Sophie bear you're my bear
You're my bear bear everywhere
With a bear bear bear bear
Bear bear bear bear bear
Sophie bear my Sophie bear
(sung to the tune of THIS OLD MAN)
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Monday, 21 March 2011
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Alive and....
Kicking... It's been two weeks now since my German classes started and, while I would like to say that it is a breeze and that I am learning so much and meeting a lot of great people... well, let's just say two out of three ain't bad.
Here's a background. There are six internationally recognized levels when it comes to learning a language. A1 and A2 discuss the basics, which enable you to have a minimum capability for conversation. B1 goes into more dedicated grammar and text, and B2 allows you to cover topics that will enable you to work in that language. C1 and C2 go on to further hone the mastery of the language and, in time, maybe allow you to publish and/teach in that language as well. A test is administered when you enroll so you are evaluated and placed in your level of capability correctly.
By some fluke, maybe because I chose the letter C out of all the multiple choice answers for the last 15 questions (I kid, I kid), I managed to score high enough to make people think I belonged in the B1 class. For those of you who are shrugging and asking what the big deal is, this is the big deal:
1. I have never spoken more than two sentences in German. Ever. Ask my husband and his family and friends.
2. My husband is too much of an intellectual-in-a-hurry to be able to teach me grammar properly. He is ace at pronounciation though, so my teacher says. After all, he did teach me how to say "ich" ("like a snake, like a snake, ihhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh").
3. I have always struggled with the idea of having to learn another language so late in my life, where I thought I would have no major use for it (this was obviously before I upped and moved to Germany for love, or whatever it is that makes the brain stop being logical).
So, that said, here I was, on the first day of class, being called to attention in German. In B1 and onwards, no English conversation is allowed inside the classroom. The teachers, tutors, learners and even the people from other classes are warned not to converse in any other language aside from German. Henceforth, all questions I had were phrased in German and, what's worse, all the answers back are in German. One such (long) conversation between myself and the teacher were as follows (translated into English):
Julie: Excuse me, what is the meaning of that word x?
Teacher: X means (and lets loose a string of German words I am unable to translate).
Julie: (picking up on a word that teacher used to explain the first word) Excuse me, but what does that word Y mean?
It was a good thing (and still is) that our teacher has the patience of a saint, otherwise she would have opened the sturdy German windows fully and slung me out. It wasn't helpful, however, having two classmates in class who were obviously at a higher level practically, but who had scored too low on the test. Our first week revolved around the two of them answering the questions they were already familiar with. By the second week, their chairs were empty and we learned that they had moved onwards and upwards to B2. Good riddance!
So now I am in class, from 9 to 1230 (with a 30 minute break in between to drinks tons of coffee, refill water bottles or commit hari-kiri), with an afternoon tutorial session that lasts just as long. We are given tons of homework for grammar purposes, and each day we are required to either interview someone or write about a part of our lives and present the text in class the next day MEMORIZED. Suddenly, at 33, with a husband and one nine month old daughter, I was suddenly back in show-and-tell mode.
Still, looking on the bright sides... I am lucky to be in a position to learn something new, especially when it is something as old and inherently complete as the German language. I also consider myself grateful that at this time in my life I am able to slow down and look at life from a different perspective... not everyone can do that so late in the day, maybe not even me.
But it is not for want of trying or, as my first thought goes at the beginning of each day, "It beats going to the gym."
Here's a background. There are six internationally recognized levels when it comes to learning a language. A1 and A2 discuss the basics, which enable you to have a minimum capability for conversation. B1 goes into more dedicated grammar and text, and B2 allows you to cover topics that will enable you to work in that language. C1 and C2 go on to further hone the mastery of the language and, in time, maybe allow you to publish and/teach in that language as well. A test is administered when you enroll so you are evaluated and placed in your level of capability correctly.
By some fluke, maybe because I chose the letter C out of all the multiple choice answers for the last 15 questions (I kid, I kid), I managed to score high enough to make people think I belonged in the B1 class. For those of you who are shrugging and asking what the big deal is, this is the big deal:
1. I have never spoken more than two sentences in German. Ever. Ask my husband and his family and friends.
2. My husband is too much of an intellectual-in-a-hurry to be able to teach me grammar properly. He is ace at pronounciation though, so my teacher says. After all, he did teach me how to say "ich" ("like a snake, like a snake, ihhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh").
3. I have always struggled with the idea of having to learn another language so late in my life, where I thought I would have no major use for it (this was obviously before I upped and moved to Germany for love, or whatever it is that makes the brain stop being logical).
So, that said, here I was, on the first day of class, being called to attention in German. In B1 and onwards, no English conversation is allowed inside the classroom. The teachers, tutors, learners and even the people from other classes are warned not to converse in any other language aside from German. Henceforth, all questions I had were phrased in German and, what's worse, all the answers back are in German. One such (long) conversation between myself and the teacher were as follows (translated into English):
Julie: Excuse me, what is the meaning of that word x?
Teacher: X means (and lets loose a string of German words I am unable to translate).
Julie: (picking up on a word that teacher used to explain the first word) Excuse me, but what does that word Y mean?
It was a good thing (and still is) that our teacher has the patience of a saint, otherwise she would have opened the sturdy German windows fully and slung me out. It wasn't helpful, however, having two classmates in class who were obviously at a higher level practically, but who had scored too low on the test. Our first week revolved around the two of them answering the questions they were already familiar with. By the second week, their chairs were empty and we learned that they had moved onwards and upwards to B2. Good riddance!
So now I am in class, from 9 to 1230 (with a 30 minute break in between to drinks tons of coffee, refill water bottles or commit hari-kiri), with an afternoon tutorial session that lasts just as long. We are given tons of homework for grammar purposes, and each day we are required to either interview someone or write about a part of our lives and present the text in class the next day MEMORIZED. Suddenly, at 33, with a husband and one nine month old daughter, I was suddenly back in show-and-tell mode.
Still, looking on the bright sides... I am lucky to be in a position to learn something new, especially when it is something as old and inherently complete as the German language. I also consider myself grateful that at this time in my life I am able to slow down and look at life from a different perspective... not everyone can do that so late in the day, maybe not even me.
But it is not for want of trying or, as my first thought goes at the beginning of each day, "It beats going to the gym."
Friday, 11 March 2011
Back to School Specials
I've just finished my first week in intensive German classes and all I can say (for the moment)is a big, whooping, "WHEW." It really has been an very busy week, what with daily three hour classes and another three hour afternoon tutorial sessions. To top it off there was homework, and lots of it. In all classes (and as much as possible in the tutorials) using any other language other than German to ask questions and get your point across is discouraged, so the first day was trying, to say the least. Whenever I had a question on what a word meant, I had to be able to ask for an explanation in German and I had to have my dictionary ready in case I couldn't understand the explanation either!
Still, intensive does mean intensive so I cannot complain. In fact, I do not think I am in the mood to complain because (aside from being too tired) for the first time since Sophie was born, this is a new activity that I feel challenged by. To be honest, it is probably one of the make or break experiences that will determine whether or not Germany is the place for me (of course I have to take into consideration that it is the best place for Christian at the moment). So far I am taking everything in stride and putting the work in. Obviously I will have to get over the fear of sounding stupid and try to speak a few sentences here and there. Christian is helping immensely through encouragement (especially after the first day) and forcing me to work and practice.
I am hoping that I get into the language more, because it really is very expressive (if at times too rule bound to play around with or too illogical to understand). Cross fingers for me, please, and watch this space!
Still, intensive does mean intensive so I cannot complain. In fact, I do not think I am in the mood to complain because (aside from being too tired) for the first time since Sophie was born, this is a new activity that I feel challenged by. To be honest, it is probably one of the make or break experiences that will determine whether or not Germany is the place for me (of course I have to take into consideration that it is the best place for Christian at the moment). So far I am taking everything in stride and putting the work in. Obviously I will have to get over the fear of sounding stupid and try to speak a few sentences here and there. Christian is helping immensely through encouragement (especially after the first day) and forcing me to work and practice.
I am hoping that I get into the language more, because it really is very expressive (if at times too rule bound to play around with or too illogical to understand). Cross fingers for me, please, and watch this space!
Sunday, 6 March 2011
I'm More Atari
"Yeah I'm sorry, I can't afford a Ferrari,
But that don't mean I can't get you there.
I guess he's an Xbox and I'm more Atari,
But the way you play your game ain't fair."
- From "F*ck You" by Cee-Lo Green
I have always tried to stay in the loop of what's outs there, what's new and, now that I am a mother, what's "cool" for kids nowadays. It's important for me to keep an open mind about music, clothes, technology, etc, otherwise it is harder to survive in today's ever-changing world. So far I have succeeded in embracing then denouncing then embracing Britney Spears, and I have also accepted that viral is the only way to go nowadays.
Still, it's slow going somedays, what with me not understanding why Roberta Black singing "(Fried Egg) Fridays" is cool, and why she feels the need to make an acoustic version of the damned song. I have never understood the "so bad it's good" saying and I have yet to come across a situation when I can aptly use the phrase.
If this means I am turning into an old grandma, so be it. Better to be an Atari than a tone-deaf and non-discriminating music lover.
But that don't mean I can't get you there.
I guess he's an Xbox and I'm more Atari,
But the way you play your game ain't fair."
- From "F*ck You" by Cee-Lo Green
I have always tried to stay in the loop of what's outs there, what's new and, now that I am a mother, what's "cool" for kids nowadays. It's important for me to keep an open mind about music, clothes, technology, etc, otherwise it is harder to survive in today's ever-changing world. So far I have succeeded in embracing then denouncing then embracing Britney Spears, and I have also accepted that viral is the only way to go nowadays.
Still, it's slow going somedays, what with me not understanding why Roberta Black singing "(Fried Egg) Fridays" is cool, and why she feels the need to make an acoustic version of the damned song. I have never understood the "so bad it's good" saying and I have yet to come across a situation when I can aptly use the phrase.
If this means I am turning into an old grandma, so be it. Better to be an Atari than a tone-deaf and non-discriminating music lover.
Friday, 4 March 2011
Two Mags and a Lad
I am sooooo happy my tabloid subscriptions started coming in (I know, trashy mags are my guilty pleasure). I am soooo ecstatic my hubby is starting to get into a fitness routine that makes him relaxed when he is at home.
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
I Whip My Hair
Willow Smith, 10 years old and full of wisdom. When asked on Oprah what the real meaning of her song, "Whip My Hair" was about, she answered with all the swagger in the world: It means being yourself and not caring what other people think or say about you. Sure, it's taken her just ten years (and two famous yet, in all likelihood, amazing parents) to figure all this out, but this is something that has taken me a good twenty-five years to discover for myself.
Growing up in a small, highly traditional community surrounded by people who were categorized by my parents as either good or bad for me, with nothing in between, it was hard to find my own way. The first truly rebellious act that I did was to dye my hair in streaks of blonde at the hairdressers, and convince my mom to pay for it as it would wash out clean the next day. When it so obviously didn't, and there was nothing she could do (to force me to dye it black would only destroy the hair follicle more), I learned the subtle art of figuring out who I was, piece by piece.
I became less "them" and more "me" when I decided I wanted to work abroad and did a tour of Southeast Asia in the process. I shocked my mom by living on my own above a nightclub in Singapore (which was fun but noisy). I went places by myself on weekends. I rented an apartment with a friend when I was in the US and my dad nearly blew a gasket when he found out I didn't ask his permission first (note that the apartment was just across the street from the dormitory he dropped me off in).
Of course the biggest thing I ever did was to ignore the common Chinese thinking of "following your heart", and while I still do not know where this road will take me, I must say each day on this trip makes me more secure in myself. It helps me recognize what exactly I am capable of, and it helps me recognize choices that weren't a possibility before, in my secure little bubble.
I guess getting to know yourself and following your heart just about sums up what everyone has to do in order to live a full life and truly be happy. It's something I would want to continue doing, what I wish my daughter will be able to do and what I hope everyone I know gets to achieve before they think it is too late. Small words but tall order, which is why it is amazing that a 10 year old sums it up in a truly catchy way.
Altogether now:
"Don't let haters keep me off my grind
Keep my head up i know I'll be fine
Keep fighting until i get there
When i'm down and i feel like giving up i think again
I whip my hair back and forth"
Growing up in a small, highly traditional community surrounded by people who were categorized by my parents as either good or bad for me, with nothing in between, it was hard to find my own way. The first truly rebellious act that I did was to dye my hair in streaks of blonde at the hairdressers, and convince my mom to pay for it as it would wash out clean the next day. When it so obviously didn't, and there was nothing she could do (to force me to dye it black would only destroy the hair follicle more), I learned the subtle art of figuring out who I was, piece by piece.
I became less "them" and more "me" when I decided I wanted to work abroad and did a tour of Southeast Asia in the process. I shocked my mom by living on my own above a nightclub in Singapore (which was fun but noisy). I went places by myself on weekends. I rented an apartment with a friend when I was in the US and my dad nearly blew a gasket when he found out I didn't ask his permission first (note that the apartment was just across the street from the dormitory he dropped me off in).
Of course the biggest thing I ever did was to ignore the common Chinese thinking of "following your heart", and while I still do not know where this road will take me, I must say each day on this trip makes me more secure in myself. It helps me recognize what exactly I am capable of, and it helps me recognize choices that weren't a possibility before, in my secure little bubble.
I guess getting to know yourself and following your heart just about sums up what everyone has to do in order to live a full life and truly be happy. It's something I would want to continue doing, what I wish my daughter will be able to do and what I hope everyone I know gets to achieve before they think it is too late. Small words but tall order, which is why it is amazing that a 10 year old sums it up in a truly catchy way.
Altogether now:
"Don't let haters keep me off my grind
Keep my head up i know I'll be fine
Keep fighting until i get there
When i'm down and i feel like giving up i think again
I whip my hair back and forth"
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Soothing Through the Familiar
We just managed to get the satellite connection up and running today, and it was a great treat to have some English channels available. Sometimes I think the move here has been a little too recent for me to really settle in properly, and of course having the comforts of the old home may not be helping, but they are comforts nonetheless. It was hilarious watching Gok Wan and his zany personality and incredible fashion sense, it was heart warming to see the winner of The Biggest Loser (UK), and it was oh so wonderful to be able to watch CSI:Miami again (although my favourite is CSI:NY).
There's something about being surrounded by the language you communicate best in while trying to fit into an area where you need to learn a new language to fit in, do business, get about your daily life. While language experts argue this might be a hindrance to learning the new vernacular, for me it serves as a security blanket. Right now I feel like a dead weight to Christian as he has to explain even the simplest eBay posting, so to hear something and watch something I can understand without any help is a treat. A great relief even.
I know that tomorrow I will have to throw myself into another unfamiliar situation, and of course it will always be intriguing to learn something new. However, for tonight, it was nice to be around something I already know and know I enjoy.
There's something about being surrounded by the language you communicate best in while trying to fit into an area where you need to learn a new language to fit in, do business, get about your daily life. While language experts argue this might be a hindrance to learning the new vernacular, for me it serves as a security blanket. Right now I feel like a dead weight to Christian as he has to explain even the simplest eBay posting, so to hear something and watch something I can understand without any help is a treat. A great relief even.
I know that tomorrow I will have to throw myself into another unfamiliar situation, and of course it will always be intriguing to learn something new. However, for tonight, it was nice to be around something I already know and know I enjoy.
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