The government's 延長 (enchō, extension) of the national state of emergency took some of the shine off Golden Week as people ditched plans to travel in favor of 巣ごもり (sugomori), a word that means "nesting" that the Japanese are using for sheltering in place during the coronavirus pandemic.

So it looks like we're in for another month of おうち時間 (ouchi jikan, time at home) and requests of 外出自粛 (gaishutsu jishuku, refraining from going outside). That means I'll be spending more time with my computer and smartphone screens if I want to talk to my friends: "何してる？" ("Nani shiteru?" "What are you up to?"), the typical conversation starts. "特に何も" ("Toku ni nani mo," "Nothing special") comes the reply.

But we can't sit at home doing nothing while we wait for life to return to the way it was. 暇だから今までやったことがないことに挑戦してみたい (Hima dakara, ima made yatta koto ga nai koto ni chōsen shite-mitai, Because I have time on my hands, I want to try things I haven't done before). I know two people who are learning the ukulele, one person who has signed up for a college course on environmental development, and another who is studying 手話 (shuwa, sign language).