I just gave my first speech in danish...

Hej alle,
I just gave my first real speech in Danish. Which was technically my second, although still as nerve racking as my first. (The first was a two sentence speech at the first rotary meeting I went to, which was then followed by a 5 minute speech in english.) It seemed to go ok, it was only about five sentences long. The entire speech was about this 2½ page story Marta, my Danish literature, asked me to attempt to read. Now, it took me about 45 minutes to get through the first half page. When Marta came over and asked how I was doing. I told her it made no sense and she laughed and said it was becasue my Danish wasn't that good. And I though "Really, well then I'll just have to prove you wrong" (now I'm cursing that I proved her wrong.) damn my competitiveness! So I translated a short paragraph in my head and said it outloud to her as she read along. Then she said, in Danish, wow Jasmine that was so good! Then she said that I should give a speech tomorrow, a summary of the story... in Danish!!! And what am I supposed to say, "no I'm really not that good at danish"?!? Of course not, so I had no other choice but to agree. The only problem was that last night I also had to finish an English paper. Yikes! So I finished the translation last night and then finished the english paper. Then I wrote up the summary in first class today. For second and third class and lunch I went over to Eva, one of my danish friend's home, and her, Alexandra, and I played Rock Band. So, when I was there I translated my summary into danish, and then had Alex fix it (you know how bad online translators can be) and then had her read it to me so I could get the pronunciation down. So this is what the paper I brought up there looks like

(my transaltion) Denne historie handler om en mand, der benytter sig af en kvinder, der har lavt selvværd. Hele den historie han fortæller, hvordan han kan ikke engang huske hendes navn, og at han bare vil have sex med hende. Hun går sammen med dette, fordi hun har så lavt selvværd og følte, at det ville gøre hende føle sig bedre. Han taler også om hans lille skyld over situationen, men i sidste ende efterlader hende i midt om natten, mens hun sover


(alex's correction) Denne historie handler om en mand, der udnytter en kvinde, der har lavt selvværd. I hele den historie han fortæller, fotæller han hvordan han ikke engang kan huske hendes navn, og at han bare vil have sex med hende. Hun finder sig i dette, fordi hun har så lavt selvværd og følte, at det ville få hende til at føle sig bedre. Han taler også om, hvordan han føler sig lidt skyldig over situationen, men i sidste ende efterlader han hende midt om natten, mens hun sover

(phonetical pronunciation) Denne historier handlar om en man, der unnattar ing kviner, der har la-out selvær. E håle den historier han fortæller, fortæller han vordan han ikke eengen can hoosk hens noun, o at han bår vil håva sex mel hen. Hun finne sigh e dette, fordee hun har så la-out selvær o fulte,at det ville få henne tee at fule sigh belha. Han taler også om, vordan han fuller sigh lidt skooldeeoer situationen, men e seester ende efterlel han henne midt om natten, mens hun so-ar.

I'm just glad it's over now. I love public speaking, I'm just not up for it in Danish yet. My class didn't seem to mind and I think they actually might have understood most of it! But for some reason I think they got some amount of enjoyment form watching me up there. The one time I actually looked at one of the faces in the audience and it just had to be Peter, with this gigantic grin across his face. Oh well, at least I got the teacher to like me :)

~Jasmine H