Everyone here is speaking Spanish! It's one of those weird things that results from everyone learning foreign languages--they speak whichever ones they know. Therefore, I must improve / relearn my Spanish. For recap, my hallmates are: 1 Chinese, 2 Portugese, 1 Spanish, 1 Israeli, Me. And only the Chinese girl doesn't speak any Spanish. The Israeli is learning Spanish, the 2 Portugese sort of understand it (and since the Israeli & I don't speak any Portugese, we use Spanish when they don't understand English), and the Spanish guy is learning English.
So, not only (as my mother sagely wrote) does being in a foreign country just put you in the mood to speak something foreign, but also the processes of teaching and learning languages in general strengthen ties to old languages.
Like so:
In trying to teach my hallmates English, there's of course an exchange--and it's not just out of interest or even politeness, but out of effectiveness. I do my best when teaching English not just when I use lots of synonyms or describe the situation / context, but when I can translate a bit into Spanish. So you learn their language so you can help.
But also, in learning Dutch, there are intrigue and frustration elements that call to mind any other languages you've ever studied. This is because 1) learning a new language makes me want to understand how language in general works, and reminds me how structures and new pronunciations work in other languages, and 2) when we (the American Dutch-language students) don't know how to say certain things in Dutch, you'll find us using a combination of Dutch and Spanish--like, Ik vind la professora. Or, Ik was me--muy bien! I don't know. Things like that. Like, when we're learning and don't want to be speaking English, but we don't know how to say things in the new language. Ya dig? Does that make sense? So, I think there are those 3 things happening there. First, wanting to be foreign-like. Second, the teaching exchange process. Third, learning in general connects to and facilitates other learning (because of rekindled memories or excitement or a memory of how to learn languages in general).
¿Entiendes? / Begrijp je?
Ja.
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Anyway, my hallmates (well, flatmates) are AWESOME. We're establishing a weekly international dinner / movie night thing, where we each take a turn making a meal and showing a film from our home country. I'm super excited. We all mesh so well; we're like a family. It's only been 3 weeks, but I feel...I don't know. It sounds trite to say "at home with them" or "comfortable with them" but these phrases all describe the situation. We just mesh. We're like potatos for Thanksgiving. Anyway. They're all staying for the full year :( It's sort of a shame I'm not, too. I'll break up the family!
Also, an AMAZING thing about them--consideration. They are SUPER considerate (and truthful and honest & wonderful) and friendly, of course.
For instance: I hate cigarette smoke. So they don't smoke inside, and yell at their friends who do. Also: we make breakfast in the mornings and they ask, Did I wake you up last night? I came home late from a club and was really drunk. Was I too loud? I say, no, and they say, Are you sure? They're always asking everyone to make sure there aren't any communication problems or compatibility problems--something maaaaaaaaaaannnnny other housemates never do. I feel like we all genuinely want to get along with each other, not to cause any problems, and to make sure everyone's happy and comfortable in their housing situation. We don't want others to be kept up at night or not able to breathe. We watch movies, and I say, TELL ME to shut up if you want me to, because I'm a talker. Or, in the kitchen: if you want me to, tell me to shut off my music! And, of course, the proper response is--we're honest with each other. They're not angry with me when I say there's too much smoke. They really care about my response. I wouldn't be angry with them when they say to shut off the music (or my talking). And I wasn't offended when Pedro told me this morning that my pancakes lacked sugar (it was true). I like them.
Ja.
-----
Anyway, my hallmates (well, flatmates) are AWESOME. We're establishing a weekly international dinner / movie night thing, where we each take a turn making a meal and showing a film from our home country. I'm super excited. We all mesh so well; we're like a family. It's only been 3 weeks, but I feel...I don't know. It sounds trite to say "at home with them" or "comfortable with them" but these phrases all describe the situation. We just mesh. We're like potatos for Thanksgiving. Anyway. They're all staying for the full year :( It's sort of a shame I'm not, too. I'll break up the family!
Also, an AMAZING thing about them--consideration. They are SUPER considerate (and truthful and honest & wonderful) and friendly, of course.
For instance: I hate cigarette smoke. So they don't smoke inside, and yell at their friends who do. Also: we make breakfast in the mornings and they ask, Did I wake you up last night? I came home late from a club and was really drunk. Was I too loud? I say, no, and they say, Are you sure? They're always asking everyone to make sure there aren't any communication problems or compatibility problems--something maaaaaaaaaaannnnny other housemates never do. I feel like we all genuinely want to get along with each other, not to cause any problems, and to make sure everyone's happy and comfortable in their housing situation. We don't want others to be kept up at night or not able to breathe. We watch movies, and I say, TELL ME to shut up if you want me to, because I'm a talker. Or, in the kitchen: if you want me to, tell me to shut off my music! And, of course, the proper response is--we're honest with each other. They're not angry with me when I say there's too much smoke. They really care about my response. I wouldn't be angry with them when they say to shut off the music (or my talking). And I wasn't offended when Pedro told me this morning that my pancakes lacked sugar (it was true). I like them.
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