Skip to main content

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

So I started out 2012 with just a couple of goals, both of which were around improving my physical health.  After that, I kind of forgot about adding to my list, and it's only been in the last few weeks that I have taken the time to kind of add to them.

Inspired by the Relief Society Pursuit of Excellence program, one of the goals I have added was to develop some skill in another language.  And I've been trying to figure out which language I should focus on.  Years ago in college, I studied German, and even though I enjoyed it, I never stuck with it.  And now that so much of business is conducted in Spanish and Chinese, I was thinking that maybe it's time I did something different.

So with this goal in mind and trying to decide on a language, I had an "aha" moment while I was watching "The Sound of Music" last night. Back in college, one of the things we did was learn some songs in German, as it was supposed to be a way to get you comfortable using the language. And ever since then I've remembered how to sing "Edelweiss" in Deutsch.  As Christopher Plummer (Oh Captain my Captain) started to sing it, all of a sudden in my head, I was singing it to myself, and actually thinking it in German and not English.  Believe me, that has NEVER happened to me before.  So I thought - there's my answer.  It was time to focus again on the one that I'm already somewhat familiar with.  

This morning while surfing the web, I discovered a site hosted by the BBC, where you can get some language skills FOR FREE!  Forget Rosetta Stone, or Community Ed classes, the BBC had me at the word FREE. The BBC site is now duly bookmarked, and I plan to spend some time on it each day for the rest of the year.

So  this morning, while I sat here sipping my hot cocoa (which I can now add back in to my diet being as it's September), I also went through one of the first lessons, which was on Introductions.  And now any visitors to Tracie's Holladay Inn can expect to see post-its with German phrases stuck around my house.  Here's a sampling:

Hallo, darf ich mich vorstellen?
Ich bin Tracie
Ich wohne in Holladay
Ich bin Business Analyst 
Ich arbeite bei Holiday Inn
Auf wiedersehen!


Comments

The Perry Family said…
What a great goal to have! I have always wanted to learn another language so you are inspiring me - perhaps it's something I could try out. I think German is a great choice for you!!! Love you!
September 2, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hi, my name's Tracie and I'm a Mormon. That being said, I've provided enough context for the conversation I had with the receptionist at work today: Christy: (Showing me a photo) What picture is this movie from? Me: Mmmm, Serendipity maybe? Christy: No...you should know this. Me: I should? Christy: (Finally) It's from the movie "Charlie"! Me: How would I know that? I don't watch Mormon movies. They're dumb. Now that I've let the cat out of the bag, I guess I should also confess that I also don't listen to Mormon pop music (other than the original recording of The Forgotten Carols), or read Mormon fiction. So sue me. Let's face it, it's not like most of them are of real quality anyway. When it comes to Mormon music, I'll stick with my MoTab and the hymns of Zion.
5 comments
Read more

New 'Do

For probably the last 10 years or so, I've had pretty much the same hairstyle. For the most part, it's been long, all one length, and I would eventually put it up in a ponytail almost every day, because I couldn't stand having it in my face. It drove me crazy, but I didn't know what to do with it, and at the same time, I liked that I could basically get up and go every day without a lot of effort. For the past several months now, I've been threatening to do something different and drastic, and finally, yesterday, I did. At the recommendation of Angel, I made an appointment with her stylist. It took several weeks to get in, but finally, the day arrived. Angel went with me, for moral support, and to be the photographer. I went in with some basic ideas, but after some consultation and looking at photos with Francine, this is what I ended up with. First, the "before" shot: In process: And finally, the finished product: I can't remember the last time...
6 comments
Read more

Triple D Divas Do Northern Utah

Last Saturday, the Triple D Divas met for a day trip get-away to Northern Utah - specifically Logan and Brigham City (with a little touch of Idee-ho thrown in for good measure). We started our journey with lunch at the Bluebird Cafe. Everyone knows about the Bluebird - it's about the oldest place on main street, and is tradition for anyone whose ever done a Logan Temple Trip. We went in to see the Logan Tabernacle, and I snapped this cool picture of the oragn pipes. (Of course, now that we're all in our 40's and have shrinking bladders, the Tabernacle also made for a clean and convenient potty stop.) ...Also a view of the Logan Temple spires from outside the Tabernacle...    From there, it was off to Glossner's Cheese Factory for some squeaky cheese. After that, we went to the Pepperidge Farms Outlet, and the girls all found some cookies and stuff.  But nothing really excited me there.  However, the outlet is located...
4 comments
Read more