Learning Dutch is Easy as Een, Twee, Drie

I am currently learning Dutch to inch me closer to the possibility of living in the Netherlands in my future (and I figure the latter is more likely to happen if I can actually speak the language).

Maybe the Rosetta Stone was not cracked by the help of an iPhone, but in the last three weeks I have learned how to count to 50, talk about the weather, and say the months and week days using a very helpful app. Every night before bed (okay, that's dishonest - every night I am not physically and mentally exhausted from a long day at work - about three times a week) I complete one lesson.  At this pace I imagine I will be fluent by...2070.

The last few weeks have reminded me how much I enjoy learning new languages. I excelled in Spanish in high school with un poquito effort but unfortunately I spent more time finding new ways to say "My Spanish teacher is a jerkface" in Spanish than learning useful vocabulary that would assist me in life post-high school. But this new venture has made me realize it is easier to learn new languages when you are young. Trying to learn new words at this age is like trying to cram another shoe into a very full closet. I definitely need to step it up in the coming months and get a Dutch grammar and vocabulary lesson book. With the academic year winding down, I see no reason why I can't spend my summer months laying on my lawn learning how to say "Het is warm vandaag!" (It is hot today!) and "Breng me naar de windmolens" (Take me to the windmills!)

My hero for this goal is my friend Jenny, who is currently living in Denmark and taking intensive Danish language courses. A special shout out to her for recently being approved for a Danish work permit!