Amedare-san, ohayou gozaimasu.

Yes, ageru, kureru and morau are complicated, so it's no wonder that you feel hard about them. Also here, children often make mistakes with them. I'll pick up them later.

> Also, my previous host family in Japan uses "odaiji ni" a lot in their emails to me and I've never thought twice. Is there something different with this?

Mmm, I'm not sure... "odaiji ni" is used to a person who is sick or get ill, at least here in Sapporo and around, but it might depend on the area.

雨垂れ - 雨だれ - あまだれ
The correct reading "amadare", but it doesn't matter to use "amadare" or "amedare" as your nickname: nobody can complain about your name, lol.

Mata neee.
Shizu

Shizu-san,

Arigatou gozaimasu. Well, I like to be as correct as I can be when learning a language. So, I am glad to know it's "amadare" instead. ^_^

How would I express being confused? I've wondered about that.

Amadare-san, konnichiwa.

I'm confused.
(1) wake ga wakarimasen.
(2) konranshite imasu.

In daily conversation, the first expression is used more commonly. But this is more straight about expressing your confusion, so it might give an unpleasant feeling to the listener as if you blame the person. Or because of the more straight expression, it may invite laugh. It depends on the your tone, the listener's personality or the situation etc. But it's really commonly among closer people as "wake wakannai".

The second one is more formal or written expression. We don't say this too much in the conversation, but we often write like that in the e-mail messages or forums etc.

I hope this helps,
Shizu

5. ou-form

This conjugated form works as several meanings depending on your tone, the situation or combination with another expression.

(The two women are in front of a coffee shop in the department store.)
C: aa, nodo kawaita. koko ni hairou ka.
(Ah, I'm thirsty. I want to say "Let's enter here" (and I think you agree with me).)
B: ii ne. hairou hairou.
(Good. Let's do enter!)

(They are looking at the menu.)
C: nani nomou kana.
(I'm wondering what I should drink.)

(B talked about the busy state because of the moving out.)
C: taihen da ne. tetsudaou ka?
(It sounds hard for you. Shall I help you?)

hairu - the dictionary form - enter, come in
hairou - the ou-form

Ou-form works as "Let's do".

hairou hairou.
Let's enter!

In this case, the meaning is emphasized by repeating it twice.
When the ou-form is used to yourself, it expresses your will of your action in the near future. If you're alone, it's impossible to mean "Let's do" of course. And even when you're with someone, it works as "I'll do" depending on your tone.

(1) haiROU? (pronounce like a question)
Let's enter!

(2) haiROU. (not pronounce like a question, but the latter part is pronounced a bit higher)
I will enter.

In this case, another expression "ou-form + tto" is often used.
haiROUtto.
I will enter.

(3) HAIROu (down your tone in the last part)
It works as both of above depending on the situation.

ou-form + ka

It indicates "Let's do", but sounds more modest or softer. The person C wants to enter the coffee shop, but she doesn't want to insist. However she is expecting that also her friend wants to enter there or at least agrees with the idea. In that case, "ou-form + ka" is often used. You pronounce it down at the end of the word. If you do it up like a question, it works as "Shall I do?".

tetsudau - help
tetsudaou - the ou-form

tetsudaou ka?
Shall I help you?

ou-form + kana

In this case, the ou-form works as "I will do". But when your will hasn't decided yet, you put "kana" which has a nuance of "I wonder?".

nomu - drink
nomou - the ou-form

koohii nomou. // koohii nomoutto.
I will drink coffee.

koohii nomou kana.
I'm wondering if I should drink coffee.
or
I'm thinking to drink coffee.

Shizu

6. te-form + yo

Also this changes the nuance depending on your tone, or the listener may get different impression depending on the situation.

(The two female friends are going to separating.)
B: jaa ne. ashita denwasuru ne.
(Bye, I'll call (telephone) you tomorrow.)
C: wakatta. jaa ne. ganbatte yo.
(OK, bye. Good luck!)

In this case, "yo" works as an exclamation, and the speaker can give worm and positive feeling to the listener like "Good luck!".

On the other hand, if you pronounce the phrase while being down your tone at the last part like "GANBATTe yo", you can give unpleasant feeling as if you blaming the person.
For example, when you say this to members of a baseball team which has never won so far, your words tend to be regarded as "You should do your best (more seriously)!".
In that case, your words "ganbatte yo" may be regarded as such negative feeling even if you care about your tone. Maybe it's because "ganbatte" means "Do your best.", and if they have been always doing their best, the word "ganbatte" + "yo (emphasized sound)" can hurt them enough. Therefore, you'd better not add "yo" in the case like this.

However, in the situation of the dialogue, you can give your kind mind which is emphasized by "yo". But also in this case, you should note your tone.

By the way, you can't distinguish the tone as far as reading it as written thing, so in many cases you use "ne" instead of "yo". "ne" has several usages, and in this case it works well as the same effect as "yo". In the conversation "ne" sounds more sweet and softer than "yo", and maybe because of that, "ne" is prefered by women and children to use it. And the politer form "te-form kudasai" + "ne" is used regardless of the gender.

Some more examples:

(on the phone, to your friend)
hayaku meeru kaite YO.
Write me e-mail message soon. (with your smile or warm feeling)

(on the phone, to your friend whom hasn't write anything yet although you need the information from him/her sooner)
hayaku meeru KAITe yo.
Do write me e-mail message immediately! (with your irritation or anger)

(on the phone, to your friend)
hayaku meeru kaite ne.
Write me e-mail message soon. (with your smile)

(on the phone, to someone who isn't so closer to you)
hayaku meeru kaite kudasai ne.
Please write me e-mail message soon. (polite and friendly feeling, and the meaning of "soon" is less strong.)

Dewa, ganbatte kudasai ne.
Shizu

I hope this thread stays around for a while.

How would I say everything here, or everything in this thread, or everything within this lesson was helpful?

What about "Shizusan, thanks for teaching"

Something like Oshiete de arigatou?