Well, our time here in DC is getting shorter. I'm still making progress in language class, though on some days the rate of progress seems considerably slower than others. Regardless, this has probably been one of the coolest things I've done since I've been in the military. It's great to get paid to learn about another culture and their language every day. Then again, I did like to study International Relations and the sort, so it might not be for everyone. The hardest thing right now is pronunciation. Danish is a really cool language, but it's just not easily pronounced.
Here are some things that might influence the difficulty of the language:
1) The Danish language has some extra letters and several extra sounds to throw into the mix: "Æ, Ø, and Å," are the letters we Americans sometimes see but immediately disregard as "those weird looking letters." I would tell you what sound these individual letters make if I could, but I'm not going to attempt it. Just know this...those little guys have their own distinct sounds that are in some way discernible to native Danes...and not exactly to this guy from Tennessee.
2) The Danes (and all the Scandinavians) have had centuries of using these sort of sounds, and they grow up hearing them from day one. So, when I try to sound like them, it simply sounds off. Sure, they can understand what I'm saying, but it just isn't quite right. This, I must work on.
3) Finally, the language uses a sort of tempo and rhythm, that if not adhered to, sounds off. If the stress isn't where it needs to be, you are wrong.
So, I will carry forward and do America proud. Random note (and another reason I think I will like Denmark): Denmark has the largest 4th of July festival anywhere in the world outside of the U.S.
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| My impressive dictionary collection. |
Yes...dictionaries are critical to the whole learning process. We have three varieties...none of which are all-encompassing. If you've never heard Danish spoken, or are curious, here is a glimpse of the language.
We've just started the ball rolling on our move to Denmark in addition to the daily class routine. We got orders (after some standard prompting), and I just shipped our car. This is our only car, as I sold the 4runner before we moved up to DC. So, we are doing the mass-transit thing until we leave. Our dog, Scout, senses some change in the air, and is especially curious at the sudden appearance of moving boxes.
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| The civic in all her glory ready to set sail across the Atlantic. Godspeed sailor.... (I'm not in the Navy so I don't know what they say before getting on a boat---probably something like "this is gonna suck"). |
Finally, we are in the home stretch of our "vegetable growing season" here at the apartment. Our yield so far: 0. We attempted to grow tomatoes and peppers on the back patio. The tomatoes were a total failure. We don't get much sun at all, so that might be the reason. That, or the fact that we picked a really strange tomato variety. Our peppers might bring it home for the big win, however. We may just have something before the movers come to take our planters away. We have around 5 jalapenos and 6 bell peppers to date growing on the plants. Enough for a few tacos at least.
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| apparently these turn red? |
Again, more monks--but at another shrine/temple in Chiang Mai
Sunset in Phuket, Thailand from our Hotel
My buddy on the beach at Phi Phi Island