This was lovely, Troy. All that self-effacing humour; I knew you were British, despite the French porn star accent. 😊
This rings so true for me, the way those of us from the monolingual anglophone world struggle with languages. And I sympathise with your experience with that teacher. As a former teacher myself, I realised too late that I'm better off learning on my own.
Glorious stuff, Troy. Firstly, Bubba!! More photos of that wee cutie pie, please. And how did she know what a porn star sounds like? Is there a picture of the hat? And... love love this piece.
All very good questions. I ate the hat, didn't get any pictures. :D Bubba sends his regards, he loves everyone and everyone loves him. Thank you, my dear. xo
Loved learning about your multilingual background through this hilarious lens, Troy! I’ve had so many awful language teachers over the years as well but somehow still love it. I’ve encountered several language teaching colleagues who are on a different level — they make it fun rather than freakishly scary. Wish I had that as a kid.
There must be a fun way to teach languages that both children and adults could enjoy. In the meantime, I'm thinking of giving up on Spanish and getting ahead of the curve on Italian, our most likely next destination. ;)
A fun tale through your different language learning efforts. Witty and humorous as always. And I must say, having such a command over the English language — as shown by your writing — should count for something. And if not, at least there’s the eggs...
My thoughts exactly - although I've been informed my fried eggs, while quite wonderful, do not quite make up for my language deficiencies as I'd thought. What a world. :) Thanks Michael!
What a charm to read this 😅 Witty as ever, my friend.
If I lived in Spain or France or anywhere else in Europe that wasn't the UK then I would no doubt be feeling much the same. I tried to learn languages when I was younger, but just couldn't. I would actually love to be able to speak another tongue, but I fail. (I know a few words and phrases in Spanish, but that was because it was the only language at school that I took to with a fragment of ability; German and French went right over my head).
Congrats on your Sitgesversary! Also, that's a lot of festivals!!
haha Thanks Nathan, it really isn't for everybody! My great concern is that in fact I won't be doing much talking - the Spanish have so much to say, I'd probably be mostly listening... 🤣
I have a word for you my little Spanish grasshopper. Sacarina. You pronounce it with an interrogative tone and you will not have all doors open, but you will have your sweetener. Thank me later.
You crack me up Troy. Such ease and levity in the way you walk us through the bumbling adventures of (un)becoming bilingual. I agree, kids should be our profs on a lot of subjects, but especially language. The world with light up with rainbows and glitter.
And I need that hummus recipe. (In English please)
It was a different time, of course, two generations ago, people thought kids were stupid.
Here's a good recipe I've used: https://www.inspiredtaste.net/15938/easy-and-smooth-hummus-recipe/ The key is to scream "It looks like baby shit!" while you're making it, a tradition held over from 4th grade - my friend Jim said out loud what we were all thinking, hummus was an absolute scandal in 1979. 🤣
There's definitely something special about being bilingual or multi-lingual. The brain functions in a distinct manner as it decodes the richly diverse language structures in the process of receiving and delivering meaning. I am tri-lingual myself and I adore places like Montreal, Amsterdam or San Juan, Puerto Rico where multi-linguals thrive. More importantly, do they still have all those wonderful nude beaches in Sitges?
It’s the curse of most of us Americans being monolingual. We are the center of the universe after all. This was great. I envy your digs. ‘Merica is getting to be a little too much.
We came with no expectations, so we have not been disappointed. ;) Many wonderful things and people, and we do feel like our quality of life is a bit better here. Still, maybe not our forever home? We have our sights set on Italy next... Thanks Ben!
Hahaha love this journey! Keep it up you'll be dreaming in Spanish before you know it. (Expert tip for breaking out from replacing words like bricks in a wall to replacing the whole building - alcohol helps, weed does the opposite)
Don't drink, don't smoke, what do I do? ;) I really just have to start taking classes again and then I'll be mangling the language and offending everyone in no time. 😃 Thanks Shoni!
Just go to bars and talk to people anyway. Their drinking can help you too! To have a good accent, exaggerate like you're taking the piss. It will sound normal to native speakers.
Olympic View Middle School? I believe that’s the one I drive by every time I head to Whidbey Island to see my mother. Small world. I hide behind my wife’s language skills as well, especially in Brazil, but I can subsist on my own in France, thanks to a few years of college French.
The very one, up the hill from the Whidbey Island Ferry - we lived behind it on a little cul-de-sac out past the football field. My hell year. Still, it's a beautiful area - we loved visiting for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival north of there awhile back. Thanks Tom!
I have lived in a primarily Latino neighborhood in LA for almost 20 years and I am ashamed I can't speak Spanish!!! I always think I could learn if I just went to a country where it was the primary language, but now you're telling me it won't happen. Troy we are just lazy ass Amercans. We need to try.
A wise muppet once said: "Do, or do not. There is no try." According to my husband, 90% of the time people switch to English the minute he speaks to them in Spanish (and his Spanish is quite good!) Also, the local Spanish teacher sounds like a version of Nuha, and I am far beyond being crushed to bosoms, so I'm conflicted. ;)
Troy, you waffle agitator, you 😂 And Bubba!! 💛 Il est tellement beau, vous devez être très fier :)
Oui, c'est moi, fier... 🤪 All complaints may be filed with "Agents of Chaos - Breakfast Division." 😘🤣❤️
This was lovely, Troy. All that self-effacing humour; I knew you were British, despite the French porn star accent. 😊
This rings so true for me, the way those of us from the monolingual anglophone world struggle with languages. And I sympathise with your experience with that teacher. As a former teacher myself, I realised too late that I'm better off learning on my own.
I am an Anglophile at heart, perhaps the English in me is rebelling against the other languages on principle. ;) Thanks Jeffrey!
Rebelling against other languages is certainly very English 😂
Bwahaha, Troy. I do so love your mirth. And Bubba! And the perfect fried egg on toast. 🍳
Thanks Holly - Bubba is an adorable goofball, we got lucky. ❤️
I’m absolutely certain he did too.
Glorious stuff, Troy. Firstly, Bubba!! More photos of that wee cutie pie, please. And how did she know what a porn star sounds like? Is there a picture of the hat? And... love love this piece.
All very good questions. I ate the hat, didn't get any pictures. :D Bubba sends his regards, he loves everyone and everyone loves him. Thank you, my dear. xo
Loved learning about your multilingual background through this hilarious lens, Troy! I’ve had so many awful language teachers over the years as well but somehow still love it. I’ve encountered several language teaching colleagues who are on a different level — they make it fun rather than freakishly scary. Wish I had that as a kid.
There must be a fun way to teach languages that both children and adults could enjoy. In the meantime, I'm thinking of giving up on Spanish and getting ahead of the curve on Italian, our most likely next destination. ;)
Bellisimo!
A fun tale through your different language learning efforts. Witty and humorous as always. And I must say, having such a command over the English language — as shown by your writing — should count for something. And if not, at least there’s the eggs...
Thanks Troy :)
My thoughts exactly - although I've been informed my fried eggs, while quite wonderful, do not quite make up for my language deficiencies as I'd thought. What a world. :) Thanks Michael!
What a world, indeed! :)
What a charm to read this 😅 Witty as ever, my friend.
If I lived in Spain or France or anywhere else in Europe that wasn't the UK then I would no doubt be feeling much the same. I tried to learn languages when I was younger, but just couldn't. I would actually love to be able to speak another tongue, but I fail. (I know a few words and phrases in Spanish, but that was because it was the only language at school that I took to with a fragment of ability; German and French went right over my head).
Congrats on your Sitgesversary! Also, that's a lot of festivals!!
haha Thanks Nathan, it really isn't for everybody! My great concern is that in fact I won't be doing much talking - the Spanish have so much to say, I'd probably be mostly listening... 🤣
Heh, the Spanish do have a habit of saying a lot and saying it very quickly.
I have a word for you my little Spanish grasshopper. Sacarina. You pronounce it with an interrogative tone and you will not have all doors open, but you will have your sweetener. Thank me later.
Thank you Ana! There's a 99% chance I will forget that word by the time I reach the cafe. I hate to get my hopes up. ;)
You crack me up Troy. Such ease and levity in the way you walk us through the bumbling adventures of (un)becoming bilingual. I agree, kids should be our profs on a lot of subjects, but especially language. The world with light up with rainbows and glitter.
And I need that hummus recipe. (In English please)
It was a different time, of course, two generations ago, people thought kids were stupid.
Here's a good recipe I've used: https://www.inspiredtaste.net/15938/easy-and-smooth-hummus-recipe/ The key is to scream "It looks like baby shit!" while you're making it, a tradition held over from 4th grade - my friend Jim said out loud what we were all thinking, hummus was an absolute scandal in 1979. 🤣
Hahahahhahahsahahahahahahaha! The secret ingredient!
There's definitely something special about being bilingual or multi-lingual. The brain functions in a distinct manner as it decodes the richly diverse language structures in the process of receiving and delivering meaning. I am tri-lingual myself and I adore places like Montreal, Amsterdam or San Juan, Puerto Rico where multi-linguals thrive. More importantly, do they still have all those wonderful nude beaches in Sitges?
Cut to the chase, huh? ;) Yes, there's Balmins and Platja de l'Home Mort - plenty of sun, skin and hijinx to be had.
Last time I was in Spain, everyone spoke English in Pollensa, if it hadn't been for the 50 degrees Celsius, I could have sworn I was in the UK.
I still remember coming to France in 2004, not speaking a word of French... oh la la!
It's very bilingual in/around the tourist areas - but step past the safe zone, and you'll get a lot of sighs and eye rolling. 🙄
It’s the curse of most of us Americans being monolingual. We are the center of the universe after all. This was great. I envy your digs. ‘Merica is getting to be a little too much.
We came with no expectations, so we have not been disappointed. ;) Many wonderful things and people, and we do feel like our quality of life is a bit better here. Still, maybe not our forever home? We have our sights set on Italy next... Thanks Ben!
Hahaha love this journey! Keep it up you'll be dreaming in Spanish before you know it. (Expert tip for breaking out from replacing words like bricks in a wall to replacing the whole building - alcohol helps, weed does the opposite)
Don't drink, don't smoke, what do I do? ;) I really just have to start taking classes again and then I'll be mangling the language and offending everyone in no time. 😃 Thanks Shoni!
Just go to bars and talk to people anyway. Their drinking can help you too! To have a good accent, exaggerate like you're taking the piss. It will sound normal to native speakers.
Speaking a foreign language is as much a work-out for your mouth and tongue as it is for your brain.
Olympic View Middle School? I believe that’s the one I drive by every time I head to Whidbey Island to see my mother. Small world. I hide behind my wife’s language skills as well, especially in Brazil, but I can subsist on my own in France, thanks to a few years of college French.
The very one, up the hill from the Whidbey Island Ferry - we lived behind it on a little cul-de-sac out past the football field. My hell year. Still, it's a beautiful area - we loved visiting for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival north of there awhile back. Thanks Tom!
I have lived in a primarily Latino neighborhood in LA for almost 20 years and I am ashamed I can't speak Spanish!!! I always think I could learn if I just went to a country where it was the primary language, but now you're telling me it won't happen. Troy we are just lazy ass Amercans. We need to try.
A wise muppet once said: "Do, or do not. There is no try." According to my husband, 90% of the time people switch to English the minute he speaks to them in Spanish (and his Spanish is quite good!) Also, the local Spanish teacher sounds like a version of Nuha, and I am far beyond being crushed to bosoms, so I'm conflicted. ;)
Cute! I'll take a gofre and a fried egg on toast please!
Coming right up, Señor!
At least you got Señor right and didn't call me a senior. Progress!