A few snippets of the everyday life of a 'paluumuttaja' (prodigal daughter) living in Jyväskylä, Finland, as a student learning more about language policy and planning for sign languages.
Monday, September 5, 2011
This is the city's Lutheran church, built in 1898, that sits in the center of the city. Eija was married here. I loved the painting in the chapel. An older gentleman walked in as I was walking out and started speaking to me (in Finnish). I smiled and nodded. He kept talking. So I said, in English, "I don't speak Finnish, I'm sorry." He responded in Finnish, pointed to his watch, and then shook my hand. And then kept talking. So I responded in English. And then I just started laughing. Oh my goodness. What an adventure! I've been told I'm lucky to fit in as I look like a Finn. It's lucky only until someone starts speaking to you and you're unable to respond in Finnish. Hijole. :) Smile and nod. Just smile and nod.

Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What a sweet little church.
ReplyDelete