LostInTheWoods

This autumn I made a conscious decision. I decided to go back to school...

Last year I passed over the opportunity to finish a SFI (Swedish For Immigrants) course. These courses, although free, are during the working day, so I really struggled working full time and going to these classes. Eventually I gave up, worked for "the MAN" and even though I took evening classes once a week, I still felt that my Swedish was not improving.

So this autumn, I spotted an opportunity to start again and this time I did not have the pressure of paying work. So I enrolled, and promptly went on holiday for two weeks (doh!). Upon my return, I slowly got to know my classmates who seemed to be a committed bunch, attendance is very good, and only one person has dropped out.

My classmates are mainly from eastern Europe: Poland, Bosnia, Serbia, Russia, Croatia, and some from further afield: Thailand, the Philippines, and Nicaragua, and then there are also a few western Europeans from: France, Switzerland and me from Blighty. So a real mixed bunch.

Getting to know these people has made me appreciate that people around the world are pretty much the same. My classmates are all dedicated, friendly and want similar things out of life. Our classroom discussions are held in Swedish, but I am still able too understand the different perspectives they have.

Now when I hear immigration debated, I certainly have a more sympathetic attitude. I definitely think that legal immigrants should be welcomed, as often they are the more adventurous and aspiring people from any given population.

I have two teachers, both are very different. One is a very amiable lady, but stabs the air with "Förstå ni?"("You understand?") on a regular basis, and to date I have not heard a single person say no. The other teacher is quite funny, and keeps asking me to check her English. A typical exchange happened the other day:

Teacher: "Vaktmästare in English is 'Janitor'. Is that right?"
Me: "er...no"
Teacher: "oh.. so what is 'Janitor' then?"
Me: "erm... American."
Teacher: "oh I see."
(smiling)

I realise as I write this, my response sounds facetious, but at the time it was what came out of my mouth, and if you ask an Englishman about English, they wont give you an American word.

I am now really enjoying learning Swedish, I have always been fascinated by people who can speak more than their native tongue, and over the past few years I have been surrounded by such people, including my brother has also seemed to have picked up Italian at the drop of a hat. So I am now fulfilling my dream, and hopefully one day I will be fully bilingual.

Thank you for reading this post.

That is all.
LostInTheWoods.