The Immediate Linguist

Several years ago, I visited a friend in Berlin. It was such a fascinating city to me, full of history and different cultures all crowded into one place. I think it would be an exciting place to live some day. If I could instantaneously know a language, I think it might be German.

Mark Twain wrote an essay about "That Awful German Language," bemoaning how impossible it is to learn. I have tried to understand a little bit of the language and would agree that it is complicated. It could be so useful to just wake up one day and know it without any studying required! My husband studied German years ago and has a mind like a sponge, so he remembers a lot of it. If I knew German, he and I could converse with our German friends and, some day, maybe move to Berlin to work with our friends there. There are a lot of other countries that use German as well. It would have been so helpful to know it when I lived in Hungary! It may be a complicated language, but I think it would be worthwhile to know.

Look in the sky!

My superpower of choice is flying. While I can see the allure of invisibility, I think that the gathering of secrets and the ability to go where I should not go would be a corrupting influence. It certainly wasn't a helpful power for Gollum in Lord of the Rings. Super strength would be great if I had another power, but on its own it actually seems a bit weak. Sure, I could hold up the bridge to keep it from falling, but if I can't fly to get to the middle where it's collapsing in, what use is my strength? Sure, I could bat together alien robots with my pinky finger, but if I don't have the speed to catch them, what use is my strength? No, the best power for me is flying. First stop: Hawaii at sunset!

It tastes like chicken!

I think the adventure of food and travel go hand in hand. If you want to learn to appreciate a new culture, you have to try the local food. I love food and I love to travel, so this is a great combination for me. I'll try almost anything once (to be polite and to say that I tried it), but after that, I give myself permission to respectfully decline if it is not something I really enjoyed.

Several years ago, I went to Ecuador with friends. As we drove around Quito and other cities, we noticed a strange meat being cooked on rotisserie over the fire. Later, we learned that they were guinea pigs or "Cuy", which in many American families is considered a favorite little furry pet. Before I left Ecuador, I was determined to find my courage and try the local Cuy cuisine.

One night on the trip, we went to a nice restaurant where they brought us Cuy which was elegantly displayed on a platter. Everyone kept saying, "It tastes like chicken." I took a bite, and sure enough, it did taste like chicken . . . and then it definitely did not taste like chicken! It was greasy and sticky and had a weird aftertaste that I did not enjoy. So now I can say I have eaten guinea pig and that I experienced something special in Ecuadorian culture, for which I am grateful. I can also tell you that guinea pig is not particularly my favorite, but that does not stop me from trying new exotic foods in the future. You never know what you will like until you try it. Besides, eating is part of the adventure.

Introductions

Hi, class! I'm the quiet blonde American who sits in the front of your class. As you probably figured, I'm not an English student. Currently, I'm studying for my MA TESOL at Biola University so I can be an English teacher. This summer, I am doing my practicum and student-teaching. I'll be observing the class and our wonderful Professor May. I'm also looking forward to teaching a few times to gain more experience. We all have to practice to learn, right?

I decided to become an English language teacher after living in Europe. When I lived there, I studied Hungarian and French for my work and for getting around in life. It was so hard, both to learn the languages and to live in a new culture that I didn't really understand. Even though the experience was challenging, it was wonderful. I learned so much and really enjoyed interacting with people from all over the world. Now I have a lot more compassion and respect for people who study English! In fact, it made me want to become a teacher.

Now, my husband Brad and I live in Brea. We miss our life in Europe, especially in Switzerland where we loved to travel, ski, hike, and enjoy time outdoors with friends. Our family is here in California, so now we like to hang out with them. We just bought a house, so these days we are busy unpacking boxes and trying to figure out how to take care of the yard. It's been great having family nearby to help us.

So that's a little bit about me. I look forward to reading your blogs and getting to know you better this summer in class!

Beginnings

The first post in a new blog is both daunting and refreshing. I think the blank page can be overwhelming as I consider where to begin amid my many thoughts. On the other hand, it is invigorating to have a space to ponder new thoughts, practice new approaches in my writing and pretend I have an audience who hangs on my every word. Oh, to be such a writer. We all have to start somewhere, so let the practice begin!