Wednesday

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

In less than 24 hours, I will be on the plane back to Singapore.

Here I am back in my hotel room. This morning, I had my oral exam for Danish. It was quick. Just 15 minutes and it was over. Somehow, I felt that I did not perform as well academically as I would have loved to. Yet, I knew that I was able to speak Danish in a casual manner just like in everyday life. My vocabulary is definitely limited. So are the phrases of expressions. Hence, it was really a challenge to try to describe the social system in Singapore.

Yet, Jorun was encouraging. She smiled at times and asked questions which allowed me to express myself more. I did have eye contact with her, although not very often.

At the end of the session, I guess my nerves got the better of me. I simply did not hear her (or chose not to hear her) when she sent me her best wishes and shook my hand. I feel bad because it is just not be to be so inattentive or careless. Yet, the world still moved on and turned despite what has happened.

As I made my way to the library to return the books, I thought to myself. I am aware of my language abilities. Spoken language may not be my strongest skill. But written is. I love to write. Writing allows me to think things through and express myself. I believe that this ability of mine has been recognized by Jorun through my homework and other written work which I have submitted to her. I can speak Danish, as I have spoken so much in class. And she has heard me speak Danish. With all this, I am sure that she has mentally prepared to pass me. And I have given her the reasons to. I was able to express myself although perhaps not extremely fluently.

Jorun has made an impression on me. She is not the kind of teacher I expected her to be. Not the ideal kind.

I wonder if I had made an impression on her. She mentioned that I am the first student that she has from Singapore. And in the first lesson, I was so excited that I was smiling all the time. She must have thought that I was out of my mind or something.

While the entire experience of learning Danish has been bitter-sweet, I still love it. Perhaps it is just me. Just the me who has found the passion and meaning of life.