Okay, so I decided yesterday that all of my blog titles will be song titles. And yes, I am going from Barry Manilow to Cypress Hill. I can listen to everything from ABBA to ZZ Top, as long as it is not Country Music. Well unless it is Carrie Underwood. I like her. Otherwise, please shoot me. Can't stand the stuff! Most song titles will be easy to quote, unless the band is Led Zepplin. What the heck is a D'wyer Maker anyway? Is it Elmer Fudd trying to say dryer? Who knows. But that is what I have decided to do. Let's see how far I can get!
Hey! Speaking of Led Zepplin, I could have titled this The Immigrant Song! Darn it! It would fit too! I am from the land of Ice and Snow - Minnesota, so it could work. But, I don't scream as nicely as Robert Plant; just ask my boys. Oh well, I'm not going to change it now, so deal. You are probably thinking, what? You are nuts! Well, who you tryin' ta mess with ese? Don't you know I'm loco?
Yes I am crazy. Why? Because I have no idea what is going to come out of my mouth next. The television stations here are either in French, German, or Italian. I know Spanish and Portuguese. And English, usually. I am learning French now, and I learned German and Russian in high school and college. I know, you are so impressed, right? Well, I can remember 2 sentences in Russian. Menya zavoot Jennifer, My name is Jennifer; and Ya rabotayu v universiteyt, I work at the university. I phonetically spelled them so you can read it. That is it. Nada mas! I remember more German, and more is coming back to me everyday. Not helpful. You would think so, but it is getting in the way of French. And it is making my brain melt. Too many words people!!!!
The radio stations are the same way: French, German or Italian. We can figure out about 50% of the Italian since it is close to Spanish. But I get caught up in the accent. So cool! It's like when Ricardo speaks Spanish. I don't listen to him at all, just the accent. So sexy! He will kill me for that. Love you baby!
So, in the grocery store, to find a product, if we can't figure it out via the French name, we look at the German or Italian. (If you haven't figured it out by now, this country has three official languages.) We can figure it out by them. Of course since we put Google Translate (shameless plug) on our phones, we type it in, read it, buy it. Works well for us. It's when we get to the register, or I ask a question that I am screwed. Which language will come out first? Well, usually Spanish. Then people look at me like I am insane, hence the blog title. Okay, that didn't work so next English. Nope? Okay, what is the word in French? Got me. So I smile and say No Problem. Yes, it is the same in English and French. Lucky moi! My kids just roll their eyes. Or they say, "Wrong language mom." So when asked a simple question, I decided to blend the three. When did I decide this? No idea, they all come out at once. Si-yes-oui. (There should be an accent over the "i" in si, I don't know how to do that.) Si-yes-oui makes it easy, blend all three and someone is sure to understand. Of course the look I get tells me I belong in Bellview, but I don't care. I get that look at home all the time. Hopefully, the clerks will just think of me as the quirky American.
It is difficult to learn a new language, especially at my ripe old age of 29. Okay 35. FINE! 42, jeez you don't have to be so picky. Chillax much? It is supposed to be easier sooner or later. But I have too many words in my head for the word more - mas (again accent), mais, plus. What doesn't help is that "mas" in Portuguese is "but", whereas "mais" in French is "but". HELP ME!!!!!!!
My brain hurts. So much...
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