language shift

            In my linguistics class this past week we've been talking a lot about Language Shift, or how language undergoes changes over time. This normally happens over generations, although sometimes it's not as slow of a process as one might think. Just look at slang: my parents aren't saying things like “I domed that burrito in two minutes and now I have a sketch stomachache." Language shift is also apparent in immigrant families. Let's say, during a period of political repression or economic hardship in X country (take your pick, there are too many--we'll go with Mexico), two parents sent their child to the U.S. to seek opportunity, while the parents were forced to stay behind. That child grew up bilingually, retaining her Spanish and also learning English. Then she had kids of her own, but the societal pressures to speak English made it difficult for this woman to effectively pass on any Spanish, so her children grew up English-only. Therefore, these kids cannot communicate with their own grandparents. This happens all the time (sadly).

                                                                   BUT...

           What I just heard about from a girl at work, and which struck me as SHOCKING, is that she has trouble communicating with her own parents! (And not in the angsty teen I-can't-even-talk-to-my-own-parents-they-just-don't-understand-me-way). I'm talking literally, this girl has trouble having a conversation with her mother and father. They immigrated to the U.S. from Korea when this girl was seven. Her parents have lived in Southern California for over ten years and have picked up hardly a word of English, while this girl has lost much of her Korean, due to school and societal factors like English-speaking friends. Conversations in the house with her parents were apparently not enough to keep her Korean up, and so she has lost much of the vocabulary. She told me that she often has to use Google translate to ask them important things, like help on filling out her FAFSA! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Can you imagine???
           This is the first instance I've ever heard of such immediate language shift. Linguists always like to say that it's not a good or bad process, it's just natural. But I listen to this story and imagine this girl struggling to have a simple conversation with her own parents, and I can't help but feel that she sort of got the short end of the stick on this whole language shift thing.

birthday part II: blacklight bowling

After the amazing Chopped dinner, my roommate and I headed out with some of my friends from work to bowl, since every Wednesday night is college night--basically free--at Zodo's. I've been once in my four years here, so I figured my birthday would be a fun time to try something different. UCSB provides a free shuttle to all students on college night, and we happened to be the only ones who used it, so we basically got privately chauffeured in a luxury party bus to and from the alley. Also, Happy Hour started the minute we got there! We had to wait an hour for our lane, which turned out to not. be. a. problem. Here's one reason why turning 22 is better than turning 21: all your friends are already legal, so they can buy you birthday drinks!

Cheers to that!

Blacklight bowling was awesome. I got one strike, too many fouls, almost all gutter balls, and the lowest score out of both teams for both games. Turns out, you can't have EVERYTHING on your birthday! :)

A sweet action shot, two second before I fell into the lane. That's why you shouldn't change out of bowling shoes until ALL ROUNDS are completed. 

Blacklight bowling. A new Wednesday tradition?

22nd birthday

            I turned 22 on Wednesday, which seems like a boring year except for the palindrome factor. But in fact, it was one of the greatest birthdays I've ever had, thanks to amazing housemates and friends (and calls and cards from family!).
           The day started out regularly enough; it was beautifully sunny and 70 degrees in February, and I skipped two out of three classes because birthday girls have that right. I knew my housemates were planning something due to mysterious notes like “Jenny: stay out of the freezer,” but I didn't know what. It turns out, they picked up on my love of the Food Network show Chopped, since many a night has been spent attempting to do homework while watching episode after episode. So the four of them reenacted the show for me: Deniz made the appetizer (corn and cabbage salad), Leah made the main course (homemade mac 'n cheese with ham), Maddy made the dessert (frozen Reese's chocolate peanut butter pie), and Kaitlin made the drink (citrus vodka lemonade). They all plated their dishes with artistic touches, wore customized chef hats, and individually presented their courses to me, and then explained what they would do with the 10,000 dollar prize. I went down the line and tasted each dish, playing the role of absurd judge/food critic, just like on the show: “I’m really getting the strong aged cheddar undercurrents of this dish, and there is such a pleasingly creamy texture that truly enhances the overall presentation." Then we all sat down and ate together. It was the most delicious meal ever, and honestly the most thoughtful idea for a birthday. I couldn't have asked for anything better!

Chefs Kaitlin, Maddy, Leah, and Deniz: Chopped champions

P.S. Half of you will read this post and think, “How adorable!!" The other half will question your friendship with me after reading this because I have just expressed such an unhealthy obsession with a cooking show. 

P.P.S.: Post on the amazing themed party to come!