My blog needs attention. I will be revising some previous posts over the next week or two and hopefully that will enhance its readability. Today I want to talk about my love of languages. In particular:

• Korean
• German
• Spanish
• French
• Japanese

The Hangeul Paradox

I have been actively working on my Korean. I can read Hangeul, which is the Korean alphabet. I really like it when I understand what I am reading but as with any reading, just because you can read it doesn’t mean you understand it.

Growing Up a Military Brat

I was born overseas due to my father being a military man. I grew up on military bases and was fortunate to live in other countries. When I was very young, I lived in West Germany, (this was before the iron curtain fell), I have photos somewhere of me standing at the wall that separated East and West Germany at the time. Although I left there a couple months before I turned 7, I remember some things from there. For a time, we lived off base and lived downstairs from a friendly German family. (I do not know their names or remember their faces.) I do remember the mom used to take me upstairs to keep me company and give me things to color, and at one time she gave me a toy (like a plushie but made of yarn) octopus. It was a bit itchy, not very cuddly but I loved that thing. Her daughters would make holiday treats for my older sibling and me. I remember for Easter we had an egg hunt in the back yard and the daughters made an Easter nest under the tree in the backyard. I remember it somewhat; it had candy and other treats. I think they left shoes with treats in them outside our door for Christmas too, but I was pretty young. Anyway, back to languages, they were Germans and spoke German and although I can still recall some German which surprises me.

I do not recall speaking it fluently.

(I do have an aunt who said I talked to my Austrian uncle in German when I first moved back to the states, I do not recall those conversations, my mom doubts them too, but who knows, my aunt swears I did.) But from time to time, I can recall some random German phrases or words and I can count in that language.

Bargaining My Way Through Central America

When I was a teenager, I moved to Central America and the country’s main language was Spanish. I already knew a little Spanish because prior to that and after Germany I primarily grew up in the southwestern US. By the time I left, I could do business fairly well (bargaining with the little shops or getting around town using local transportation.) I am not fluent by any standards but can often pick out words when I hear people speaking Spanish or can use what I do know to get my point across.

The French I Abandoned (Sorry, Madame)

What is funny is that the language I took when I was in high school was French. I did very well my first year and was in the French club and really enjoyed learning it. Then when I moved to Central America, I tried for year two. I was behind because all my classmates already knew Spanish and this was their 3^rd language or more who knows. I even had one of them tutor me and he said I know what I am doing but my grades didn’t reflect it, so I bailed on it halfway through the school year and took computers or something I don’t remember.

Passing Notes in Science Class: Japanese for Me, English for Her

While I was living in Central America, my high school, although the school was provided by the US, was an international high school. I made a friend there who was from Japan. We spent science class passing notes to teach me Japanese and for her to work on her English. We shared albums since our music tastes were similar. We spent time at each other’s houses, it was fun. I am in touch with her as adults and she is one of the reasons I want to work on my Japanese and go visit her in Japan. It would be fun take her and her family out for dinner or go sightseeing. I wish I still had those notes we passed back and forth, it was fun.

Yes, we should have been paying attention to the teacher, but it was basic science.

I can’t imagine how hard that school must have been for her and other students like her. All the classes were taught in English, and many of the students weren’t fluent in it.

We Aren’t the Center of the Universe

If I could be a polyglot that would be amazing. Knowing other languages helps you think better because Americans tend to think how the world is only from our point of view and don’t realize we aren’t the center of the universe.

Our realities aren’t their realities, and we should honor and respect that.

 We should learn about other cultures more than we do.

My Global Gaming Friends

Our country is very new compared to others. I used to play an international online game and made a few friends around the world from it. One guy is a lawyer from Turkey but lives in Denmark, another one from Malaysia, a few from the US, but it was very cool. I stayed online friends with a few of them and have much to their annoyance sometimes ask their opinions based on their country’s point of view. I won’t go into details as I stated on my first blog I will not get political on here, but I do enjoy hearing from points of view that are not central to what Americans think.

Now, Your Turn

What languages do you know or would you like to know how to read, write, and speak?