Learning the language

Oh my...
Well, I have been trying to learn some Japanese before I head out and man-o-man is it a tough one! Thanks to my wonderfully talented brother, I have been using Rossetta Stone to help me along. However, the beautiful sun and tempting pool have been a slight determent to my studies. It's just so hard to sit at my computer and talk into my cool head set when I could be lounging by the pool...
Anyways, other than that I have been preparing, little-by-little...

If anyone has any words of wisdom or suggestions for travel, I am all ears!