Da jeg først blev tilbudt jobbet her i Danmark, vores første tanke var "Ville vi har svært ved at forstå folk?" Og endnu vigtigere, "Vil de har problemer med at forstå os?" Hverken Mary eller jeg har en "klassisk amerikansk accent, hvad der nogensinde det er. Vi har begge, hvad jeg ville kalde klassiske sydlige accenter (selvom Mary kan til tider tænde en meget tykkere accent!)
Vores frygt for forståelse eller blive forstået blev hurtigt lagt til hvile. De fleste hver eneste i Danmark taler bemærkelsesværdigt godt engelsk. Meget bedre derefter min dansk! (Som vil blive løst, når Maria og jeg begynder vores to års danskundervisning, genstand for mange fremtidige blogindlæg, er jeg sikker på!)
Hvad vi har undladt at forudse var tegnene, alle i dansk. Vejskilte, menuer, butik skilte, kort, you name it. Går til købmanden blev et eventyr. Vi startede med en masse "du taler engelsk?". Men fordi vi er uafhængig, prøvede bare at regne det ouy på vores egen. Efter vores første tur til "Bilka" (den bedste måde at beskrive Bilka er en dansk "Walmart"), Mary gjorde hendes egen købmand oversættelse bog. Løg er "log", Mel er "Mel", kylling er "Kylling". Dette gjorde vores købmand erfaring meget lettere!
Vejskilte er interessant samt. Skønt det er vanskeligt i starten, Mary og jeg at komme rundt, og har ikke forårsaget ulykker, at vi er opmærksomme på!
Mary og jeg ansøgte om og modtog vores danske identifikationspapirer og Sygesikringskort. Forklaringen i den post var på dansk. Gudskelov for Google Translate!
Vi ty stadig til "Do you speak English", når vi spiser ude, men vores mål er i sidste ende at være i stand til at gå ind i en dansk restaurant og rækkefølge fra den dansk menu!
I thought I would give you a taste what Mary and I are experiencing here in Denmark. I'm not complaining, it's one of the things that make life fun and exciting! Below is the English translation of what I said above.
The Danish Written Language
When I was first offered the job here in Denmark, our first thoughts were "Would we have trouble understanding people?" And, more importantly, "Would they have problems understanding us?" Neither Mary or I have a "classic American accent, whatever that is. We both have, what I would call classic Southern accents (though Mary can, at times, turn on a much thicker accent!)
Our fears of understanding, or being understood were quickly layed to rest. Most every one in Denmark speaks remarkably good English. Much better then my Danish!! (Which will be resolved when Mary and I begin our two years of Danish lessons, the subject of many future blog entries, I am sure!)
What we failed to anticipate were the signs, all in Danish. Traffic signs, menus, store signs, maps, you name it. Going to the grocery store became an adventure. We started with "Do you speak English?". But, because we are independant, just tried to figure it out on our own.
After our first trip to "Bilka", (the best way to describe Bilka is a Danish "Walmart"), Mary made her own grocery translation book. Onion is "log", Flour is "Mel", Chicken is "Kylling". This made our grocery store experience much easier!
Traffic signs are interesting as well. Though difficult at first, Mary and I are getting around, and haven't caused any accidents, that we are aware of!
Mary and I applied for and received our Danish identification papers and Health cards. The explanation in the mail was in Danish. Thank God for Google Translate!
We still resort to "Do you speak English" when we eat out, but our goal is to eventually be able to walk into a Danish restaurant and order off the Danish menu!
