Thanks to Cee for this week’s questions for the challenge SHARE YOUR WORLD – 2016 WEEK 25.
How many languages do you you speak?
Alas, I speak only English fluently. I still remember a few words and phrases from two years of high school French—enough to ask where the bathroom is.
I did my B.A. and M.A. in Latin and got so that I could read—as opposed to translate—it fluently, so I claim some credit for that. Knowing Latin also means that often I can look at a newspaper written in a Romance language and get the general idea of what a story is about.
But my trip to Europe a year ago made me realize that most Europeans speak at least one language other than their native tongue, and many speak two or more. I wish we here in the U.S. would start teaching languages to children in elementary school so that they could grow up speaking more than just English.
What are some words that just make you smile?
knees: for some reason knees just make me laugh, they’re so funny looking.
apprised of: people who say “I keep myself apprised of…” make me smile because they’re trying to sound SO important and authoritative.
Play ball!: I love baseball.
If you were the original architect of one existing building, which building would you select?
I have no idea. Architecture is just something I’m not apprised of. I’m usually more interested in what’s inside a building, such as a museum, a library, or a friend.
Well, OK, here’s one I might want to take credit for: the cathedral in Cologne, Germany.
(Click to see a larger version.)
Would you rather have telepathy or telekinesis? (Telepathy is the communication using your brain waves, telekinesis is channeling the energy onto physical objects to cause substantial, observable physical changes.)
Definitely telepathy. Telekinesis might make for interesting party games, but telepathy would help me better understand other people. Of course there’s always the possibility that I might not like to learn what other people are thinking about me…
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
Last week was a quiet one, without many meetings or activities. As a result, I got quite a bit of reading done. However, I like to change things up occasionally, and this week allows for that with a trip to Mount Saint Helens, a minor league baseball game, and a Lunch Bunch excursion.
© 2016 by Mary Daniels Brown