Text 15252, 104 rader
Skriven 2011-03-14 20:13:10 av Lee Lofaso (1:323/120.0)
     Kommentar till en text av Robert Bashe
Ärende: Languages
=================
Hello Bob,

>RW>Seeing as how Robert gave up his US citizenship to become a German
>RW>citizen, some 43 years ago or so, and he is only 68 or 69 now, that
>RW>makes the majority of his life a German and no longer an ambassador of
>RW>the US.

RB>You're misinformed, Roy. I came to Germany in 1966, when I was 24. I became
RB>German citizen in 1992. That's meanwhile 18 years ago (I arrived in Germany
RB>September 1996).

Wait a minute.
Something doesn't quite add up.
You wrote -

"I came to Germany in 1966, when I was 24."

So far, so good.

"I became a German citizen in 1992."

It takes 10 years to become a citizen of Germany,
and 1966 to 1992 is longer than 10 years.  Seems like
you had been in Germany the requisite number of years
to qualify for citizenship.

And then your math gets fuzzy -

"That's meanwhile 18 years ago"

I presume you mean 2010 - 1992 = 18 years ago
given that 1992 - 1966 = 26 years ago.

"(I arrived in Germany in September 1996")

That makes no sense.  If you did not arrive
in Germany until September 1996 then you could
not have become a German citizen in 1992.  But
if you arrived in Germany in September 1996
then that would have been 14 years ago (from
2010).

Let's focus on the math -

2011 - 1966 = 45 years
2011 - 1992 = 19 years
2011 - 1996 = 15 years

Have I confused everybody yet?

RB>True, I've meanwhile spent most of my life in Germany,

If you arrived in Germany in 1996, and have spent most of your
life in Germany, that would mean you are no older than age 30.
Which means you were a teenager when you arrived in Germany.

RB>but English is still first language (I speak German with an English
RB>accent) and up to 2003, I visited the States (parents and sister)
RB>with some regularity.

So you were born in the USA, your parents speaking English as
their first language.  Which is the language they taught you when
you were a child.  And then, as a teenager, your parents sent you
away to Germany...

RB>As long as we had a farm in Texas, I felt like one of the "good ole
RB>boys" the second I arrived from Germany and put on my boots and
RB>jeans. It was home, at least as long as my parents were alive.

A Texan always dies with his boots on.  Just like the pope.
And it doesn't matter where he is in the world.  Once a Texan,
always a Texan.  Kinda like Cajuns.

RB>On the other hand, I've never considered myself an "ambassador"
RB>of the USA even in the days when I held an American passport.

Of course not.  You're a Texan.

RB>That would have been pure hubris.

I'm Cajun, which is anything but Americain.

RB>And I have _never_ agreed with _everything_ the American government
RB>did any more than you have done or do.

Probably the most despicable thing the American government did
to Cajuns was to impose the English language on all who lived in
Louisiana.  Language defines a culture, and it is Cajun French
that defines Cajuns as a people.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

RB>I just have an opinion, and experience, same as you and most of the others w
RB>write here. And remember, I was born and grew up in Texas - and spent a lot
RB>longer time there than you, who only recently arrived from California. So
RB>don't get uppity on me ;-)

I was born and grew up in the swamp in Louisiana.  And still live
in the swamp.  Just like Pogo.  And even have alligators and owls for
friends.  So don't get uppity on me. :)

--Lee

---
 * SLMR 2.1a * All hope abandon, ye who enter messages here.
 * Origin: Chowdanet (401-724-4410) telnet://chowdanet.com  (1:323/120)