Laughable Languages: Funny Phonology, Strange Semantics, and Other Adventures in Foreign Language Acquisition
I should start this article by apologizing for the technical terms in the title. Now in my final semester as an undergraduate student, I made the dubious decision to take a class that meets twice a week at 8am for two hours. For linguistics, however, I was willing to sacrifice two of my mornings (I know, I know, in the real world most people have to get up for their jobs before I usually get up for class). I was perhaps unduly excited when... Read More
Toilet Entrapment
Bathroom etiquette can be one of the most challenging aspects of traveling abroad, yet it seems to be one of the least commonly discussed topics. Maybe writers are just squeamish about getting down and dirty with human necessities. Not I! I knew going to Morocco that bathrooms would be one of the many challenges I would face on a daily basis. During my research about the country I came across the term “Turkish toilets” for the first time ever.... Read More
Blondes Have More Fun?
Thanks to the good people at Mattel for making the lives of blondes everywhere a little more complicated. As a young, blonde woman, I get attention from sleazy men everywhere. I’ve been whistled at my whole life, and I’ve tended to take it as a compliment—well, a creepy, unwanted compliment. In Beirut, Lebanon, things are no different. On my way to the store today I must have gotten four “Oh-my-God!”s, kissing sounds, or whistles in the... Read More
The Road Less Traveled
http://www.joondalup.wa.gov.au/explore/libraries.aspx Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. -“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost (1874–1963) We’ve all heard this famous Robert Frost poem a thousand times, or at least at every school convocation and graduation we attend. Over the last century, this poem has been used symbolically... Read More
Translation Please?
Ehhh? Though there was no language barrier here, this pretty accurately represents the confusion that occurred multiple times while I was abroad! At the start of my time in London, most of my flatmates agreed that a dinner all together was a good plan. The other American in the flat and I were fans of Tex-Mex and fajitas were our meal of choice. Plus, we had to show our new flatmates what real fajitas should be like! Packaged fajita seasoning just... Read More
Street Bike Etiquette around the world
Photo courtesy of londoncyclist.co.uk Paige Green shares her cycling experience from around the world: Some of the great things about travelling are, of course, meeting new people, learning about new cultures, trying new food – but I always get excited about figuring out how to get around town. Every country, every city has its own unique rhythm and it’s so invigorating to get caught up in the hustle and bustle on the streets of New York,... Read More
Learning to Teach in Ghana, part 2
The Tuskegee International School, where I would be teaching for the duration of my stay, seemed to be barely a school at all. Surrounded by tall walls painted with murals of children in classrooms, the interior of the school compound was nearly empty. From the entrance to the compound you could see into nearly all of the classrooms because most of them did not have walls, just bamboo and steel rods supporting the roofs. The classrooms formed... Read More
Milestones- Breaking Wind and Breaking Through
The most obvious milestone in my life occurred just weeks ago, when I moved to South Korea armed with a Lonely Planet guide, Korean-English dictionary, and no friends within 6,000 miles. I could talk endlessly about the triumphs and countless fails I have faced since moving to Seoul, but this milestone, while obvious, is not the most significant in my life. I will take you instead to 2006, as I lay laughing a small, Russian city named Veliky Novgorod. It... Read More
Bridging Worlds
The VIP Grand Hotel Lisbon, courtesy of http://www.splendia.com At the hotel, Kevin sits alone at the dinner table for six. He’s from Scotland and he’s never been to São Tomé before. We don’t know this, though, when we first sit down with him- four of us to fill the table up better. He is quiet, he eats quickly but at the same time he eats slowly and spreads his food around and studies it. He doesn’t look up. The three Portuguese... Read More
Escape to the Country
Ah, the countryside! It was a very welcome relief to get away from noisy and dirty city to the wide-open spaces of rural Morocco. However, after spending last week with a family in the countryside of Morocco, I must say that everyone lives in a different way, and some ways are more different than others. As I walked down the long road to my new home with the my new homestay father that first day, I felt at home in the open spaces and beauty around... Read More
