Inspired by Carine's blog and her Twi language cards, I need to take a look at how I am doing in Tibetan. So, I know that knowing bits and pieces of a language is important in cross cultural research and interaction in general, especially for gaining rapport in a tourist community, but how do I take that to heart?This year, field studies has added a new addition to the program. A language class to prepare for our various locations. Since I am going to the Tibetan settlement Dharamsala, well, Tibetan it is.
But then there is me... sitting in a classroom for two hours at the end of my longest day of the week, and I cannot focus. I cannot learn. My knee hurts. I feel stupid. I struggle to have a good attitude, and all of these great things I feel guilty admitting. I don't understand Tibetan. I don't even know where to start. I don't want to learn words like "white mushroom" and "iron" when I cannot even ask "where is the bathroom?" But then, something saved me!
This handbook for nine bucks on Amazon. It made me realize that my struggle with Tibetan is because I have not been putting for the effort to care about it or attempt to learn what I can because I have been too busy thinking it is impossible. I feel a lot better about taking the class now that I have changed my attitude.
Now I know how to say "thank you", "father", "butter," and "I don't drink tea." Maybe next time I will tackle the bathroom question.
