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LE and the English language

LE speaks German in school and Spanish with his Papi at home. What about with me? I speak English with him and he speaks Spanish to me. We seem to get by ok - needing E occasionally for translation. How do we communicate with each other when it's just the two of us? I use Spanish words when it's important (e.g. "it's muy peligrosa - entiendo?!") while he mimes whenever I'm confused. So far, his various actions (e.g. "it burns", "it's falling", "the grasshopper") have always prompted a laugh from me.

English is fast becoming his 3rd language: (4th if we consider that he also speaks Swisserdeutsch). Indeed, these past few weeks LE has surprised us by saying out full sentences in English to me. This morning it was "Azuri, switch off the tele..." (of course, "please" appeared shortly after). I am amazed by a four year old's capacity and ease of picking up and using new words. LE is no doubt clever.   

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I enjoy reading English books to LE. Regardless of the fact that English is(was?) not his spoken language. During the Christmas holidays, we frequently read "Splish Splashy Day". On the aeroplane to-fro, cold day indoors and some times before he went to bed. He especially likes the character "Grover" (known as "Coco" in Spain) because of his big red and round nose. I thought about a book I had bought from a store at HK airport for young D in Singapore called "The Ravenous Beast" which turned out to be roaring success not just with D, but also his older cousin as well as kindergarten mates. But it was not to be found in any of the English bookstores I scouted while travelling. We finally found it on-line. The book arrived in the mail a few days ago and we have been reading it together every night before sleeping. He calls the book (literal translation from Spanish): "the dinosaur who eats everything".   

 

 

Post script: E thinks "The Ravenous Beast" is surprisingly aggressive to be a book I would like and recommend. I agree. At the same time, how I can not? It's so funny and the art work is so pretty!

 

Planning for 2012

Ok folks, I know, I'm likely to be 1 or 2 months slower than you all - thinking hard and planning the specifics relating to 2012 only now. The fact is - I need to be myself, with no interruptions, a note book, a nice chosen pen and in a "yeah, I can so totally do this" state of mind to do this.

Indeed, a particularly good session would require a re-read of the book below, which I bought more than 10 years ago in KL and have moved along with me (Leicester, London, KL, HK and now Basel). I've just unearthed it from one of my boxes a few days ago (upon coming back from Sing) and started re-reading it. Still at the early stages of the book (hard to focus when I have a cute 4 year old tugging at my trousers to play) but already I am feeling inspired.

I had forgotten and was reminded when I opened the book that I had scribbled in it. Once in 1998 and then 10 years later: 1999 turned out to be a great year for me. I persevered and changed my lifestyle to lose close to 8 kg, which I had recklessly gained from consuming one too many roti pratha breakfasts and evening cocktails upon returning to KL in 1997. I also got my act together to chase and win a position and grant which allowed me to pursue a PhD in the UK.  2009 was another interesting year. A year of change in HK, with a number of highs and lows; I realise now, retrospectively, that the events in 2009, collectively formed the catalyst for my subsequent epiphany in 2010.

What's in store for 2012? I'm still thinking about it but it's not hard to figure out that I would be aiming for (in no particular order) a good and successful career, happy family and healthy, fashionable and zen self. Now, to work on the deets!     

 

 

Good morning

I'm waiting for the door to the school to open and it's freaking cold - at least I'm burning calories staying warm. It was -3c earlier this morning - probably 0-1c now.

The joys of having an iPhone -What did I do before while waiting? I started reading Ghandi on my kindle app but then remembered the existence of this typepad application - much better at distracting me from the cold and the wait I fink.

This week, we are learning about religion - potential for conflict and reconciliation. It's been much more interesting than I expected and I'm looking forward to writing the required reflection paper. Our lecturer is a Swiss professor who is 74. I would like to be like him and others like him when I'm at the same age.

Back home

I've made my way home. Phew.

I thought I would have time to arrive home in day light, to happily walk home the last leg (from the last tram stop to home) via some country lanes. Not so the case! I got my timing slightly wrong and subsequently spent some time walking in the dark, in the forest! It was a little bit scary. Indeed,  I even lost my nerve at some point and called E (who is in the States) on my HK phone to keep me company (and tell me what he had for breakfast).

I started reading Ghandi's autobiography on the train (I have to say I've been encouraged to do so by my course - where he seems to be worshipped). The book, on my ipad via kindle, seems very easy to read. My initial impression is that he was a man of angst who was quite tough on himself especially in relation to the natural consequences of being married when he was a boy with raging hormones. I reached the  part where he is in UK (after vowing to his mum to stay away from women, alcohol and meat) and had just cancelled his violin class when the train arrived into Basel. I'm looking forward to discovering more about him.    

 

There can never be enough good and reliable hangers...

I was in a bloody good mood yesterday. The arrival of my things really cheered me up, the magnitude of which surprised me. Sure, I know that I'm not defined solely by my belongings ya-dar ya-dar. However, I have to admit that my things do give me a sense of wellness and identity. Colourful dresses, high heels, vintage tea sets, illustrated books - they make me HAPPY :-).

The best thing about the 28 boxes was that they contained all of my favourite things. I know this is because I only allowed myself to pack things I love and couldnt bear to part. E asked me last night whether I regretted discarding anything when I mentioned to him that the movers seem to have used only half of each box suggesting that I might have had additional space in the boxes. "Hangers", I told him automatically and, "... maybe some other stuff like toiletries, cute kitchenware and unread books and CDs".  Which is true. I didn't love them but I think they could come handy especially when we settle into our new apartment in the city.

E reckons it's a lesson for me not to de-clutter radically. I'm not so sure. I didn't know at the time we would have another flat to occupy and wanted to minimise shipping costs, lighten my load and travel lightly. The problem is I think, everything seems to cost so much here.

 

Paris scrap book

E and I did not do much touristic thing while in Paris. We did however walked along the Seine for a bit on Sunday discussing our future. E is one for making and discussing plans; I like to keep them in my notebook and pretend to be more que sera sera.

We left the river bank to meet our friends, and on the way stopped by the Shakespeare bookshop which I really like. There, I bought a few illustrative books (I finished reading 2 on the train - The Burma Chronicles induced some giggles).

 

Lunch was simple (mine) yet delicious (some salad, goats cheese and aubergine). We walked around St- Germain,  stopping once in a while to look at some art or displays. A number of displays caught my eye.

                                                                                                      

 

 

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We stayed at a charming BnB in Montmarte.

Breakfast (pain au chocolate,bread-butter-jam, boiled eggs, sandwiches) was served on solid wooden tables, in an airy room at the top floor, with high ceilings and a small sky roof. Louise Armstrong CD played softly in the background. The cutlery was eclectic - congruous to the quirkiness of the BnB. The combination of all these things made me very cheerful.

As mentioned previously - there was a small courtyard near the entrance - it could have easily been boring and ugly but instead it was made pleasant with potted plants.