaps a more specific goal can be learning how to write a one page letter in Kanji to your favourite Japanese television. Defining an appropriate timeline may also help you reach your goals faster and stave off frustration. Make your goals according to your everyday schedule. Choose an appropriate end date that won’t be pushed back or interfered with by other, more important, events. Kanji characters may seem foreign but if you look closely you may be able to associate more familiar images within a kanji character to help you remember it. For example, the kanji character for “person” looks like a person. Similarly, the kanji character for “stop” looks like a person motioning with his arm to stop. There are a few resources including the books Remember the Kanji by James Heisig and Kanji Pict-O-Graphix by Michael Rowley that can help decode kanji characters into more recognizable image association.
Summary: Understand the kanji is a form of Japanese writing. Learn to read and write. Repeat and utilize flashcards until you have committed to your memory. Utilize mnemonics. Have a practical endgoal in mind. Find familiar images within the kanji characters.

Problem: Article: Maybe you are at home, school, or work and plan to eavesdrop on a family member, schoolmate, or coworker. Maybe you're even in the same room (or the next cubicle). Your main goal should be to look extremely absorbed in whatever you are doing so that the person you want to eavesdrop on won't be suspicious. They might even forget you are even there!  If you are at work, look intently at your computer screen while frantically typing. You might be typing gibberish, but the person in the next cubicle will just think you are concentrating on your work (and not his or her conversation). At home or school, put on your headphones and grab a book or magazine. Look completely disinterested in what is going on in the room; be surprised that other people are even there. The look on your face, if approached or “interrupted” from your magazine and music, should say: “Wow, I didn't even realize you were in here having this private conversation !” If you have a prop, people will be less likely to think you are paying attention to them. Grab a book, your phone, or your MP3 player. You should look like you are doing something other than listening in on people's conversations, so pretend to read, scroll through your phone, or listen to music. Be sure your prop is one that helps you blend in, not stand out! In shared, public spaces, the busier the place, the better. Sit down on a bench or in the middle of park where people are hanging out or walking by. Alternately, walk around and listen closely for a good conversation. If you hear a snippet of a conversation that interests you, sit down close (but not too close) to the people you want to eavesdrop on. Pretend to be interested in your book, phone, or music. If you enjoy eavesdropping as a leisure activity, taking public transport, eating out alone, browsing a store, and hanging out at a coffee shop will put you in a good position to overhear some interesting conversations.  Instead of driving yourself to work or around town for your weekend errands, take the bus or the subway. You may have better luck on weekends or evenings when people are headed out on the town, since people who commute to work are usually solo travelers and aren't generally engaged in conversations. When eating out alone, try to sit near a large party—the more boisterous, the better. If the hostess sits you at a table away from other groups, ask politely if you could have a different table—perhaps a high top near the restaurant's bar, if a lot of people are hanging out there. While shopping, don't just make a bee-line for the items on your list. Instead, wander the aisles of the supermarket, convenience store, or neighborhood market. Pick up items and look at them; walk slowly and listen for conversations on the aisles close to you. Grab something to drink on the weekend at a coffee shop and stick around for a while. You could do this during the week, too, but weekends are better because people are out and about with friends (rather than scrambling to get work done on their lunch break during the week).
Summary: Feign absorption. Bring a prop. Find a good position. Get out and about.

Problem: Article: Because paperbag waist pants tend to be baggier and add more volume to your figure, it’s best to wear them with a fitted top. That will help balance the proportions in your outfit for the most flattering look.  For a casual look, a fitted tee shirt or tank top work best with your paperbag waist pants. For a dressed up look, wear the pants with a fitted button-down blouse for an office-appropriate outfit. A fitted sweater can work for a casual or an office look depending on the style of the pants. Even if your top is fitted, it can have an unflattering look if it sits over the paperbag waist of your pants. That’s why it’s best to tuck your top into the pants so the waist detail is highlighted and you don’t add any more bulk to your midsection. If you aren’t a fan of tucking in tops, consider pairing the paperbag waist pants with a bodysuit that naturally rests beneath the waistline. Cropped tops are another option when you’re wearing paperbag waist pants. Because they typically end above the waistline, they allow you to show off the paperbag waist and don’t add any bulk to the area. You can opt for a looser fitting top if you’re wearing a cropped style because the extra fabric won’t compete with the pants’ waistband given the higher hemline. You can wear jackets, cardigans, and blazers with paperbag waist pants, but choose slim styles that won’t add too much bulk to your look. Avoid boyfriend style blazers or cardigans, which are too loose to work with the pants. Consider the length of the your layering pieces too. It’s best to choose either a cropped style or a longer piece that hits at mid-thigh, so it doesn’t hit right at the waist where it will compete with the pants’ waistband.
Summary:
Choose a form-fitting top. Tuck in your top. Pair the pants with a cropped top. Opt for slim layering pieces.