learning

so the language...

Well officially 6 months into my studies I wish I could say that I have made some ground...technically, yes, I have made "some ground"...but we are talking millimetres not miles;)

I've decided to blame this on the beginning of the year (yes...just remembered it's July hmmm) make that, the last 6 months having been hectic!

All excuses aside though, when an English couple recently visited from Nepal I was utterly shamed into revising my "study routine"...which on revision was neither study nor routine - pfft!

So...I've decided to defy my own history and rise that extra bit earlier (c. 6:30 am) and endeavour to study Nepali then!

(See below for a glimpse into my early-morning-Nepali-study-sessions - why is it that the same month I attempt to 'defy my own history' Sydney has the coldest June day on record since 1967??? - burrrrrrrr)

At present the process is as follows:

6:30 am - Wake to the sounds of Onella Vernoni
6:30:30 am - Turn alarm off before I start to hate the song
6:31 am - Turn on espresso machine
6:32 am - Put oats in microondus (ooops slipped into Spanish mode...actually I just like saying "microondus" - mi-crrrrrrrro-on-ddus;)
6:33 am - Espresso shot
6:35 am - Froth milk - always a challenge before quarter to 7
6:40 am - Hop back into bed with coffee and oats...take a sip, have a mouthful, breathe contently
6:42 am - Open my Nepali "Examine the Scriptures Daily" and endeavour to read the scripture quoted - I'm getting better at the Bible books and numbers (only know up to 20 though so I'm stuffed on the 21st of the month he he)
6:50 am - Check the English that I've at least got the scripture right - huge disappointment if I get Proverbs (Hitopadesh) and Ecclesiastes (Upadesh) mixed up;)
6:55 am - Copy the Devanagari and attempt (key work: attempt) to romanise...
7:00 am - Attempt to recognise some words - my favourite words I've learnt thus far are:

Tantra Mantra - Practice of Spiritism
Saaraa - Whole
Agrej - English
Bhaawanna - feeling (one of our friend's name...she's a pretty feeling person so it's perfect - possibly an NF too;)
Shanti - peace...as opposed to
Ashanti - unrest - yep just like the singer!
Bharosa - trust/confidence
Thanna baia - apparently it means you're completely stuffed, as in, full...think this expression may come in handy;)
anything ending in "haru" (it pluralises the word - huge sense of satisfaction knowing the word is a plural despite not knowing what the word is;)