What do you find "easier"?

What do you find easier to pick up? A language closer to your own or one farther away from it? I'm learning both German and Japanese-- and whilst German with I've picked it up quicker as it has a lot of similarities, I'm finding it a LOT easier to pick up Japanese. That's because it's very different to English -- and everything I learn with it I associate with Japanese, so I never fall back on English to use as a crutch. I also find the different writing system makes it also easier to associate with Japanese. With German, as said, I sometimes fall back on English -- making it harder for me to learn and separate the two languages.

What about you guys?