Snowflake Challenge 11 + 13

[anemonen]

Day 11

Share a book/song/movie/tv show/fanwork/etc that changed your life.

Like, the obvious one is of course Harry Potter, because, obviously. I'm sure I've used that before though? But I don't know what else I should choose, so maybe I'll just talk about it some more. I think I haven't talked about this part before: English.

I read the first three books in one go when they'd all been translated into Norwegian (I think it might have been around the time the translation of Prisoner of Azkaban came out), and then had to wait for absolute aaages for Goblet of Fire (like half a year, but when you're 11 that's ages). And not only that - I had to wait further half a year for the Norwegian translation of it, which was torture. I remember I actually tried to read my half-sister's copy of the English version, but I was only 12 at the time, and with such a big book the challenge was a bit too much. But THEN when Order of the Phoenix came out, it was the summer when I was 14 and then I was determined - I would read it in English when it was released. And so I worked my way diligently through it, through Rowling's penchant for using weird words (I particularly remember 'protuberant') and I succeeded! I reread it in Norwegain when the translation came out, but it was the last book I did that with.

And so it opened a completely new world for me. If I could read an 800 page book in English, I could read anything! I've loved reading in English ever since, and I love the richness of the language. Maybe that's why I ended up studying English now?

I'll have to do Day 12 when I finish a thing I'm working on now *g*


Day 13:
In your own space, set some goals for the coming year. They can be fannish or not, public or private.

I'll set myself a fannish goal for this one - to be more active. To hang around more here, at least a couple of times a week, to draw more and.. stuff? I'll try to participate in a handful of fests (I think maaaybe Big Bang? If I can convince myself that some writer would like to have their fic illustrated by me XD). I won't be too ambitious, and rather pleasantly surprise myself than fail.

So, that's it for today folks :D

Comments

[dragonyphoenix]

If I could read an 800 page book in English, I could read anything! Eee! That's wonderful. Congratulations to your younger self!

[anemonen]

Hahaha thank you! Tbh I think I felt like I didn't have much of a choice -- the alternative of not getting to read it for several months was not an option :P

[gracerene]

The Harry Potter books are so amazing and life changing! I mean, how cool is that that the books managed to open the door to reading a new language?! That's super impressive and awesome :D

ETA: you should definitely do big bang!!

[anemonen]

They really are! Especially for our generation I think. To be fair, though, learning English isn't quite like learning another foreign language since we're so surrounded by it - it's almost like a second language here. So not as impressive as if I read it in French or German or something :P But it is interesting! I wonder if/when I'd started reading books in English if it hadn't been for HP. I know it is a threshold for a lot of people. But if I hadn't I couldn't have read fanfics either!! Can you imagine??

Thanks! I'm definitely considering it <3

[spikedluv]

Good luck being more active here!

[anemonen]

Thank you!!

[lokifan]

:D As an English as a foreign language teacher, this made me happy :D Especially since all I do is be like GUYS READ IN ENGLISH, INTERACT WITH THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE INTERNET!

[anemonen]

Haha I'm glad! And seriously, reading is such a help. And definitely internet engagement. About 70% of my English vocabulary probably comes from reading :D