Why do I write in English although I was born in a German-speaking country?
German=world language? Hmmm…. let me think…
Last time I checked, English was the most common language on the planet. From all the ten available fingers representing the global usage of languages – German is probably only one cell of the nail on my little finger. “It’s just a piece of sky”. English takes up at least fife fingers I’d say. Don’t sue me if it’s more, or less. I’m not only crap at maths, I’ve had Dyscalculia for more than 30 years and found out about it 2 years ago (It ain’t fun. Go and google it). See? I have an excuse 🙂
So English it is.
Although I have to say that I do feel little pangs every now and then, when it comes to certain expressions that I want to share with members of the respective cultural background and find they are not really transferable to the other language. Take “Schmäh-Wafferl” for instance. It’s a cute little title you award to a person who you consider funny or who made a witty remark. It is the Austrian equivalent of what people from Germany refer to as “Scherzkeks”, using a combination of the Austrian terms for “joke” (Schmäh) and “waffles” (Wafferl). If you call someone a “joke biscuit” or “joke waffles” it’s not getting close to the meaning it conveys.
On the other hand, how to transfer the blackest British humour appropriately to a German speaker not acquainted with English without ruining the pun and fun? You can’t, most of the time.
Why don’t I stay and explore my world in German, then, if it’s so difficult? Because I love both languages equally and: see introduction.
So I was thinking, why not go global, think biiiiig, try my wings, instead of sneaking through a small window and see only “just a piece of sky” (Yentl)? That’s what I was used to doing. Not any more. I’m going for the big world out there.
I’m Spartacus.
Tales from Ella's kitchen 
Hi, I’m new to your blog but I love the way you think.
Although I live in America, I totally get the idea of “kitchen-home” and wish we had a similar word in English. It might not be as all-encompassing, but maybe “hearth” has similar connotations.
Like you, I have fond memories of gathering around the stove, helping my mom with canning projects, bringing home whatever is abundant in the market, like bruised peaches or chicken necks, or even growing on the side of the road like wild blackberries and apples and grapes, and making it into more than the sum of its parts (maybe dyscalculia in a good way). These are my favorite memories of growing up.
In September I’m most reminded of that as my garden produces heaps of vegetables all at once, apples and chanterelles appear on the roadsides, and we start laying in our supplies for winter. We chose our house partly for the kitchen, with expanses of counterspace and a giant four-flue chimney with a bake oven in it (we’ve never used it but I like that we could), partly because of the garden space, and partly for the location in the middle of working farms, forests, and pastures. It is a place of abundance.
Look forward to hearing more of your thoughts.
Tnx for the lovely comment and welcome Fleem!
I can almost see your house in my mind’s eye. It must be lovely. All that grows around it brings up mouth-watering images to me.