The unspoken at the edge of the spoken

I have been thinking about writing this for a few weeks as I’ve been sitting in my intensive language course for 2 weeks now. We mostly do the basics, but every once in a while I stumble over some vocabulary gems.

Now I’m sure some of you are familiar with German’s notoriety for being far more descriptive, apt but also a mouthful relative to English. Take this famous example of an appropos phrasal descriptor: 

‘Backpfeifengesicht’ AKA a face in need of a punch/fist. 

You heard that right Anglophones, we need something this perfect in our vocabulary! 

Also I recently learned that what we call ‘bunny hills’ in reference to skiing, are just straight up called ‘Idiotenhügel’, AKA idiot hills.

Don’t say Germans aren’t funny! Just a very distinct brand of humour.

Last but not least, the coolest part of German words I’ve learned, is that they just love making words bigger and bigger. Or blending and creating new contractions and portmanteaus. I think this one succinctly captures societal feelings towards Harvey Weinstein.

Lesson learned: Succinct,brutal and frank= German linguistic humour

P.S.: Translation- ‘Do you know Harvey Schweinstein’? 

P.P.S.: Not fully language related, but almost. Yesterday I biked by a dump track with the words of Michelle Obama painted on it ( ‘When they go low, we go high’), so that’s a new thing for you. German motivational dump truck quotes! Or...some sort of written guarantee of said dump truck’s ability to pick up garbage at high altitudes?

I started this tumblr to try to finally capture some thoughts on this global life I lead (Germany, Ghana, Norway). So German life 2017-2018 laid bare for you all to see: my struggles, my ponderings, the daily nitty gritty.

Why start today ( I arrived almost 4 weeks ago): well because what says ‘WELCOME TO A NEW COUNTRY’ like ‘get out of your house, there’s a giant undetonated WW2 bomb behind your house’.

But no thoughts and prayers needed for me, the Germans have got it under control. Biked by a giant troop of volunteers escorting old people out of their apartments, shelters are available and sick people have special places to stay. Oh and the most prepared and nonplussed element of all: we got 48 hours written notice of this evacuation. No real worry of any imminent explosion.