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So about a month into the new year I figure, let's do some reflection. Looking back on 2009, I'd say it was quite the year.
I made new friends, lost friends, made friends I lost after a few months.
I've definitely been wrong about some people. Quite naive even.
But as they say we all live and learn, which is why I try to see everything, even the negative things, as a chance to learn. It's all about taking the negative things and turn them into something positive.
There have been a few people in particular that have found their way into my life last year, whom I'll never forget. Even if some friendships didn't last throughout the year.
They all added something to my life one way or another. And even after one of them screwed me over, I still try and see the positive experiences we had together. The joyful things we shared, the pain we shared. She was an addition to my life in a way. Maybe not always a good addition, but an addition nevertheless.
Then there also was the long-distance internet relationship I was in, which ended after 3 or 4 months. It was the main reason for me giving away my laptop. And boy, was that a good decision!
I didn't have a computer for about 5 or 6 months, and in that time I actually went out and got a social life. Mainly girls from work I've been hanging out with outside work, but it's fun and they're all really nice. I made a few really good friends even. =)
And then there was the parental unit. Ups and downs as always, and I'm still not sure where I stand, but it's in progress. We're all working on it and trying to make the best of it. That's all we can do for now anyway.
2010.
We've only been a month into the new year and already so much has happened that it feels like an entire year.
Made some more new friends. Lost one of my best friends.
And definitely most memorable so far. The armed robbery at work.
I wasn't there when it happened, but I've never been so scared in my life.
Eversince the robbery I haven't slept more than a few hours a night. So many thoughts going through your mind. Every morning I wake up scared, Every night I lay in bed thinking. Like a film being played in my head.
for now I'm going to have to leave it at this, but soon I might continue this reflectionn
Okay so I don't really know yet where I want to go with this post, so bear with me.
My native language is Dutch, as I'm from the Netherlands, but I have a deep interest in the English language and even more so in the differences between US English, UK English and Australian English.
Like, I never understood why there have to be so many (little) differences between those three. Where did that originate from? Who came up with that, and even more so: why?
What on earth is the purpose of US people spelling 'color', while British people spell 'colour'? Why on earth do British people write 'definitely', while (most) Australians write 'definately'. I, someone for whom English is a foreign language, find that utterly confusing and I cannot imagine how it can make sense to anyone (including people from the US, UK and Australia).
Maybe now some of you think something along the lines of "yes, but you're not in that situation. If English would be your first language, you'd probably understand." And that is a fair point, but I think the situation is kind of comparable to the situation with Belgium/Netherlands.
In the Netherlands the first language is Dutch. In Belgium they've got two main languages, really. The lower half mostly uses French (and many citizens there can't speak Dutch), whereas the upper half mostly speaks Dutch.
The Dutch we speak in the Netherlands is different to the Dutch they speak in the upper half of Belgium. It's not a massive difference, but there are differences. They have some words we don't have, they have certain expressions we don't have, they have a different accent. And vice versa. So I guess, in that sense it is comparable to the whole US/UK/AUS-English situation.
Also something I think about a lot, and that really bothers me, is the whole 'English versus other languages' thing.
I know this generation of people whose first language is English feel differently about it, but a lot of 'older' people, seem to consider it no more than normal that foreigners speak (proper) English. In turn that makes a lot of foreigners think that people with English as first language feel superior to others.
Now if we focus on the UK, I think I know what has caused this whole "English versus foreign languages" issue: the fact that English is the leading international language. In the world of business English is currently the leading language between enterprises from different countries, at tourist places it's practically normal to talk English [as a tourist], and so on.
-= on a side note: I once was in Amsterdam (which, for your information is in the Netherlands, so DUTCH is the official first language), and there are actually people who don't know any Dutch working in coffeeshops there. So I go into a shop, in my own country, and I can't speak my own language there because then they don't understand me. =-
So yeah, English is the leading language in communication between people with different first languages.
And in turn, THAT causes the English government to not do something which, in my opinion, they really should do: make one or (preferably) several foreign languages obligatory at secondary school.
But that's not the case. And because in other countries (e.g. the Netherlands), [some] foreign languages (including English), are in fact obligatory, it's expected that we speak English to English people. (at least that's how it feels).
I mean, if I, as a Dutch person, go to the UK, I have to speak English to the people there. That is no more than logical, I'd say. But if an Englishman comes to the Netherlands, they expect to be able to speak English with us too! You have to admit, that can come across rather arrogant. Don't you think? You see, I know it's not your (the English citizen's), but the government's fault for expecting practically everyone (i.e. foreigners) to be able to speak English. So in fact it's the government with the arrogant attitude. But I think that BECAUSE of that attitude the government has towards foreign languages, a lot of people in the UK don't realise that it's really quite amazing that so many people outside of the UK are able to have conversations in English.
Like it's been taken for granted.
I mean, I bet quite a few English people who read this post don't realise that it's actually rather admirable that it's in understandable English (at least for the most part it is...). And yes, I know that sounds cocky, but I don't mean it in a cocky way. I'm really only trying to say.. well.. look at it like this:
For me, writing this post in English, is what it'd be for an English person (who's had Dutch classes) to write this in Dutch.
Yet in general, it's considered more of an accomplishment when an English person writes an essay in Dutch, than it is when a Dutch person writes an essay in English.
I have to admit though, that in a way that IS true, but only because of English being the leading international language and (here I go again) the English government thinking it's bullshit to make foreign languages obligatory within the educational system.
And people aren't exactly helping to get this changed, as long as things are the way they are. I mean look at the world! People are only helping England to keep this arrogant attitude towards other languages...
> By far the most films that are released internationally, are in English. Countries where English isn't the main language will just have to add subtitles (or, as often -if not practically always- is the case in Germany and France, have them dubbed. Which is not smart either, but that's like a totally different story about which I could have a massive rant too).
> Within the music industry, majority of world wide hits are in English. Songs that are sung in a different language, usually only end up being hits in the countries where they speak that language. (And sometimes the surrounding countries, but barely ever in English speaking countries).
> Majority of stuff that can be found on the internet (communities, films, websites, etc), is in English.
> Many countries are like.. absorbing English words into their language. Some examples from the Netherlands: "weekend" once used to be 'weekeinde' in Dutch, now it's 'weekend'. We've got 'skateboards', we've got 'laptops', 'keyboards' (the instrument), and in sports there's things that have like a real Dutch name, but the English name for it is also commonly accepted into the Dutch language (e.g. penalty, corner, goal)
Anyway, don't get me wrong, I know full well that we NEED a 'leading' language, one language that can be spoken and is understood by majority of humanity. It's necessary for world wide communication. And quite frankly I really do not mind English being that language, in fact I like it, because I love English language. But I think the English government (and this also goes for US government and the entire story really also applies to the US. Less so to Australia, because as far as I know foreign languages get more attention over there.) should be more aware of other languages besides their own. In my opinion they should make at least one language other than English obligatory within the educational system. I think it's an addition to people's lives to be able to speak other languages.
Take a look at how they do it over here, in the Netherlands, for example. We've got at least one foreign language which is obligatory, and there are more, depending on which 'level' you do at secondary school.
I won't explain the entire system here, cos then we'd be hours further, but shortly said: we've got about 4 different levels, from 'low' to 'high': VMBO (4 years), HAVO (5 years), Atheneum (6 years), Gymnasium (6 years). Unlike in England these levels are separated from the first year of secondary school on.
and within those levels there are different 'profiles' you can do, depending on what sort of job you want in the future. (profiles that focus on chemistry/physics etc, ones that focus on economics etc)
Let's have a look at the languages that someone who does Gymnasium ('highest' level), with the 'culture & society'-profile (profile that has the most languages) has with the amount of years during which they have these classes:
*Dutch (all 6 years)
*English (all 6 years)
*French (all 6 years)
*German (last 5 years)
*Latin/Greek (Latin first 3 years, Greek 2nd and 3rd year; after that they have to choose which one to continue. So you either have the first 3 years Latin, and the 2nd to 6th year Greek OR all 6 years Latin, and 2nd and 3rd also Greek. Very rarely does one do both languages up to graduation year (so that'd be all 6 years Latin and last 5 years Greek)
And added to that, a lot of schools also offer the ability to take other languages on top of that. I for one, also did Spanish the first 3 years.
Wouldn't it be awesome if every country would do something like that?
Especially Latin is like... well I'd almost say it's a necessity to understand most other European languages. You see a LOT of European languages come from Latin. That's why French, Spanish and Italian, have the similarities they have.
Anyway I guess that's it for now.
I would would start about dubbing and subtitling films, but I won't bore you with that, after this rather long post.
In fact I'm surprised if anybody gets all the way through this post lol.
The lights are out and I barely know you
We're going up and the place is slowing down
I knew you'd come around
You captivate me, something about you has got me
I was lonely now you make me feel alive
Will you be mine tonight?
Take me on the floor (dadada da dadadada)
I can't take it any more (dadada da dadadada)
I want you, I want you, I want you to show me love
Just take me on the floor (dadada da dadadada)
I can give you more (dadada da dadadada)
You kill me, you kill me, you kill me with your touch
My heart is racing as you're moving closer
You take me higher with every breath I take
Would it be wrong to stay?
One look at you and I know what you're thinking
Time's a bitch and my heart is sinking down
You turn me inside out
Take me on the floor (dadada da dadadada)
I can't take it any more (dadada da dadadada)
I want you, I want you, I want you to show me love
Just take me on the floor (dadada da dadadada)
I can give you more (dadada da dadadada)
You kill me, you kill me, you kill me with your touch
I wanna kiss a girl
I wanna kiss a girl
I wanna kiss a boy
I wanna ...
I wanna kiss a girl (do ya, do ya, do ya, do ya)
I wanna kiss a girl (do ya, do ya, do ya, do ya)
I wanna kiss a boy (do ya, do ya, do ya, do ya)
I wanna kiss a (kiss a, kiss a, kiss a)
dadada da dadadada
dadada da dadadada
dadada da dadadada (oh)
Take me on the floor (dadada da dadadada)
I can't take it any more (dadada da dadadada)
I want you, I want you, I want you to show me love
Just take me on the floor (dadada da dadadada)
I can give you more (dadada da dadadada)
You kill me, you kill me, you kill me with your touch
Take me on the floor (dadada da dadadada)
I can't take it any more (dadada da dadadada)
I want you, I want you, I want you to show me love
Just take me on the floor (dadada da dadadada)
I can give you more (dadada da dadadada)
You kill me, you kill me, you kill me
Please don't stop!
For someone who loved me you really didn't care
For someone who needed me you were never there
So wake me, a memory is all I'll ever be
Erase that perfect world, the one you promised me.
You can't stop the speed of sound
You can't pour rain into a cloud
I never ask for miracles or even much at all
I thought you had the honest eyes
Turns out they were in disguise
Hiding a thousand lies
So don't you bother telling me
Through it all you couldn't see
Couldn't hear my helpless cries
Caused by a thousand lies
Regretfully I turned to you when the tears would fall
I would rather cry alone than to you who doesn't care at all
Oh it seems finally real to me
What you're feeling that's not love, only jealous
You can't stop the speed of sound
You can't pour rain into a cloud
I never ask for miracles or even much at all
I thought you had the honest eyes
Turns out they were in disguise
Hiding a thousand lies
So don't you bother telling me
Through it all you couldn't see
Couldn't hear my helpless cries
Caused by a thousand lies
This is the last time
I'll lie for you
This is the last time
I'll cry for you
This is the last time
I'll need you
This is the last time
You tell me to
Yeah....
For someone who loved me you really didn't care
For someone who needed me you were never there
I thought you had
Honest eyes
They were hiding, hiding
A thousand lies
Ohhhhh.......
They were caused by
A thousand lies.
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