I thought this was a pretty good article. Interesting that I’m more interested in stuff like this than in actually learning 😉
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/magazine/29language-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp
Eating verbs is cool!
I really need help.
English was about the only subject that I consistently did well in in school, yet I seem to have forgotten all of the technical stuff (like types and parts of speech). I hit a wall tonight while trying to really learn Italian (or by really trying to remember some english rules).
I’m still not clear on the best way (for me) to learn a second language. Is it just drilling words and their tenses or learning phrases or what (and does gender have anything to do with the best way to learn?).
Anyways I may have a tutor lined up. Which is to say I asked for some tutoring and the victim said yes she would. It’s just a matter of setting up a time. I have a feeling that I will be the worst student in the world. I was told by a german that I ask stupid irrelevant questions (that may not be the exact quote) when I was trying to learn German. And to be honest my questions were mostly irrelevant to learning the language. I seem to be more interested in etymology (word origins) and such rather than actually paying attention to learning new words etc.
Why is english considered a germanic language when it seems much closer (to an amateur) to latin/italian than german?
America happened?
It was 4 years ago this week (July 23rd I think) that I left the States for Germany. That seems like so long ago. It’s kind of a fuzzy recollection from the past. Like high school or living in Coos Bay.
Just something that happened a long long time ago. I did it. I’m done with it.
Ramblings…
Matteo asked me if anyone from the States had ever visited me. I said I think I’m the only ex-pat I know that’s never had a visit. Nice on me!
Next month it’s my ten year anniversary at the same company (sort of).
There is a tradition in Italy that on Easter you get a certain type of cake…It may or may not be called Columba…It wasn’t bad. It’s sort of a dry cake with some fruit inside. Easily edible 🙂
I asked PierPaolo to take a pic and he finally sent it to me:
You are boring???
That’s gotta be one of the most insulting questions one can be asked…I’m pretty sure there was a question mark at the end based on inflection. She was either giving me a chance to defend myself or she meant ”You are bored?”.
I guess it was a fair question. I really haven’t done anything since going to Rome in December. That was two and a half months ago. Fair question indeed. Just to prove I’m not boring I might change my theme again. 🙂
Strange though…This week I have a dinner party tomorrow night, a concert on Friday, and another dinner at the Mexican restaurant on Saturday (still searching for good mexican food in Europe). Holy crap…three nights in a row might make my head go bang. I’ll have to pace my socialism-ness over 3 nights. Not sure I’m capable anymore. Bit out of practice.
At least Cory Feldman is still alive eh? Guess those reunion movies are out the window…I guess they could still do ”Stand by me 2…STAND HARDER!!!” (btw partially filmed in Lebanon Oregon).
Perplexed by the weather this week. People in the states think the weathermen are wrong, but here it’s even less accurate. Microclimate indeed 🙂
I just wanted to tag “weather” (Matt’s mom: what’s a tag?).
I just wanted to tag Matt’s mom 😉
I’m finding I’m a bit reckless on the Vespa. Hopefully I will figure out how to ride it before I crash it 😀
This is epitomized by the fact that I have to look for the rear brake everytime I need to stop. I haven’t really memorized where it is yet…
Booked to Frankfurt for March 30th-April 12th. Should have cleared it with the boss first, but RyanAir (me: you suck RyanAir!) only had one seat left at their stupidly ridiculous price.
gloves and cool!
Made it home and back via the Vespa. It was really cold this morning and I wasn’t properly dressed. I have some old cotton gloves with holes in 3 of the fingers and I just decided today that they don’t work very well. In my head the ride would take about 2 minutes, but with the weather it felt like 2 hours. Will hopefully remedy this by next winter…
Added to to do list…
Also made a note to self not to use slang from high school as not everyone will understand me…
“I’m just gonna chill at home tonight”.
Vespas and the Rev. Horton Heat.
So today had to do something with my health insurance. Always an adventure to do beauracracy in a country where you don’t speak the language. The staff was quite helpful even though they didn’t really talk to me. They were not nearly as helpful to the homeless guy who came in right after me.
btw…why does everyone giggle after they say “American boy”. I feel like there’s some inside joke I’m missing out on…
As in “oh…so you are an american boy <giggle>”.
I also picked up the Vespa today. Thanks Piero!
Bit scary to ride at first, but after a few minutes not so bad. At least I didn’t kill it while trying to start from traffic lights. Did have to make my way through the crowd of youngsters hanging out near my flat. They didn’t seem to know that not getting out of my way was putting their own lives in jeopardy, but hey that ones not really my problem is it 😉
…and tonight was listening to the Reverend Horton Heat. Great guitarist. If I had a guitar with a tremelo would I be good? Is he the only guitarist that actually uses a tremelo these days?
He never looks like he’s concentrating or making any kind of effort.
at last…
I finally got some mail from the city hall (or something). It wasn’t the mail I was looking for. I’m still waiting for proof of my residence so I can buy a scooter, but instead I get some kind of bill for garbage. Great. They can’t give me something I need. Instead they send me a note asking for money. Nice job!
I’m going to single handedly keep you in the Euro zone by paying my garbage bill. I’m so important…
…at least they know where I live. I’m going to sleep good tonight.
oh…I forgot to water the plants
For me, watering the plants means pushing them out from under the covered part of the balcony to the uncovered part where the rain will fall on them.
I knew rain was forecast and usually when that’s the case I push them out. They get too much water and then go a couple weeks without water when I push them back under the covered part…
(I give that story a 0.0)
Had a flu for a couple days this week. I found out today that if you call in sick in Italy you’re supposed to go to the Dr. that day.
In DE you don’t need to go to the Dr until you’re going to miss your third day of work. This means I have to go to the Dr. after the fact and get a note. I’m still contemplating just using a vacation day because sitting at the Drs office for a couple hours doesn’t sound very fun.
(I give that story a 0.1)
It might snow in the next day or two.
(…can.barely……zzzzz)
Can’t say no to chicks with banjos…