gan Genia, or Harri a rygbi
Thanks to Genia's help, December won't get away with just one post on this blog. To prove that there are a gazillion (well, perhaps not that many, I'll give you that) reasons to visit Wales and to learn Welsh (insert-random-link-here), here's someone else's view on the subject:
meet Genia, my friend from Yr Almaen
(most unnecessary caption of the year -
but, c'mon, now you know some Welsh words!)
1. Why Wales?
I was looking at the options available in my university’s student exchange programme and being part of a degree where UK universities are the most popular I decided to look into not so well known and after thinking about it for a bit I decided to apply for a spot at Cardiff Metropolitan University and two Irish schools whose names I already forgot. So I guess, you could call it fate, should you believe in that kind of thing, but the second I got off my coach in Cardiff a little over two years ago I knew it was meant to be ;)
I know the feeling, Genia! <3
2. Why Welsh?
My interest into the language started to develop shortly after I received the letter that notified me where I was headed to and it grew even stronger after I finally arrived in Cardiff. What confused me a bit was that despite the language clearly being present everywhere whether it was on street signs or the voice at the checkout in ‘Preemaark’ calling you to till ‘rhif pedwar’, no one seemed to be actually able to speak it. Sadly, the opportunity to learn the language did not present itself during my time studying in Cardiff, but about eight months after my reluctant return to Germany where through a chance encounter with the assistant of the professor for Minority languages I learned that a (free!) Welsh course had started at my university only two weeks prior. It was her who encouraged me to join the Mynediad Welsh Summer Course at Cardiff University this summer and well, I guess the rest is history ;)
Another chance encounter story, see? The Welsh government should simply send some Welsh speakers to live all over the globe, and then the language would surely be saved.
3. Any suggestions for tourists?
St. Fagans and of course the Principality Stadium and the little Arcades in the heart of the city centre and Roath Park for a change, cause everyone already knows Bute Park so well, thanks to Bruna
:D
I should get a metal plaque with my name on it put on one of its benches one day, for sure.
4. What do you like best about Wales?
It’s hard to say, but I felt at home in Cardiff very quickly, since everyone there is so friendly and welcoming. Cardiff is a very diverse city and it seemed to me as what set every person apart what at the same time their own special contribution to the group you were a part of at that moment in time. Personally, I rate things such as politeness and a certain courtesy rather highly, which made returning to a culture that almost entirely dismisses these in regards to any person they do not know very well rather difficult. People in Wales never seemed to take anything (including themselves) too seriously, unless it’s the rugby. That we take very serious.
Oh, and 'returning to a culture that almost entirely dismisses these' - I know this feeling too, Genia. :(
5. Mind sharing your favourite Welsh word, phrase and/or sentence with us?
I definitely know which one you’ll expect, but I don't think I could actually narrow it down to one phrase or sentence.
Which one do I expect? :D Curious now! Maybe...
6. Recommendations for Welsh learners?
Don’t let it scare you off, it will be unlike anything you’ve ever done or learned before and while it at times seems impossible to master, the things you learn and the people you meet along the way are absolutely worth it.
Muito amor!... Or, in Welsh (I think - that's proper Welsh, I mean), llawer o gariad! :3
7. Anything else you'd like to share?
Nac ydw ;)
Diolch yn fawr!
Diolch i di (oh, my, no idea if that's correct - must go back to studying, soon!), Genia! :)
I was looking at the options available in my university’s student exchange programme and being part of a degree where UK universities are the most popular I decided to look into not so well known and after thinking about it for a bit I decided to apply for a spot at Cardiff Metropolitan University and two Irish schools whose names I already forgot. So I guess, you could call it fate, should you believe in that kind of thing, but the second I got off my coach in Cardiff a little over two years ago I knew it was meant to be ;)
I know the feeling, Genia! <3
2. Why Welsh?
My interest into the language started to develop shortly after I received the letter that notified me where I was headed to and it grew even stronger after I finally arrived in Cardiff. What confused me a bit was that despite the language clearly being present everywhere whether it was on street signs or the voice at the checkout in ‘Preemaark’ calling you to till ‘rhif pedwar’, no one seemed to be actually able to speak it. Sadly, the opportunity to learn the language did not present itself during my time studying in Cardiff, but about eight months after my reluctant return to Germany where through a chance encounter with the assistant of the professor for Minority languages I learned that a (free!) Welsh course had started at my university only two weeks prior. It was her who encouraged me to join the Mynediad Welsh Summer Course at Cardiff University this summer and well, I guess the rest is history ;)
Another chance encounter story, see? The Welsh government should simply send some Welsh speakers to live all over the globe, and then the language would surely be saved.
3. Any suggestions for tourists?
St. Fagans and of course the Principality Stadium and the little Arcades in the heart of the city centre and Roath Park for a change, cause everyone already knows Bute Park so well, thanks to Bruna
:D
I should get a metal plaque with my name on it put on one of its benches one day, for sure.
4. What do you like best about Wales?
It’s hard to say, but I felt at home in Cardiff very quickly, since everyone there is so friendly and welcoming. Cardiff is a very diverse city and it seemed to me as what set every person apart what at the same time their own special contribution to the group you were a part of at that moment in time. Personally, I rate things such as politeness and a certain courtesy rather highly, which made returning to a culture that almost entirely dismisses these in regards to any person they do not know very well rather difficult. People in Wales never seemed to take anything (including themselves) too seriously, unless it’s the rugby. That we take very serious.
We can definitely see that. ;)
Oh, and 'returning to a culture that almost entirely dismisses these' - I know this feeling too, Genia. :(
5. Mind sharing your favourite Welsh word, phrase and/or sentence with us?
I definitely know which one you’ll expect, but I don't think I could actually narrow it down to one phrase or sentence.
Which one do I expect? :D Curious now! Maybe...
6. Recommendations for Welsh learners?
Don’t let it scare you off, it will be unlike anything you’ve ever done or learned before and while it at times seems impossible to master, the things you learn and the people you meet along the way are absolutely worth it.
Muito amor!... Or, in Welsh (I think - that's proper Welsh, I mean), llawer o gariad! :3
7. Anything else you'd like to share?
Nac ydw ;)
Diolch yn fawr!
Diolch i di (oh, my, no idea if that's correct - must go back to studying, soon!), Genia! :)
I look awful, but I'm an altruist -
she looks great, as we enjoyed
P.S. I don't really think I've got more than two or three readers at the moment (including myself - and Genia! lol), but if you also dedicated part of your summer this year to learning Welsh or simply like the country and/or the language as well, regardless of where you're from (Welsh people included, I mean, no need to be a foreigner like us!), and would like to help me keep this blog going and persuade people that I'm not mad just because of my feelings for Wales and Welsh (not because of that, lol), you're more than welcome to edit this copy of the questionnaire above to share your very own personal answers with me (and my other reader, rs - Genia?). Muito obrigada*!
*Why there's a man pronouncing 'muito obrigada' on Forvo, I have no idea - I'm not talking about gender issues here (a topic which truly interests me), I just think it's misleading (to Portuguese learners who aren't familiar with the 'women say obrigada and men say obrigado' little rule of the language), that's all.
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