Dear Liza,
I have been trying to learn Danish for almost a year now, since you moved to Horsens. Duolingo has been my morning language buddy as I have drawn my own illustrated Danish dictionary. I was ready to try Danish with real Danish speaking people. Or so I thought.
The trip to the Nordic House was cool and pleasant, since our weather made a welcome shift to clouds and drizzle.
I arrived early because it is better than being late, and had some veggies and tea in the Broder Cafe inside the House. There were about twenty other folks enjoying the ambiance, yummy food and cool sunshine.
I spent some time with the Icelandic art exhibit. There, I met a lady named Charlotte who was also there for the conversation group. We hit it off right away, having crafting and language interests in common, as well as a certain lefty political bent.
Nine women and one man were at the group, with levels of Danish from absolute beginners to fluent native speakers. It was odd not to have my usual social tools of word-play and jokes to make myself comfortable. I listened hard and was only able to make three on-topic comments in the ninety minutes, which for me is like taking a vow of silence.
I didn’t take any photos of the group, because it felt rude. That hour and a half was enough to let me know several things.
- I have miles to go in Danish before I can participate in basic conversation.
- It is going to be a multi-level challenge of brain power and social skills that I haven’t used in a long time.
- I really want to succeed in this.
Charlotte and I exchanged phone numbers, and we’ll try and get together soon. Maybe we can have some Danish practice combined with coffee, fun, and crafting.
I would say “Wish me luck” but luck isn’t going to get this done. So I will say “Wish me stubbornness!”
Love,
Grandma Judy
Dear Liza 