Love is a pretty awesome feeling, let’s admit it: not only to be loved, but to really love. I’m not talking in the romance sense, either. Just straight lovin’: friends, family, places, things, food, you name it.
I met my first German friend here at Oktoberfest. True story. Who knew you could walk out of one of the biggest drunk fests in the world with a new best friend, but it happened. Simon and I got along spectacularly at the Wiesn (did you know that’s what Germans actually call Oktoberfest?) and decided to keep in touch. The first time we spoke after our day at the beer tent was over the phone on my train ride home. I remember the two of us laughing at ourselves because the communication barrier was steel reinforced. Didn’t we understand each other yesterday? Oh, liquid language courage, you trickster! So, during the initial stages of our friendship we had our fair share of communication challenges. We understood each other, sure, but it became a personal challenge to completely express ourselves in more elementary terms. Then, one day Simon said something that really hit me:
You’ll never really know me because I cannot be myself in English.
It’s true. Despite considering him a best friend, I did not know him like I knew my friends at home in the USA. How can you truly know someone when they cannot express themselves the way they would in their mother tongue? Sure, maybe they can learn yours, but what about the sort of love that can’t reciprocate? You know, the loves that cannot learn your language? You don’t have to want to marry it (like that woman did the Eiffel Tower) - just that love you feel when you care, crave to know more, and want dig deeper.
I love Germany. It can’t love me back, I get that. But in order to truly love Germany, to truly know this lush green land of pretzels and punctuality, I have to speak its language. Translations are no substitute; words and phrases exist with no translation. In German, the word “doch” comes to mind. This simple word is wildly common in Deutsch, yet there are no words like it in the English language. I can’t even explain it to you now.
How can you understand a country if you cannot understand the people that make it what it is?
One year later, I can effectively say the language barrier between Simon, my other German friends, and myself is gone. I still cannot be myself in German, but my German friends can be themselves in English and it’s A-W-E-Awesome. When one person does not know the word, the other does and seeing others and your own improvement is a rad feeling. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of myself as when I realized I actually understand so much and when I put pride aside, I can even speak it! So here, language learning has provided me with another important love: love for thyself.
To sum it up: If you want to know someone or somewhere, and I mean really know, learn the language. Without really knowing, you cannot really love. When learning a language, you can fall in love with more, and who doesn't like that lovin' feeling?
My advice: Don’t wait six months to start learning, start today. Start before you get there. I took Spanish for seven years in school and made straight As but could not speak it. I’ve been in Germany for one year and am worlds ahead. Give it a try. You might surprise yourself, be proud of yourself, or even love yourself more, too.
Lastly, I find it kind of cool that I wrote this on the train to Munich to visit Simon for Oktoberfest. I've really come full circle in this country, yet my true experience here is just beginning.
This post is my personal entry for the Kaplan International Colleges – Inspire Language Learning competition. I appreciate your vote. Voting begins October 29, 2012.
57 comments
das freut mich!! Ich stimme 100% zu. Und jetzt vermisse ich DE :( Viel Spaß beim Deutsch Lernen! :D
ReplyDeleteNice post & seemingly straight from the heart. You will definitely get my vote, if I could figure out how? I clicked the link, but was unable to find a ballot. Help!
ReplyDeleteLove you, proud of you, miss you.
Love always,
Daddio
Thanks Dad! Voting does not begin until October 29.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Are you planning to remind your readers about voting, or shall I mark my calendar?
ReplyDeleteJust kidding.
Love you, miss you, proud of, and for, you.
Daddio
this makes me happy as i'm heading off to argentina for 3 months.
ReplyDeletei barely know anything but i need to put my embarrassment aside and just try it!
thanks for the inspiration!!
xo the egg out west.
Well you know you've got my vote and you know I am behind you 100% on loving language learning!!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more! I'm kinda proud of that fact that before moving to Mexico my Spanish was pretty much "hola." Now I can go to the grocery store, pharmacy, butcher, restaurant, gas station, etc and speak Spanish. And they understand me!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Everywhere I go, people ask me why I chose German as a second language. I just tell them that there's something about that country, and I've loved it since I was five years old - it only made sense to me to learn how to speak the language. I could go on for days about why everyone should learn a second language and experience another culture, but... I won't.
ReplyDeleteThat's the biggest frustration of the language barrier... people not really 'knowing' me. Gotta keep on learning and we'll get there :)
ReplyDeleteI love learning German so much. I had forgottem quite how much until my first lesson kn England again on Monday. It might be a bit slow outside of the country, but i would't be without it. I can't wait to talk to my almost inlaws and boyf as an equal!
ReplyDeleteOh I will definitely vote for you! I love this post! Sometimes I still can't really express myself the way I want to in English and then David completely misunderstands me. It can be tricky! And "doch" was one of the first words I taught David. He loves it and uses it all the time!
ReplyDeleteYou inspired me.. I want to learn Farsi. I can't move to Iran though. Any tips?
ReplyDeleteSuch a great post/ the infographic is awesome! I definitely need to brush up on my spanish skills!
ReplyDeleteugh. i know. i keep saying i want to learn french. i just need somebody else around that wants to learn to... and then other people who speak it to converse with me... and maybe Rosetta Stone ; )
ReplyDeletethat's good, from someone who travels a lot and obviously lived in a dozen of different places. Yes, language represents a race/country and there's nothing quite like being able to speak the language to get close to a race.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it the most empowering feeling to communicate with people in a language thats not your mother tongue! Especially when you know how how damn hard you worked to get there.
ReplyDeleteLOVED reading this post and can relate in so many ways.
you just sent another pangs to my heart.
ReplyDeletethat is so true!
What Simon said is so true. Sometimes even with my husband is can get tricky because he often thinks in another language. I've picked up most of it but I still have trouble. This post is so accurate in the way it talks about language and representation.
ReplyDeleteAlex, this is the best post I've ever read on your blog! It's so true, and I feel like that when posting in a foreign language. I can't imagine what it must be like to be married to someone without either one being perfect in the other's language. It's hard enough if you both speak the same language!
ReplyDeleteSomething gets lost when you translate, and there are thoughts and concepts that I can't convey in any other language!
Ha ha, and I totally knew that German wouldn't be among the sexiest accents ;-)
Books and a language partner? Perhaps theres some Farsi channels on that insane satellite of y'all's?
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring post. We just came back from Germany, and I soooo wish I knew the language!
ReplyDelete[...] Around BulgariaClaire :First Time TravelsChristina : Curious ChristinaKim : Becoming SevillanaAlex : Ifs And & ButtsPhilip : The World Is A Book …Jo :Life Behind The WallKieran :Film EnglishSam :Totally Sam’s [...]
ReplyDeleteVielen Dank Emily!! Voting has begun and you can go here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteHere's your reminder to vote Dad - you can do it here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI get ya - it's really hard to push the embarrassment aside sometimes! Voting has begun and you can go here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteTHANKS KIM!!
ReplyDeleteIt's so encouraging when you can see your own improvement. Thanks for commenting Kristen! Voting has begun and you can go here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteAnd look where it took you - to Germany on Fulbright. Just too awesome. Voting has begun and you can go here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteSo tough! It takes a lot to really be yourself in anotehr language. Voting has begun and you can go here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it! Thanks Sarah!
ReplyDeleteI have been so out of practice lately, but I love when I actually do sit down and learn some. Voting has begun and you can go here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it! Thanks Rosie!!
ReplyDeleteDoch is the absolute best, really! Thanks Katrin! Voting has begun and you can go here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteVote here shupoo! http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteOh I can't even talk about how poor my spanish skills are now that I started German. Voting has begun and you can go here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI would still love to get Rosetta Stone in German. Voting has begun and you can go here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteVoting has begun and you can go here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. Thanks Natasha!!
ReplyDeleteI love this!!! So well written. After what feels like eons of learning French on paper, I now live in country where they speak it and I finally have to use it. At first it felt like my head was spinning, but slowly, so slowlyyyyy, I'm getting it! Things just pop in my head in french without me having to translate them...learning another language is so exciting.
ReplyDeletethe only problem is that the bizarre west african-french accent I'm picking up probably isn't going to help me much in France...oops.
miss you! sending hugs, hope you win that super cool competition! you deserve it.
adios, ciao, au revoir, etc.
catherine
It's a super tough one to learn. Thanks Olivia! The competition has begun and you can go here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Anja!! And they are totally wrong, German is the sexiest of all :P Voting has begun and you can go here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Niken! Voting has begun and you can go here http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ and vote now. I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Antoinette! It really is the best feeling. You can now vote here! http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Vanisha! People's capacity to learn languages really amazes me. You can now vote here! http://kaplaninternational.com/blog/learn-a-language-blogger-competition/ I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteThis is brilliant. I love that "doch" comes to mind as an untranslatable word - couldn't agree more. English sooo needs a word like doch! And "egal". It's so much easier to just say "mir egal" than "I'm not bothered/I don't mind". I THINK I've voted for you, but the number didn't actually change so I'm not sure. maybe it takes time to update?!
ReplyDeleteYa I don't know - I think that keeps happening to people. Dang Facebook voting! Thank you though!! Egal is such a great example too!
ReplyDeleteI loved that one. Hope you enjoyed your time here ;)
ReplyDeleteI certainly have - it continue to be a really special place and experience for me! I don't want to ever leave!
ReplyDeleteI love this post! My husband and I moved here (in Deutschland) about 1.5 years ago, and I started to learn the language about 2 months before we moved. And now that you pointed it out.... The more I learn the more I fall in love with this country. We live in a predominantly American area here in Germany and many are so afraid to learn/speak so a lot of the Germans in the area speak English. BUT I notice that the Germans appreciate and enjoy it when I apply what I've learned and speak to them in German! :)They are also very patient if you try! I think also one has to be brave and just start speaking. If my pronunciation is a little off, I'll get corrected, and the next time I will say it right!! :)
ReplyDeleteSo good you are making the effort! I know how hard it is when most everyone can speak English and so many other want to speak English, but it never hurts to know another language and the more I find myself understanding, the more I love living here!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I always worry about having romantic relationships in particularly with people whose languages I don't speak well or in a language that isn't English (my native tongue) because I really believe peoples' personalities vary no matter how fluently they speak a language. Haha, also, one of my pet peeves is when I meet Americans (or anyone else, but it's often Americans or other English-speakers) abroad and they start telling me all about how things are in so-and-so country and I find out they lived there for x number of years but don't speak any of the language... how can you have an accurate idea of what's going on if you've only heard the stories from the people who speak English? And the English media? This especially irritates me when it's a country I've lived in :P
ReplyDeleteMy German still needs work but I'm trying! I can finally have a conversation, but I still really struggle with more complicated topics. Plus I think my sentences are all twisted half the time. But hopefully at the year point there'll be as much a lack of a language barrier as there is now for you! And thanks for the lovely article!
belle + compass
Isa, thanks so much for your thoughtful comment. My German definitely still needs a ton of work too, but I definitely feel like I know the country so much better solely by trying and listening. My boyfriend and I speak 100% english to each other, which is my own fault, but it's just still significantly better communication between the two of us than me trying out German.
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