Lent

I am not religious, so I am merely borrowing traditions with the aim of self-improvement. Don’t suppose the big sky-boss will disapprove?

I’m making this year about giving up bad habits. And while I have many smaller bad habits that do need to go, the one I’m targeting this year is that self-deprecating humour and the talking-myself-down when meeting new people, so that I don’t appear too immodest. I make fun of my language skills a lot. Part of it comes from pre-empting comments – whether they be encouraging or jibes – from people who have grown up firmly set in one language, and can use it with far more finesse than I can with any of my languages. This does, however, lead to people sometimes taking my word for it and getting patronising/police-y, to the point where I have to explain my jokes (which I am NEVER giving up), and also explain the vocab/grammar rules behind them to prove that I do know how the language does work. We all know that nothing kills the vibe better than explaining jokes.

I am bloody great at languages. I may feature shortcomings like many who have had to cope with growing up multilingual, but few people are as reliable called to social events in the workplace to make newcomers feel at home. And we mostly have to attend “for free”. This is a personal asset into which I put a lot of effort, and many people get to take advantage of just because I am a nice person. Especially in those scenarios when it comes to settling newcomers to an office/class/social situation. Because I have been that person so many times myself. Yes, I understand that this multilingualism is a privilege, but it’s not one that me and my ilk haven’t had to work for, and continue to work for, in order to maintain these abilities.

In conclusion, if I slip up, remember what I’ve written here. Otherwise, let us all own our skills and be proud.

Oh, and on a more positive note, I’m getting back on the running band-wagon that I’ve previously fallen off. Fit and healthy days are ahead!