Really. One of the new guys at work is reading the same children's book as me for his homework. He's only been in the country two months. I've been here several years!
I keep finding out that I've been saying things wrong all along. I do have a tendency to speak in advertising headlines. For example, when I've meant to say "oh, that's exciting" when somebody tells me their sister is coming to visit, instead I've been saying "ooh, the tension mounts!". Which seems a little over the top.
I'm still too shy to talk much Icelandic at work, although I have to say that I am rather brilliant at it downtown on a Saturday night after a pint or two. I once met Björky's son in a pub, who complimented me on my awesome pronunciation after I asked him what his social security number was (I think I was trying to ask his age, but got confused along the way). Complimented by the spawn of someone famous, that can't be all bad.
Anyway, I have sworn to do better with my language skills this year. Am fed up of being boring foreigner turning all conversations back to The International Language all the time (that's English, not football).
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I have been told I have a very accurate Swiss accent (for speaking German I mean, not Icelandic. Probably). Unfortunately, my grasp of German is very slim, not extending much beyond pullover, strudel, and blitz).
ReplyDeleteThis fact came caught up with me in Vienna one evening, when I was trying to get into an exclusive party. My friend, who was on the guestlist but not attending, had instructed me to use his name.
"I am Eric Kahlerhaus," I announced to the doorman with a flouirsh. He consulted his list.
"Apparently, you have already gone in. According to my list," he replied, being fooled by my accent into thinking I was fluent.
"Eric Kahlerhaus!" I repeated.
"Yes... If you could show me some ID?" Alas, he didn't say 'Papers'.
"Eric Kahlerhaus?"
I looked like a nutter.
there's this book by melanie griffith, hard, soft and wet (it's about early internet, not porn) and she wrote of her trip to iceland... it's hillarious.
ReplyDeletei have to dig it back up.
I got to your profile in a roundabout way that will take much too long to tell, but I have to say, I seriously doubt that you can beat me at pool, if you are not talking about the swimming type of pool.
ReplyDeleteNo JD, I'm sorry, but I will beat you every single time.
ReplyDeleteisn't bjork's son about 12?
ReplyDeleteit is 1996, isn't it?
*confused*
Horse doovers.
ReplyDeleteYou guys across the pond, I was told when I was in Stade several years ago by a guy so British he hyphenates his last name, don't even "...have to nominate your pocket...", meaning call your shot before you make it, else lose your turn.
Anybody that plays by those rules can IMAGINE that they can shoot pool.
It's kind of a shame that I will never be able to prove you wrong.