DEDICATING THIS YEAR TO THE MEMORY OF MY GRANDFATHER STANLEY H. CROW &
THE ENDURING SPIRIT OF MY GRANDFATHER
FREDERICK O. LANPHEAR

To Be of Use

The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half submerged balls.
I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.
I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who stand in the line and haul in their places,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out.
The work of the world is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
But the thing worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
but you know they were made to be used.
The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.
~ Marge Piercy ~


Tuesday, April 13, 2010

learning the language

For the past three weeks i have been attending Norwegian classes, learning the history of the culture and the basics of the language i will soon become very familiar with. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Norwegian isn't as hard of a language to learn as i expected, but the pronunciation of the words is a different story :/

I started this class with an open mind not knowing what to expect. I am very happy with the teacher and the group i am learning amongst. It is interactive, fun, humorous (saying some of the words and hearing other attempt as well...) and overall enjoyable. So hopefully i will come out of this class at least knowing how to ask "where is the restroom?".

Norge her kommer jeg!!
(Norway here i come!!)
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2 comments:

  1. odd2reApril 13, 2010 at 11:37 PM

    Hei Noah.
    Jeg synes du er flink som har startet å lære norsk allerede nå. Jeg er sikker på at du vil lære dette. Ikke vær redd for å ikke uttale ordene helt rett. Vi nordmenn, fra et lite land som Norge, er vant og tolerant over at de som ikke har norsk som morsmål, uttaler ordene ulikt.
    Vi snakkes.
    Hilsen Odd Tore

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  2. Noah LanphearApril 19, 2010 at 8:04 PM

    Here is my translation:

    "I think it's good that you've started learning Norwegian now. I'm sure you will learn this. Do not be afraid to pronounce the words wrong. Norwegian's, understand because it is a small country and they are accustomed and tolerant of those who do not speak Norwegian as their first language."


    My response;

    Takk for støtten, som gjør meg bedre å vite at nordmenn er forståelse er trøstende. Jeg er så glade for å komme og bo sammen med famlien din nete år. Jeg mottok pakken med skolen informasjon, og jeg skal snakke med lærenen min i morgen kveld.

    Vennlig hilsen, Noah

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