I was walking to Hema for breakfast this morning and dropped into Izy Coffee to say hi to Arjen – the barista and my friend.

Bruce: Goedemorgen  (“Good morning” in Dutch)

Arjen: Goedemorgen

Bruce: À bientôt!  (“See you soon!” in French)

Arjen: Zeer goed (“Very good” in Dutch)

Bruce:  Bye

As I contemplated the beauty of my croissant, our tiny conversation returned to my mind.  Three languages.  Five years ago it was only one.

Back then I considered myself a citizen of the world.  I cared about folks of different cultures, races … and languages.  But I was just scratching the surface of being international. 

***

In December, 2018 I went to Senegal with my Belgian friends for the first time.  Senegalese folks speak French, and not English.  Despite studying the language in high school decades ago, I’d forgotten most of it.  I struggled to communicate with my new African friends.

I’ve now been to Senegal four times and my French skills have improved.  I can compose simple sentences but when the other person speaks fast in return, I’m still lost.

I am on the French road … la route française.

***

Now I’m immersed in a Dutch course.  It’s Level One, the beginning of an immense journey to Level Five (or perhaps Level Ten, the most advanced).

I often shake my head, fascinated with how slow I am in catching on.  A classmate who studies neurology says that my 74-year-old brain is smaller than a young person’s and can’t make connections as easily as it once could.  So science is giving me an excuse!

My exam is in two weeks – Tuesday, November 7.  I’m throwing myself into the book, the audio samples and my notes.

I’m talking really simple Dutch to people like Arjen. He’s learning Spanish. I asked him how difficult that is for him. Scale of 1 to 10 (1 = easy, 10 = very hard). His response? 8! So I’m not alone in my struggles.

I am on the Dutch road … de Nederlandse weg.

***

Je deviens international

Ik word internationaal

I am becoming international