Share Your Light

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When English takes over…

August 27, 2015•English, Erika Kind

Lately, I started a random series about my adventures with the English language in a world that speaks German. English has become a part of my life when we moved to Buffalo 17 years ago. A few years after we were back again I started a daily email conversation with my best friend for quite a while who lives in California.  Since May 2014 I am running this blog and my daily working hours on it are increasing. Meanwhile, I can say that I spend 90 percent of my time in English rather than in German. That can be a little tricky…

Was that German or English???

When we lived in Buffalo some words I needed more in English than in German. For example, when I did my shopping list, I did it in English. It became a habit that I used some words only in English without even thinking about it. I did not even differ. Often I also did not remember if I had read something in an English or German magazine. It simply didn’t matter. But sometimes it did!!!

Back in 1999 my mom and my grandmother visited us in Buffalo. On their first evening, we went for dinner. My grandmother could not speak a single word of English and I translated the menu for her into German: “This pizza has ham, bacon, tomatoes, and mushrooms on it.”

“Ok, again, there is ham, bacon, tomatoes, and mushrooms, on it!” “What is on it?”, my grandmother asked again. You all know that I am not the most patient one. I told her a third time what this stupid pizza had on it, already a little bugged out.  Then my grandmother asked: “But what’s “mushrooms”?” Was she kidding me, or what? “You cannot tell me you don’t know what mushrooms are! You are 72 years old and have cooked all your life!” I felt the heat slightly raising up in my face.

My grandma was surprised that I got angry and looked at me with big eyes:

“But I don’t understand the word mushrooms.” (Oops, sorry grandma!)

In Love and Light!

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The purpose of my blog is to inspire and shine a light on the beauty and power of the wonderful being inside your body. You came into this world to share what only you can give. Remember who you really are, conquer the world the way you always wanted to, and become the blessing to us all that you were meant to be.

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93 Comments

These are all great ways to learn a language. Of course, on one hand I think anyone who can learn a second language should be commended. On the other hand, I get frustrated with people who live in America and do not speak English. Then I see them at home and all they speak is their native language. They should take a tip from you and integrate it more into their personal lives.

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I basically think that everyone should learn the language of the country they live in. Otherwise they can never really feel home. I could speak English very well before we went to Buffalo due to my business edudation. But of course that was theory. I learned so much through the practice and most of all here on WP. I love it totally!

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It’s amazing that you have mastered the language to the point you have. Over here there are some ethnic groups who insist on speaking their own language and making their own community to the point where they don’t like or except Americans. They are so prevalent in our community that sometimes it’s hard for my kids to make friends because their parents won’t talk to me.

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Same over here. Most of all with the Turkish people. One of the group is able to speak German and organises everything. Most of all the women don’t speak the language. Yes, it is always a big challenge for the kids to be accepted and to follow in school.

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I’m commend you, Erika. I speak only one language and don’t always have a grasp of it. If anyone were to read your blog, they would not know that it’s not your native tongue. And by the way, I will never, ever, question what you put on pizza. Ever. 😀

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LOL… You would definitely understand me better than my grandma did.. haha. You know the funny thing is, that there never slipped a German word into my English but always English into my mother tongue… so funny. I love it 😀 Did you read my first story when I started reading the German words in English? I got completely confused because it had different meanings… lol

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Lol Erika. I don’t know how people do it I know quite a few people that speak a different language. What always amazes me ìs when they are having a conversation how they can just slip from one language to another so easily I have trouble getting to grips with just one☺

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Wow I’ve found that throughout the world though erika although English is the most common language as a nation we are generally lazy to other languages. Most foreign nationals I know can speak at least 2 or 3 different languages☺

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That’s right, English is the most important language to me too. When I went to school French was more important due to the closeness to Switzerland. Meanwhile English is first place but French is still a required subject over here. And I leanred a little Italy too. I know the basics, my French knowledge help a lot there too.

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At school here we do French and German. But it is not compulsory as we get older and doesn’t seem to be a subject that interests alot of people

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You had the best opportunity to learn English, Erika, by being immersed in it in your living situation. When we read your blog, it is hard to imagine that you are anything but a native English speaker. That’s impressive. ☺

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Thank you, Van, but I alredy could speak English before I moved to Buffalo. I learned it in school and later business English in the professional school. I improved a lot since I am here on WP because I am reading and writing English all day long. All of the 90 poems I wrote this year were English. And that all although I am living in a German language.

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I had very similar experiences since my first language is Spanish. Although German and English are closer than the latin languages and English, I still had and have moments exactly as the one you’ve described. I now speak a form of Spanglish when I’m speaking Spanish because for every 5 words in Spanish I throw in an English word. I don’t even realize that I do it until my kids make fun of me and piece together what I’m saying by the English words they catch.

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Haha… did you ever learn German? That’s confusing… lol. It is rather that I use more English (and specific English) words than German words. I don’t even differ between them. There is a switch inside that simply turns depending on what I need 😀

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You situation is a lot different than what I am about to comment about.
First off, I only know one language and I have trouble remember how to speak it.
I did take 2 years of Spanish in High School but never really got it.
So I can only understand how you must have felt at that particular moment with your grandma and the word “Mushroom”. When the light bulb came on.
You may already know this :
My name is Debbie. Debra Sue…..Debbie Sue Deb……I love it
I high school there were more Debra’s Deborah’s Debbie’s Debby’s add the Sue and you get the picture. One day My then boyfriend turned best friend to this day: Jokingly asked me what I wanted to name our first daughter. I said Sarah Elizabeth. No hesitation.
Dan started calling me Sarah and it stuck for a few people.
My mother hated it,. I am sure she always hated it.
When Danny and I first met though my son….for some reason , Bobby told him my nick name was Sarah.
I will never know why.
So To Danny I am Sarah. Always.
So im Florida I am Sarah….I am Sarah almost all the time now.
No one here besides Danny knew Bobby. They forget about him.
My whole life changed.
There is a point to all of this.
I have easily gone back and forth. Instantly being Debbie with my parents or family. Always, It is WHO I AM.

I thought I would never have a problem with it. With my Identity.
I love both Debbie And Sarah.
Then I went back to Illinois where I was born and raised . I instantly was Debbie again…..
Except when Danny called. He always asked for Sarah unless he was talking to my Dad….
Sometime my sister.
Yet, I felt apart from everything and everyone. My life had changed, .
Bobby wasn’t there….I wasn’t mom.
It wasn’t my home as much as it had been.
But I was ok.

Then I took the bus back home . I needed the time to unwind.
To become Sarah again. It was a conscious thought.
I didn’t completely make the switch at first …..2 different times when I
Reversed the phone charges And was asked who was calling I said Debbie.

I didn’t even realize it until Danny asked me if I was ok.
I did it again later on. This time I caught myself.

It took awhile for me to be comfortable again.
To this day: I struggle. Not with the NAME but Who I am.

Inside.
Does that make any sense as to why I connected to this post like I did?
Debbie Is Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Niece ….
Teacher
BOBBY’S MOM

Sarah is Danny’s Wife, Blogger, Volunteer
AND STILL BOBBY’S MOM

And not happy with either life right now…but I am getting there.
Awesome post Erika. Sorry this comment was so long.
Sarah

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Wow, that truly is an awesome story, Sarah. I will call you Sarah, since your blog has that name too. There must be profound things you identify rather with Sarah than with Debbie and vice versa. And I don’t think it is the people. It is aspects of you which are divided in both persons. In the end you need you don’t need to decide between the two but to embrace both: Sarah when you are Debbie and Debbie when you are Sarah. It is all part of you and only both make you whole. What about a double name or a name which kind of includes both? That is very confusing and I totally understand and it definitely makes sense. I appreciate it a lot that you told that so openly. Thank you for that. Big hugs to you, Sarah 🙂

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Changing languages is obviously confusing. Changing names raises numerous complications (per above). I decided to change my signature many years ago. The idea seemed good but my timing was bad. I made the change after I had my passport to come to Canada, but before I arrived! Canadian Immigration looked at my passport signature, and compared it to a document that I had just signed. It took a long time for me to clear immigration!

So I guess change is good and interesting, but it does have its complications! 🙂

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