Learning a new language while living in the country is like putting together a multi-thousand piece jigsaw puzzle. Every day I leave class, walk to the train station, and realize I can read one more piece of signage that I couldn't understand when I walked by that morning. It is the coolest feeling.
After two months of traveling, I've grown used to the fact that I just can't tell what things say. I can't read billboards. I can't always tell what a shop sells without looking inside. If it weren't for the pictures on the labels, I wouldn't have any idea what product I'm looking at in the supermarket. To look at a sign or a label or a payphone and suddenly and unexpectedly think "Oh! That's what it says!" is just so exciting every time it happens.
The most banal things trigger it - like a few days ago when I used the payphone. I've used the payphone at this hostel before. Every time, I pick up the receiver, drop in a coin, and it spits my coin back. I wait 5 seconds, drop it in again, and it works that time. The other day, as I picked up the receiver, I looked at the little screen on the phone and saw, as usual, the words Bitte warten. Suddenly, the mystery was solved, because I can now tell you that it's saying "Please wait." After about 5 seconds the "please wait" message disappears and it asks for 20 cents. Aha! I feel like a grown up, rather than a little kid bumbling around without any idea what's going on around me.
Other than going to classes, I haven't really been doing all that much. It gets completely dark before 5:00 pm now, so I've been trying to walk home some days and take pictures while there is still some light left. I've had to spend an inordinant amount of time trying to find clothes, as I have only one pair of jeans and two long sleeve shirts, in addition to a couple of jackets and sweaters. I hate shopping, but I need to at least find another couple of shirts and another pair of pants. I'm so sick of the pants I was backpacking around in that I refuse to wear them. The other day I spent about an hour in a 2nd hand shop and came out empty handed. It's so frustrating!!
I went to the Pergamon museum today, on an outing with my language school. My teacher is this lanky blonde german guy named Arndt, who reminds me of a great dane puppy - square and stiff by genetic design, but still floppy around the ears. The Pergamon is incredible - they have several large, ancient architectural salvages from around the world. The Pergamom alter and frieze is the most famous, but I think my favorite was the reconstructed Gate of Ishtar from ancient Babylong. From thousands upon thousands of tile fragments, the re-built (in the museum) the Processional Way leading up to the gate, the gate itself, and a section of King Nebuchadnezzar's throne room. This picture doesn't really do it justice, but it's the best I could find: http://www.arthistoryclub.com/art_history/Image:Pergamonmuseum_Babylon_Ischtar-Tor.jpg
After two months of traveling, I've grown used to the fact that I just can't tell what things say. I can't read billboards. I can't always tell what a shop sells without looking inside. If it weren't for the pictures on the labels, I wouldn't have any idea what product I'm looking at in the supermarket. To look at a sign or a label or a payphone and suddenly and unexpectedly think "Oh! That's what it says!" is just so exciting every time it happens.
The most banal things trigger it - like a few days ago when I used the payphone. I've used the payphone at this hostel before. Every time, I pick up the receiver, drop in a coin, and it spits my coin back. I wait 5 seconds, drop it in again, and it works that time. The other day, as I picked up the receiver, I looked at the little screen on the phone and saw, as usual, the words Bitte warten. Suddenly, the mystery was solved, because I can now tell you that it's saying "Please wait." After about 5 seconds the "please wait" message disappears and it asks for 20 cents. Aha! I feel like a grown up, rather than a little kid bumbling around without any idea what's going on around me.
Other than going to classes, I haven't really been doing all that much. It gets completely dark before 5:00 pm now, so I've been trying to walk home some days and take pictures while there is still some light left. I've had to spend an inordinant amount of time trying to find clothes, as I have only one pair of jeans and two long sleeve shirts, in addition to a couple of jackets and sweaters. I hate shopping, but I need to at least find another couple of shirts and another pair of pants. I'm so sick of the pants I was backpacking around in that I refuse to wear them. The other day I spent about an hour in a 2nd hand shop and came out empty handed. It's so frustrating!!
I went to the Pergamon museum today, on an outing with my language school. My teacher is this lanky blonde german guy named Arndt, who reminds me of a great dane puppy - square and stiff by genetic design, but still floppy around the ears. The Pergamon is incredible - they have several large, ancient architectural salvages from around the world. The Pergamom alter and frieze is the most famous, but I think my favorite was the reconstructed Gate of Ishtar from ancient Babylong. From thousands upon thousands of tile fragments, the re-built (in the museum) the Processional Way leading up to the gate, the gate itself, and a section of King Nebuchadnezzar's throne room. This picture doesn't really do it justice, but it's the best I could find: http://www.arthistoryclub.com/art_history/Image:Pergamonmuseum_Babylon_Ischtar-Tor.jpg
posted by Kristal at 12:12 PM
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