That sounds like my mom. When visiting in California spend hours with an Mexican couple, that lived next to my sister.
I did the same as you, used basic words, with people who could not speak English. My sister would berate me for this. I would tell her we want to communicate, not give English lessons, that will come later.
You got two choices; sink or swim. Having things to deal with like moving to a new country builds character that is for sure.
Not being able to communicate with people was very difficult. You can tell people; me no speak English but what else can they do but talk slower or louder?
Lot's of people left Holland. Heck the governement paid. Do you want to go by boat or plane? Chose the boat. It took 8 days and food like on a cruise ship
Not everyone is willing/able to right away anounce they want to have a long term relationship. Some may just want to date at first but this could very well turn into a lot more.
Why can't you go someplace now? Australia and other countries are very big with back-packers.
I collect airmiles by paying everything with Visa. If you have a home or apartment you can do home exchange. I am in one. Then there is Evergreen bed&breakfast.
Grandpa is sitting on the porch in his rocking chair with no pants on. Grandson; "Grandpa how come you sitting here nakid and letting your wienie get cold?"
"Well grandson last week I had no shirt on and got a stiff neck. This was your grandma's idea"
The one thing I do in Dutch most of the time, is when I have to add a lot of figures. On purpose I don't use my calculator.
When in English something is forty three, the Dutch say; three and forty. I was the translater one time at a bingo game. That was fun.........not. After one hour I thought I has a pointed head.
I believe several languages turn the figures around.
Yes that was the worsed thing ever done by the governement. Scars that are still there today. Don't know who's "bright" idea it was to come up with that one. Re-educating the native people.
Now realizing what a loss is was to see so many of their languages gone, some forever! A blight on the Canadian governement for sure!
No there is nothing wrong with speaking in my mother tongue. Nobody to speak it with now. It is just that I now think in English and have to think at times how is this in Dutch again? I read two Dutch newspapers so keep up that way. So many new words have been added that I never learned.
I couldn't believe it, check it out. This Website is amazing. They actually have photographs of almost every School in the World.
Unless you went to School when cameras weren't invented, you will find a photo of yourself or at least your classmates. Click on the link below or type
it into your search line. You have to enter the name of your school and Year that you were there.
Kids in Holland today learn English in grade school but this was before my time. It surprises me too that so many speak English in their own country. Many programs from the US are brought to Europe.
Well Ambrose this thread has delivered mostly possitive responses. I went to school in Holland only to grade 8 so did not learn much of the Dutch grammar either. Took grade 10 English in night school, ended up with a B+ My Englishe teacher said that I must have been good in the Dutch grammar. When I told her I never got that far, she would not believe me.
One thing is for sure, you get to "know" someone on here. You see how they inter-act with others. You get to see a side of them you may never get to see otherwise.
Thank you Jeff for this grammar lessons. Your very good at explaining. I know I am making mistakes with the above. I am keeping this and printed it off.
hollandgirl Forum Posts (4,464)
Want to add wise sayings...........Ouotes etc?.............
Never marry just for money, you would be a bird in a golden cage, but it still would be a cage. My dad.First get the bird and then the cage.
Don't wait for tomorrow what you can do today.