Now, to the uneducated person, that sounds like I have a fairly decent ability to write german. Truth is, that took me at least 30 minutes to complete. And several rounds of editing. And reference to a german dictionary - more than five times. Without the dictionary, the only bits of the above that I would have got correct would have been:
Hallo! Ich heisse Melissa und ich bin neunundzwanzig Jahre alt. Ich bin eine Krankenschwester in einem Krankenhaus. Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch.
(For those of you who would like a translation, the first paragraph reads: "Hello! My name is Melissa and I am 29 years old. My thirtieth birthday is on the 26th of April. I am a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the local hospital. I speak a little german. I write a bit more. I can read german better than I speak or write it." The second reads: "Hello! My name is Melissa and I a m 29 years old. I am a nurse at a hospital. I speak a little german.")
So, I would like to actively improve the amount I can read, write and speak of this language I once knew more intimately. Whenever I spend time with native german speakers, my german improves tenfold and I vouch to spend more time maintaining my ability, and then I get lazy. I'm using this challenge to motivate myself to improve my ability on my own. Just attempting to write the first paragraph was a good shake-up of my brain cells!! (Oh, my poor baby brain!!)
In other news, I completed one of my challenges without even thinking about it!! I performed a random act of kindness today. I was on my way to picking up my daughter from child care, when I saw a nasty car accident at a major intersection. I pointed it out to my mum, who was in the car with me, and as soon as I had made my way though the traffic, I pulled over where it was safe. I went over to the scene and called out to the affected parties - "Are you okay? Is anybody hurt?" They both shook their heads (meaning no one was injured). I replied "I'm glad you're alright and they both replied "thank you".
Initially I didn't think anything of it. I just figured it was one of those things you do. But then as I got back in the car, I realised there were a lot of people standing around watching, and not a lot of people actually making an effort to ensure the welfare of the people involved. Mum had even said to me, "No one looks like they are hurt, I'm sure everything is ok" but I still wanted to pull over anyway and make sure for myself. Did I feel an obligation as a nurse? Maybe. But I could see there was no one in either of the smashed vehicles. Seeing all the people standing around watching pulled at something at me. I figured you could be a bystander that watches, or you can be a bystander who actually shows that you care. If anyone had been hurt, I know I would have gone to do something. There's a big part of me that is driven by the need to help and serve others in need. Performing that random act of kindness almost unconsciously has helped me to identify with that drive to serve within myself.
I was saying to a psychologist the other day that I felt like I had lost touch with my self-identity over the years, and that I have always identified myself by the roles I am currently carrying out in my life. It is actually a rewarding feeling to realise I am more than the labels I have placed upon myself. And I guess that is just another reason why I have wanted to challenge myself with this 30 before 30 list.
Tomorrow I think I am going to attempt my smiling at a stranger challenge. Promise you get to kick my butt if I don't do it! And if you're into Pinterest, check out my 30 before 30 inspiration board via the Pinterest button or by clinking the link. I've become a bit of a Pinterest addict, so I'm using it as another source of motivation! ...Hmm, I think I really need that 24 hour technology fast… soon… ;)
Toodles!! :)