Starting today I am having a week of total immersion in Catalan. Where possible I’ll speak only in Catalan and listen to Catalan radio and TV.  It is one of the recommendations in this blog about learning a new language and so far I haven’t really given it a good shot.
So, what about the blog?
I decided to continue writing here in English but concentrating on things to do with the language and how it is to let go of my mother tongue for a short time.
As I can speak English at home I have the tendency to slide back into my familiar pond when I get stuck for a word or a phrase or …. when emotions run high.
This has to stop!
For example today when we were driving to the rubbish tip and I wanted to express forcefully something about the driving here in Catalunya (eg the speed which people drive through built up areas and the way it is considered normal to put your foot down when approaching traffic lights so not to have to stop)  I found myself swearing and cursing in English. Yet, I do have a store of expletives in Catalan. Many of them learned first hand from the son of the house.
So, here we go….
” Ei, ets tonto! … Puta merda…..Collons!!!  Ostia!….Tio!  ”
” You are an idiot…Shit of a prostitute….Bollocks…..The Host…..Guy!”
Funny how when you want to swear you automatically switch back to your own language and the new words seem somehow less strong. Also I worry that using Catalan means I am not so sensitive to how strong the words are. Who can I use them in front of?
A while ago I learned an insult from the boy – “Cara cul” It roughly translated means ‘bottom face’ which sounds funny in English but it caused trouble here. On the other hand I find puta merda offensive but he uses it almost every day without problems. Homework – puta merda. Vegetables on his plate – puta merda   Time to turn off computer – ditto……
Mmmmm. More study needed I think before I can really relax and let rip.