brain cramps!

Over the past few days, I have been spoken to in Flemish by a stranger on a few occasions, and what happens? My brain shuts down completely – I can’t think of words in English, let alone in Vlaamse! I know, I know. I was teasing Mahmoud before, and now I’m having the same problem! Then again, today I said negentien and he wrote 18, and I said, “Nee achttien, negentien,” and he wrote 19 and said “achttien?”
Soon afterwards, as I insisted that I am zesenveertig, Patricia and Marsi both did the basic math, 2008-1963 = 45. How is it possible that I convinced myself (for weeks if not months, mind you) that I am a year older than I actually am? Marsi was triumphant: “Then you are the same age as my mother!”
I knew I was in trouble this morning when I met Hucine on the way to class and he addressed me in goed Nederlands. Bouchra was already on my case last week. The first time I wrote some answers on the board, and Anne asked de klasse if there were any mistakes, Bouchra nailed as many of my errors as she could! (I’m just waiting for my chance to get even, hehehe!) 😉
Friendships are developing . . . Topi has already promised to take me to Uganda. 🙂 Mahmoud encouraged Tolu when she hesitated over reading out loud: “Just try! You have to!” Ayman wants to tell me his story. Marinela was delighted that Bulgaria was listed first, “as it should be,” in the last blogpost. (I think we are going to have to keep houd onze ogen op haar! That’s “keep our eyes on her.” Denk ik!)
Meer slaap zal helpen. Austublieft!