I'm currently learning via a small weekly class and a couple other self-teaching methods at home, but it's hard to feel like i'm learning much outside of class since it's so much easier when you can interact or at least learn directly from someone who's Japanese.

I need to get katakana down, but i can read hiragana. i've barely started on kanji...
I'm planning on taking a trip to Japan within the next year or two, so i hope that by then i can be able to at least have somewhat of a decent conversation, although i know that's stretching my hope quite a bit.
i have a couple friends there who both speak English, so that'll help.

i know a lot of people wish they could speak Japanese so they could watch anime without subs, but personally, i just wanna learn so i can travel to Japan and meet people and interact on my own. the country, the culture, and most of all, the people have always interested me.
it's hard to make Japanese friends in my area since my city is small, and i don't think there are any Japanese people living here =/
however, a city a ways away has the Japan Center for my state (where i take my classes), and there are occasional events where a lot of the local Japanese residents come and participate. i'm pretty shy though -.-
heh.

wow, that post was a lot longer than i intended it to be...