Reminds me of the time I started dreaming in Spanish, no longer translating but rather thinking in Spanish, and I knew I had arrived when I was able to tell a joke in Spanish and have my native listener laugh. Great story, thanks for sharing.
After reading this post I feel as if I, too, have just spent a week on a Greek island. The waiter didn't do anything for me, but the Retsina was refreshing. Meanwhile, I have my own "dreaming in..." story to tell. When I was studying in the Alliance Francaise in Paris ("lèvres en avant") I was also catching up on the blank spots in my reading of dead white authors, and concentrating on Dickens. As I lay on the bed in my dorm room, I would fall asleep while reading...and then DREAM THAT I WAS STILL READING DICKENS! The story was advancing, even while I was unconscious. So clearly, my brain was able to contsruct facsimile Dickens, when my eyeballs weren't actually taking it in. That still freaks me out.
This is a beautiful read! Oddly reminds me of my time in Munich when I kept responding to the locals in French. I was learning it at the time and I guess I just couldn’t code switch well enough!
Thanks for reading! In fact, what I remember is that I spoke in friend to the German guy even when Valerie wasn't there. It had become a habit. I was thinking in French. I am always amazed by people who speak many languages, as many people in Europe do by necessity...how do they keep it all straight?!
That is an excellent question. The teacher who taught me French was fluent in four different languages and she said that it just all becomes second nature (how I do not know!)
Love this! Sent to my niece who spent a semester abroad in Paris last year and is returning in October to teach English for a year in Versailles. I hope she can travel out and about during that time.
Reminded me of many trips to Greece with Fran, my late wife. Floating naked in tandem. Returning to the same taverna night after night. Squid fishing at midnight and giving them to honeymooners. Taking advice from total strangers and never once regretting it.
Thank you for reading! Taking advice from strangers...That's something that has changed, unfortunately. Interactions with strangers are rarer...people are afraid, or they are looking at Google for answers.
Reminds me of the time I started dreaming in Spanish, no longer translating but rather thinking in Spanish, and I knew I had arrived when I was able to tell a joke in Spanish and have my native listener laugh. Great story, thanks for sharing.
Thank you for reading!
Such a wonderful piece! You show the beauty of multilingualism so well.
Thanks so much for reading!
After reading this post I feel as if I, too, have just spent a week on a Greek island. The waiter didn't do anything for me, but the Retsina was refreshing. Meanwhile, I have my own "dreaming in..." story to tell. When I was studying in the Alliance Francaise in Paris ("lèvres en avant") I was also catching up on the blank spots in my reading of dead white authors, and concentrating on Dickens. As I lay on the bed in my dorm room, I would fall asleep while reading...and then DREAM THAT I WAS STILL READING DICKENS! The story was advancing, even while I was unconscious. So clearly, my brain was able to contsruct facsimile Dickens, when my eyeballs weren't actually taking it in. That still freaks me out.
Ha!
That's crazy...sounds like the stories became a mind game with many possible outcomes...did your dream continuations track with Dickens's originals?
Beautiful.
This is a beautiful read! Oddly reminds me of my time in Munich when I kept responding to the locals in French. I was learning it at the time and I guess I just couldn’t code switch well enough!
Thanks for reading! In fact, what I remember is that I spoke in friend to the German guy even when Valerie wasn't there. It had become a habit. I was thinking in French. I am always amazed by people who speak many languages, as many people in Europe do by necessity...how do they keep it all straight?!
That is an excellent question. The teacher who taught me French was fluent in four different languages and she said that it just all becomes second nature (how I do not know!)
I think it helps to learn languages young...like music.
Love this! Sent to my niece who spent a semester abroad in Paris last year and is returning in October to teach English for a year in Versailles. I hope she can travel out and about during that time.
Thank you for reading! Happy travels to your niece! Do let her know that prices have gone up since then! ;-)...
Floating naked in the
wine-dark sea
Your front warmed by sun and warm breezes
Your back chilled by cool
clear water
The occasional splash to
remind you that
you’re alive and immensely grateful for it.
Thank you for that memory.
Reminded me of many trips to Greece with Fran, my late wife. Floating naked in tandem. Returning to the same taverna night after night. Squid fishing at midnight and giving them to honeymooners. Taking advice from total strangers and never once regretting it.
Thank you for reading! Taking advice from strangers...That's something that has changed, unfortunately. Interactions with strangers are rarer...people are afraid, or they are looking at Google for answers.
For us, one of
Thank you for reading and for this beautiful image. I write to relive these kinds of sensations.
That’s very sad. For us, one of the nicest parts of travel. The kindness of strangers.
Wonderful story.
Thank you!