I feel like I’ve moved into the “it’s all Greek to me” mode in trying to learn this language. In Greek, there are many words for something we just have one word for in English. Take LOVE for instance, the Greeks have six different words for it – English just has one. Norwegians have two. We just have one word for “this” or “that” or “them” or “you”, Norwegians have several different words for each of them, and there are very specific rules about when you use which version depending on if you are talking past tense, present tense, future tense, and if it’s the object or subject in the sentence. I have a hard enough time just trying to remember the basic words I need to translate, then TRY to figure out where it’s supposed to go in a sentence let alone think about whether it’s an object or subject – but if I knew, I’d know where they go in the sentence as there are specific rules about that too. (And adjectives are a whole other headache.) A common answer to a question that starts with “Are you … “(fill in the blank, hungry, tired, etc?) is “Nei, det er jeg ikke” – which means “No, I’m not”… but literally translated is “No, that is I not,” – hence the problem I have in constructing a “Norwegian” sentence. It’s all Greek to me.
Kory has set up a contest between Kaleb and I as to who can speak the best Norwegian by Christmas. For a while, I was in the lead, but Kaleb came home today proud as a peacock that he talked for about an hour non-stop– all in Norwegian! He said some girls from the 5th and 6th class found him on the playground and were asking him tons of questions about himself. He was not only able to understand all they said, but he answered back in Norwegian so well that they understood him, too. Yikes. After he got home from school we sat at the table drinking tea and talked about our day – in Norwegian. Kory began to test us and it was clear we each have our strengths and weaknesses. I know more vocabulary words, but Kaleb has the whole sentence structure down, which is my weakest link. Kaleb is determined to win the thousand kroner (the $200 prize) as he wants to buy a Ninetendo DS (a handheld video game.) At one point he was against such things as he felt children were addicted to them because anyone he knew that had one preferred playing with the toy over him whenever he went for a visit. He swore he’d never own one, but now he sees every child in Norway has one, and he’s changed his mind. (He spent a lot of time explaining why it is OK that he changed his mind about that.) I guess it’s easy to be an island when you really are an island – like he was in America being homeschooled and all, but now, he’s in with the masses and has succumbed to the need to fit in. I’m just glad he’s trying to fit in. Therein lies the reason for our living here.
We had cousin Odd over for dinner tonight as his wife, Turid, is on a tour of Israel with her mother and mother-in-law. After dinner Odd spent a great deal of time trying to get our TV working, as it bothers him deeply that we don’t watch the news. He’s sure our Norwegian will kick in once we have the TV going. I couldn’t disagree more, but I let him try nonetheless. He was successful in figuring out Kory’s cabling mistakes but in order to watch TV we must pay big bucks for the “box,” as well as monthly and annual fees. I can think of a host of other things I’d rather do with the money. I hope I don’t get out-voted on that one.
The Morton Report today consisted of Kaleb telling me he actually talked to Morton in Norwegian. This is a huge breakthrough as I was sure part of Morton’s violence toward him is because Morton really does like Kaleb and doesn’t know how to express himself when he can’t use words. Kaleb said today all went well with Morton until he was heading home and Morton asked him if he was going to stay for the afterschool program. Kaleb told him “No” (he only goes Monday to Wednesday) and Morton hauled off and kicked him. So now I’m sure my theory is correct as I remember being in 3rd grade and only kicking the boys I really liked.
(I just read this to Kaleb and he said, “Unfortunately, she still does that.”)
Kory has set up a contest between Kaleb and I as to who can speak the best Norwegian by Christmas. For a while, I was in the lead, but Kaleb came home today proud as a peacock that he talked for about an hour non-stop– all in Norwegian! He said some girls from the 5th and 6th class found him on the playground and were asking him tons of questions about himself. He was not only able to understand all they said, but he answered back in Norwegian so well that they understood him, too. Yikes. After he got home from school we sat at the table drinking tea and talked about our day – in Norwegian. Kory began to test us and it was clear we each have our strengths and weaknesses. I know more vocabulary words, but Kaleb has the whole sentence structure down, which is my weakest link. Kaleb is determined to win the thousand kroner (the $200 prize) as he wants to buy a Ninetendo DS (a handheld video game.) At one point he was against such things as he felt children were addicted to them because anyone he knew that had one preferred playing with the toy over him whenever he went for a visit. He swore he’d never own one, but now he sees every child in Norway has one, and he’s changed his mind. (He spent a lot of time explaining why it is OK that he changed his mind about that.) I guess it’s easy to be an island when you really are an island – like he was in America being homeschooled and all, but now, he’s in with the masses and has succumbed to the need to fit in. I’m just glad he’s trying to fit in. Therein lies the reason for our living here.
We had cousin Odd over for dinner tonight as his wife, Turid, is on a tour of Israel with her mother and mother-in-law. After dinner Odd spent a great deal of time trying to get our TV working, as it bothers him deeply that we don’t watch the news. He’s sure our Norwegian will kick in once we have the TV going. I couldn’t disagree more, but I let him try nonetheless. He was successful in figuring out Kory’s cabling mistakes but in order to watch TV we must pay big bucks for the “box,” as well as monthly and annual fees. I can think of a host of other things I’d rather do with the money. I hope I don’t get out-voted on that one.
The Morton Report today consisted of Kaleb telling me he actually talked to Morton in Norwegian. This is a huge breakthrough as I was sure part of Morton’s violence toward him is because Morton really does like Kaleb and doesn’t know how to express himself when he can’t use words. Kaleb said today all went well with Morton until he was heading home and Morton asked him if he was going to stay for the afterschool program. Kaleb told him “No” (he only goes Monday to Wednesday) and Morton hauled off and kicked him. So now I’m sure my theory is correct as I remember being in 3rd grade and only kicking the boys I really liked.
(I just read this to Kaleb and he said, “Unfortunately, she still does that.”)
