Tuesday 30 April 2013

Year Abroad Solutions

Hello lovely readers!

I recently had a conversation with my friend Emily (my collaborator on this post) who is also doing a year abroad in Germany this year. During this conversation, we coined the expression "Year Abroad Solution" (henceforth to be known as YAS). This got me thinking about what some of my YAS's are, which then inspired me to write a blog about them. Et Voilà! Here is the conversation that started it all:




And here are some more that Emily and I came up with from our own experiences!
  • Using words which really don't fit the scenario correctly, but might vaguely get your point across.

  • Trying to act out what you want to say, therefore causing the other conversation participants to shout out a random assortment of verbs to try and assist you.

  • Waving your hands around in the air as if you will somehow be able to catch the word and drag it painstakingly into your consciousness.

  • Using "schön" (beautiful) to describe everything good.

  • Using "schlimm" (bad) to describe anything bad.

  • Using "lustig" (funny) to describe anything remotely comical.

  • Saying "unglaublich" (unbelievable) when something bad has happened and you do not have the linguistic capability to elaborate.

  • Saying that you feel "müde" (tired) if you are feeling a bit down, ill or simply can't be bothered.

  • Saying "Auf jeden Fall" (definitely) or "Ja klar" (yes, of course) when you're not sure what someone is on about but feel you should agree anyway.

  • Saying "Naja" or "Ach sooo..." to stall for time in order to form a coherent sentence.

  • Dragging out laughter longer than normal or necessary, whilst frantically trying to remember a verb in your head.

  • Planning important conversations in your head (such as asking for a doctors appointment) and identifying various linguistic difficulties that could occur, in advance.

  • Watching a film in German that you've already seen in English to try and kid yourself that you understand the language.

  • Just saying English words in a German accent and hoping they are right.

  • Going to McDonalds because the menu is in English and the familiarity is comforting.

  • Religiously watching Germany's Next Top Model because it nearly always has English in it and you can therefore easily follow what is going on.

  • Giving up. And then suffering the awkward silence that follows.



Well Leute, there you go, those are some of my Year Abroad Solutions! A few may be a little exaggerated but I'm sure every student doing a year abroad can identify with at least some of them! And if you're not a student doing a year abroad, then I hope you had a good giggle at my incompetence. Maybe you could try a few out next time you go abroad!

Thank you, as always, for reading!

Until next time,



Bel xxx

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