I've been asked whether or not our home is bilingual and why I blog in English. I've also been asked on more than one occasion where I'm from originally.
I think this may come as a disappointment to some of you, but I'm actually just a Belgian girl, born and raised in the Flemish (= Dutch speaking) part of Belgium, just as my parents and grandparents were.
My maternal language is Flemish (= Dutch with a slight accent :). I learned English, French and German in school. My level of French is not quite up there with my English (too bad, since the other half of Belgium speaks French) and my German... well, lets just say that I remember the basics and that I could probably manage the typical being-on-a-holiday-in-Germany conversations.
I blog in English not only because I prefer the language but also because most of the blogs I read are written in English. And of course it's a better way to make international friends! English is universal so practically anybody who wants to check out my blog will understand it. If I translate my Flemish thoughts correctly that is ;)
7 comments:
tania,
i thought that english was your first language until you told me that "knuffels" was flemish for "hugs"... i would say that you translate your thoughts better than most speak and/or write the language in the us.
add to those... german and french...
WOW, i'm very impresses!!!
love and knuffels,
dani
ps i'm so happy you're pain free:D
Hi Tania ~
It was so nice to read a little bit about the life behind the 'blog' ~ I too thought that English was your first language and have often wondered whether you were from England and lived in Belgium ~ and now I know!!!
So glad you are better.
love and hugs ~ Tabitha XXXX
Hi Tania
What an interesting post. I was surprised to learn that English was not your first language. Your written expression is excellent. What language do your children mainly communicate in?
I am so happy to hear that you are feeling a whole lot better. I hope that you are still taking it a little easy until you are fully recovered.
Love
Elise
Answering Elise's question: The kids speak only Flemish for now but I'm sure that by the time they're 15 they'll be able to read this blog (if I can keep it up for that long).
L,
Tania
Hi Tania,
So glad you are feeling better!! I too would have thought English was your first language!! I think it's fantastic to know more than one language.. I wish hubby would teach the kids to speak in Dutch!! So nice to learn a little more about you!!
Have a great weekend,
love & hugs,,
Tanya xx
Thanks for answering my question with this post! I'm glad you write in English instead of Flemish! I had been wondering....
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