Learning Kannada

Learning Kannada:

There is no real text book, and the workbooks are …. interesting.

For example, all numbers until 100 are written out (like in English, they follow the same pattern after 20), so why write them ALL out? After the numbers section, logically (apparently) there’s the section on “Sentences of Two Words” which include:

Good boy
White horse
Little girl
Stepmother
Jasmine bud
Parrot’s talk
Drink medicine.

Very logical.

Sentences of three words include these useful phrases:

There are thirty days in a month.
He sings well.
The elephant has four legs.

The last section, which in all normal language texts would be a dictionary, is entitled “Some Words” and includes in this exact order:


Pure
Unexpectedly
Unexpected
Without reason
Untimely
Misdeed
Elder sister
Neighbourhood
Letter of the alphabet
Affection, liking
Gold-smith
Rice water
Irregular
Rice mixed with turmeric powder
Imperishable
The study of alphabet
A degree of terrestrial latitude
The eye
Eye-disease
Undivided
Pitch
Uneatable
Entire, whole
Wooden bolt
Uncounted

Lovely.

But here’s for something funny. In another text, here are two sample conversations:

What is your dog doing?
It is barking in the road.
Why is it barking?
There is a mad man going in the road, it’s barking at him.

Why did you come late to the Kannada class today?
Oh! I could not get the wretched bus; always there is some trouble or the other.
Was it late when you left?
When I woke up, it was already seven therefore I was delayed.

I LOVE IT!!!!

And you wonder why I am not learning Kannada …..



Here some pictures of .... the view from my classrom, the classroom itself with some students.

A day in the life of .... Wed., 24 Oct. -- Forum Mall

Today:
went to a MALL with the kids, dropped them off at an indoor play area (with Devi). While they played, I got to do a phone interview (that's an "aside" story), got money from my American debit card at a state-of-the-art ATM (HSBC, in case you were wondering), took a look at all the latest mobile phones, and did my grocery shopping at a supermarket. Pretty good and normal, right?

But THIS, below, is really India.

At the phone shop: no stock of Nokia flip-phones. This is THE phone shop in one of the biggest malls in Bangalore. Hmmmm. Nevermind, Srini said that I could get anything for half-price at Bjkfsdkhfskjhfsdkj Market anyway. Just that they are smuggled, so there won't be any warranty. Not that that would be needed. :) :) :) . I'm looking forward to that Blksdfdjlkjksdf Market trip!

At the supermarket: was given a nice welcome by the mini-flies surrounding the onions ... on a pleasant note, was promptly informed of lack of Quaker Oats. My turn at check-out took 10 minutes for 10 items, plus 5 minutes to get my change.

At the indoor play-area: the price was REDUCED, and the staff were all playing with Tina and Lucy. THIS I love.

Got home, had lunch, blah, blah, blah. Only one power outage.

4.30 PM: went to my Kannada class (that's the state language here), and basically understood nothing, but then again, neither did any of the other students (all Indian nationals from other parts of India). Walked home, feeling ok.

7 PM: walked around the block with the kids in their PJs. Halfway home, was accompanied by our ironing-man, drunk unfortunately but not surprisingly. He wanted money, of course. I told him to ask Phil since I ALWAYS say no, but "sir" sometimes says yes. He was nice though, and we all happily said good-bye at our gate. Good, right?

That's about it for tonight!