The coolest thing...
... about finally getting my Swedish to a decent level isn't that I can browse most Swedish websites without needing to consult a dictionary or Edward for help every 5 minutes.
It isn't that I can now understand the announcements made over the train's speakers (although it's nice to know that when an emergency happens I won't be the only clueless person wondering why everyone's getting off at Karlberg).
It isn't that I can chat with Annika's teacher about how her day went without resorting to English and body language (my prepositions are still all wrong, but she's nice enough to pretend not to notice).
It isn't even that I can watch an English DVD with the sound turned off, and understand the movie just by reading the Swedish subtitles.
The coolest thing is finally able to eavesdrop and know what the people sitting beside me on the train are talking about :P
Recently overheard this:
Little old lady (LOL), probably 70+ years old: After reading all the magazines, I have finally decided that I want to go to Thailand.
Tired-looking old man (TLOM) sitting across from her holding her hands: Ah. Why Thailand?
LOL: Oh, everyone says it's fantastic and I want to go someplace exotic.
TLOM: (sighs, getting more tired by the minute) But isn't it so far away?
LOL: I don't care. We never get to travel, I want to travel.
TLOM: Isn't it expensive? Can't we go someplace nearer?
LOL: It's not so expensive. People with less money than us can afford it. I want to go to a warm place with a different culture.
TLOM: But many Swedes go to Thailand for a vacation. If we go there and see our neighbors on the beach, it won't feel like we are really on vacation.
Tama nga naman si TLOM di ba? Anong klaseng bakasyon yun kung makikita mo din lang ang mga kapitbahay mo, mga ka-trabaho mo (na gusto mo ngang takasan in the first place)? :D
It isn't that I can now understand the announcements made over the train's speakers (although it's nice to know that when an emergency happens I won't be the only clueless person wondering why everyone's getting off at Karlberg).
It isn't that I can chat with Annika's teacher about how her day went without resorting to English and body language (my prepositions are still all wrong, but she's nice enough to pretend not to notice).
It isn't even that I can watch an English DVD with the sound turned off, and understand the movie just by reading the Swedish subtitles.
The coolest thing is finally able to eavesdrop and know what the people sitting beside me on the train are talking about :P
Recently overheard this:
Little old lady (LOL), probably 70+ years old: After reading all the magazines, I have finally decided that I want to go to Thailand.
Tired-looking old man (TLOM) sitting across from her holding her hands: Ah. Why Thailand?
LOL: Oh, everyone says it's fantastic and I want to go someplace exotic.
TLOM: (sighs, getting more tired by the minute) But isn't it so far away?
LOL: I don't care. We never get to travel, I want to travel.
TLOM: Isn't it expensive? Can't we go someplace nearer?
LOL: It's not so expensive. People with less money than us can afford it. I want to go to a warm place with a different culture.
TLOM: But many Swedes go to Thailand for a vacation. If we go there and see our neighbors on the beach, it won't feel like we are really on vacation.
Tama nga naman si TLOM di ba? Anong klaseng bakasyon yun kung makikita mo din lang ang mga kapitbahay mo, mga ka-trabaho mo (na gusto mo ngang takasan in the first place)? :D