writing a letter to a Japanese person you have not met.

[rayman.the.one.and.only1_498570]

So I'm going to be coming in contact with Japanese woman that go to the same church that I do. Since I know nothing about writing polite letters in Japanese (heck i'm not even that good at formal english letters :0 ) and since I don't want to be rude I need some help with proper greatings, correct use of grammar, and generally being polite.
any tips or help you can give will be much appriaciated.

So to start I have a few sentences already written, but I'm not sure if I am using the correct writing system. I came up with these sentances by using the little Japanese I know, the internet (mainly yahoo answers), and a little google translate (just to see if i structored the sentances properly.) anyway I used mostly Hiragana. I put katakana in for foreign names such as my name and America. microsoft word and google translate put some kanji in there that i unfourtunetally still cannot read. (so for all I know i could be saying something that has nothing to do with what i am actually talking about. :0 )

So I have what I wrote here, I also included romanji and an english translation (or at least what i think I'm saying) to be more clear as to what I am trying to say. As I said before any tips or help pffered is much appriciated Domo Arigato!

はじめまして、わたしわホピケンスレイブンです。私はアメリカ人です。
わたしの日本語があまりうまくありませんが許してください。

Romanji:
Hajimemashite, watashi wa Hopikensu Reibun desu. Watashi wa Amerika jin desu.
Watashi no Nihongo ga amari umaku arimasen ga yurushite kudasai!

Translation: Nice to meet you, I’m Raven Hopkins. I’m American. I am not very skilled when it comes to Japanese please forgive me.

[community.japanese]

rayman.the.one.and.only1 san (ホピケンス レイブンさん)

Writing a letter is a good idea!

はじめまして, わたしはホピケンス　レイブンです。 The wa after watashi is a particle so it must be “は”. I suggest put a space between your family name and your first name.
Other sentences below are perfect!
私はアメリカ人です。
わたしの日本語があまりうまくありませんが許してください。

ganbatte kudasai.

Yuki 由紀
Team JapanesePod101.com

[bluecarbuncle_499022]

Hi,

your sentences are ok. It's proper and nice. I corrected yours a bit.

はじめまして、わたしのなまえはホピケンス・レイブンです。私はアメリカ人です。
わたしの日本語はあまりうまくありませんが、許してください。

If you have still the other sentence for her, maybe I can correct some.

I think many Japanese people are not so strict for many things. So you don't have be careful to make some mistakes of grammar. And you don't have to hesitate asking various questions for her. For example, the topic of food, hobby, religion, culture, politics, economics and so on. (Of course it's depends on her character. And sexual, financial and the other private matters absolutely should be avoided)

It's important thing for Japanese is harmony but also proper personal space. They are often not used to explain or insist their opinion so clearly. So if you push her to do such kind of things when she doesn't show her thinking and feeling clearly, I think she may be confused a bit . Of course asking their opinion is not rude and necessary thing. But it's actually difficult for some Japanese. when you feel her saying or attitude is unclear to understand, still respecting her own pace and asking gradually is good way.

[rayman.the.one.and.only1_498570]

arigato! unfortunetally I am still learning things and have not come up with anymore sentences yet. But as soon as I do I would very much appriciate any help or tips I can get. This is something I've been dreaming of doing for many years, and so I'm very excited to see how it turns out. Also I'm a bit concerned because I am not writing directly to a spesific person, since I am going to be sending this to a group of YW in my church, and so I'm a bit worried things will be confusing if I don't know how to adress more than one person. I am very glad to hear that so far things are ok and that I am not messing every thing up. so again thank you for everything you've done! Domo Arigato!