Just 2 days ago, I was interviewed for a project on Cantonese. I was flattered to be interviewed but at the same time realized some serious work that needs to be done with said Canto. After living and studying Canto for 6 years it is Canto that is becoming more and more my 100% way of doing everything in my life. I don't have any respect for the "gwai-lo" that live here and don't try to learn. I know people that have lived here for much longer than I have and can't even order their Happy Meal at McDonalds. And these are the same people that complain that the locals can't understand English enough to give them more ketchup. S A D is what it is.....S A D. So the point that I really am trying to convey here is..... learn to communicate with the people around you. You might find yourself in a situation that really needs to be dealt with by giving someone a real good verbal beat down, so why not learn how to do it bilingually??
The Way of MK
Tell you what: I don't learn cantonese because, simply, my brain is already busy in translating all my thoughts into another language. Everyday I am forced to forget about italian and live with english. It was my choice, I know, but no matter how good I can be in writing, acting or simply living everyday with my english, I will always be "a foreigner". I don't learn cantonese because ok, I don't like it as a language and I'm a bit lazy, and I simply don't feel like restarting again. I'm happy with my 3 languages on my background...after all, I don't think is that bad. I do get upset at the chinese who don't understand english, and I tell you why: Italy never belong to England, the Brits never owned us. HK has been a british colony for a century. So, how come that I, being Italian, coming from a country who has nothing to do with the british culture, can speak english better than them? How can they all hold a british passport and they can barely say hello?
ReplyDeleteI understand HK is a bit of a world apart: Hongkongers are not british, but they don't like to call themselves Chinese either, so for these reasons they really don't feel they have strong roots. But to refuse to learn english just to be against the "gwei los", it's a bit dull, I think.
To learn one of the most spoken language in the world opens you to the world, especially when you have a language only spoken in your country (like me, for example: where else do people speak Italian?) is the best way to have freedom.
It gives you the chance to choose where to be or what to do. And that, I think, it's the real passport. I can't imagine to live in Italy right now, can you imagine if I hadn't learnt this language at all?
I don't go to Macdonalds, but if I'm hungry or I need to go home by taxi I know what to do.
Nicole
Ps: you look hot in those dread locks.
Nicole you are so beautiful. I love everything about you. Keep being you.. I have been terrible about making engagements and I will do better on that in the 09'.
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