[blacksmythe]

  >> I was motivated enough to spent 7+ months learning basic Mandarin

That is impressive.

I have tried learning Mandarin, and found that in the same amount of time that you could be communicating (at a very basic level) in another language (even one considered 'hard' like Japanese), with Mandarin I am still trying to get tones right.

[gjkood]

I definitely did not learn it on my own or through self study.

I attended Mandarin classes at the San Jose Learning Center. (http://www.sanjoselearningcenter.com/mandarin.php)

A special shout-out to my fantastic instructor Larry Xue.

It is not easy but it has changed my life and outlook.

[contingencies]

Tones are hard but far less important than people make out. If you can copy someone else's sound, you will eventually just get tones right automatically. This is how Chinese learn. There's no need to learn them formally. (Source: 16 years, native English speaker, fluent Mandarin, some capacity with multiple tonal languages + dialects)

[blacksmythe]

What was your path to getting started?

(from beginner to being able to make basic conversation)

[contingencies]

Alcohol.