Speaking my language

There are days when I wish that people just knew what I meant without trying to understand what I'm saying. You know what I mean?

Watch your language

One thing that I thought was cool was that as I learned Korean, it taught me some things about English that I hadn't realized before.

I think, therefore

Sometimes the language concepts we were learning came easily. Other times...

Learning the language

Conference always makes me think back on my mission. One of the things that's been on my mind — particularly after Elder Cordon's "language loss" talk — is how hard it was learning the language.

Using my training

Sis. Green doesn't seem to be getting any better, so I called the Mission President. He'll know what to do!

I remember when we were in the MTC they told us that if we didn't know a word we could sometimes use the English word, make gestures or use sound effects. It works!

Counting my many blessings, one by one

Oh. My. Goodness.

Sis. Clabby was right -- it promises to be an interesting transfer being companions with Sis. Han. I know the Lord put us together for a reason. I just hope I learn the lesson soon! In the meantime, as I'm being tempest tossed on life's billows, I'm going to be counting my blessings...one by one.

On a happier note: spring is coming, and it looks like it's going to be beautiful here! And there's the General Women's Meeting to look forward to!

The language barrier, eh?

What I think is really funny about this? I was speaking Korean the whole time! Thank goodness I knew that grandma is from Canada (go, Raymond!) and I know where to add the "eh."

First class

And so it begins

Reach out and teach someone

SO excited to start this!

Unloosed tongue

Getting those primary skills

Limited resources

Culture update: The alphabet

Omigosh! The Korean alphabet is EPIC! It was invented by one of their kings a long time ago, King Sejong, and he's so totally famous in Korea that his picture is on their money and everything! He wanted to make an alphabet that everyone could read. And here's his secret: the letters are drawn to make the shape that your mouth makes when you make the sound of the letter! I know, right! Isn't that just so amazing!? And there are only 24 letters, so that's even less than we have to learn in English!

They say you can learn to read it in only 15 minutes. How cool is that? And the words are all in syllables, so that makes it even easier. Of course you have to know what the words mean for it to make sense. But like in the hymns? It makes it really easy to sing along without knowing what you're singing.

There was a time when at the MTC they taught how to say things phonetically, but when the missionaries got into the country, they couldn't read or spell anything. They bagged that idea and went back to teaching King Sejong's alphabet.

Did you know that they even have a national holiday to celebrate the alphabet? It's called "Hangul Day" and they celebrate it in October. I wonder what kind of parties they have for the alphabet? I'll find out in a few months! Boo-yah!!!

Signs of hope

Maybe Korean won't be so hard to learn after all, right? All I have to do is carry this around with me everywhere and I should be just fine.

Wait. This is just pronunciation. I might need a dictionary, too. Dangit!

Of course they'll teach me everything I need to know in the MTC anyway, so I probably don't need to worry. Right?

Language study?

Psy has a NEW single out, "Gentleman." I wonder if I can use that and "Gangnam Style" for language study?