Britta's Letters from her life divided between city-life in German's capital Berlin and life in a Bavarian village

Friday 24 November 2017

Bungee-jumping at the FU Berlin?

©Brigitta Huegel


I agree.
This building looks as crazy (and funny) as my newest project. It is a building on the campus of the FU Berlin. Where I study now:
yes - since October I study at the Freie Universität Berlin.

"What?", you may ask, "what???"

I hope you ask what is the subject of my studies.
It is the philology & languange I think so very cute, surprising, powerful, studded with humour - and very, very sexy. I am speaking of Niederlandistik.
I love, love, love it.
3 times a week (and very early too) I learn to pronounce the "cchhh" and all the other interesting sounds, fricatives and spirants - and that, Dear You, is only the tip of the iceberg - I have to learn many many hours, and you see me mumbling Dutch words in the subway ("Ja hoor" - I use every occasion to practise).

As much as I love (and laugh with) Virginia Ironside, I disagree with her in one point (when she writes in "No! I Don't Want to Join a Bookclub"):

"But it is too late!" I argued. "That's what's so great about being old. You no longer have to think about going to university, or go bungee-jumping! It's a huge release! I've been feeling guilty about not learning another language for most of my adult life. At last I find that now, being old, I don't have to! There aren't enough years left to speak it. It'd be pointless."

She is 59 when she writes that.
C'mon!!!
I might agree with her on bungee-jumping (though last Sunday I danced together with other models for two hours over the catwalk; will tell you soon) -
but learning a new language is pure bliss!

A whole new world is opening up!



10 comments:

  1. We should all strive to learn as much as we can. I admire you for continuing your education.

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    1. Thank you, Emma - I try. I learn a lot about myself by it.

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  2. Good for you! When we lived in Geilenkirchen we shopped and played on Sud Limburg and I learned enough of the langiage to get what I needed. I admire your confidence and sense of fun!

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    1. Dear Pondside, thank you! So you have been very near to the Netherlands, and I am impressed that you can speak the language.
      I think very often of you, and hope that everything is alright. I miss your posts!

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  3. Understand.....yes. Speak.........very rudimentary!!
    It has been a hard year, my friend. Thank you for thinking of me.

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    1. I think that "understanding" is quite admirable, dear Pondside!
      I am sad to hear about the hard year - and will write to you in form of a letter.

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  4. I admire you so much for learning a new language Britta .... you put me to shame ! XXXX

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    1. Thank you, Jakie - but I think you do so many other wonderful things! Everybody has different top priorities - and we can do only a tiny part of the things we would like to do, don't you think so?
      "Had I but world enough and time..." . XXXX

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