Thanks to the volcanic ash cloud I am stuck in the UK and have a couple of free days at my disposal. Which language shall I work on? French, because it’s easiest? Russian, because it’s my bête noire? Swedish, because I’ve ignored it for so long?
I have been looking at Steve’s blog postings from Sweden and am struck by how he seems to ‘live and enjoy’ every opportunity to learn. There’s no dithering there.
I was also reminded of my efforts to get my local library to order a Spitzer book in German for me. I shall have to try again, perhaps they might relent when I ask for Lernen in English.
What are the benefit the ash cloud has brought you?
@SanneT - I think that you may choose a completely new language, because vulcanologists say that the last time when the volcano erupted, almost 200 years ago, the volcano was filling the atmosphere with its ash for two years
If that were the case, I’d have to learn how to drive on the other side of the road in order to get to Germany - a mammoth task given my lack of coordination - and so a new language would have to take a back seat…
Poor news anchors. Can anyone say “Eyjafjallajökull” without seriously damaging his tongue? I’ve tried it about a dozen times now and can’t get even close.
(Look up Eyjafjallajökul in Wiki. There’s a link to the audio there.)
I trust the people of Iceland (not the shop) don’t all run around with injured tongues. If they do, it might explain why they are seen as the dark and brooding type of people, it must be very painful.
At the Russian airports tens flights in cities of Europe have been abolished or postponed. But I have no benefit or trouble connected with a cloud. I am at home and I do not plan trips within the next few days. I wish all who on business trip have a pleasant and useful time!
Found an excellent Russian joke about the eruption. It goes like this:
— Слышал, вулкан Эйяфьяллайекюль ожил?
— А ты уверен, что не Хваннадальснукюр?
— Конечно, Хваннадальснукюр возле самого Каульвафедльсстадюра, а Эйяфьяллайекюль ближе к Вестманнаэйяру, если ехать в сторону Снайфедльсокюдля.
— Слава богу, а то у меня родственники в Брюнхоульскиркья!
Took me a while to find all the original geographic names. Here’s the translation:
“Did you know that Eyjafjallajökull erupted again?”
“Are you sure it wasn’t Hvannadalshnúkur?”
“Positive. Hvannadalshnúkur is right by Kalfatellsstadhur, and Eyjafjallajökull is closer to Vestmannaeyjar, in the direction of Snæfellsjökull.”
“Thank goodness! I have relatives in Brunnhóllskirkja.”
Note: Brunnhóllskirkja isn’t really a place. There’s Brunnhóll and kirkja means “church.” So Brunnhóllskirkja is the name of the local church.
Also, things don’t quite add up geographically. Vestmannaeyjar and Snæfellsjökull are quite far apart, and both are pretty far away from Eyjafjallajökull. But very roughly, the joke still works, since Hvannadalshnúkur is located in the far east of Iceland.
