Here are my answers to this week’s SYW from Di

Can you speak a second language?
When I was growing up in South Africa, Afrikaans was introduced as a second language from the very first year of school. In my area, though, there weren’t many Afrikaans speakers, so I rarely heard the language outside the classroom. By the time I reached my final year, I could get by, but it was definitely my weakest subject. A second language really only settles in when you have plenty of everyday conversation, and that was something I’d never had.
After college, I spent a year at university completing a special diploma in Speech and Hearing. There were eight of us in the programme—four English-speaking and four Afrikaans-speaking—and I became close to the Afrikaans group. They took it upon themselves to teach me to speak their language properly. They refused to speak English to me or to respond if I slipped back into it. Their determination paid off: within three months, I was fluent.
To work as an itinerant speech and language teacher, you needed a higher-level bilingual certificate, essentially taking your second language on the higher grade. Thanks to my friends’ relentless coaching, I achieved it by the end of that year and went on to teach in both English and Afrikaans schools for five years.
I’m now mentoring a little girl who already juggles three languages. Her home language is Shona, and she attends a dual‑medium school nearby where she hears both English and Afrikaans in the classroom. She’s now completely fluent in English and Shona, and she understands and communicates beautifully in Afrikaans as well. It’s remarkable for an eight‑year‑old who is simultaneously learning to read, write, and calculate.
I’ve always believed that speaking more than one language is a tremendous advantage. English speakers, in particular, can be a bit complacent about learning other languages because there’s an assumption that everyone else will learn English, so why make the effort? The truth is, not everyone speaks English, and equipping yourself with even a basic vocabulary in the language of the country you’re visiting is absolutely worthwhile.
I’m grateful I did this with Italian, because my husband unexpectedly landed in an Italian hospital where, apart from the doctors, no one spoke English. Those few words and phrases I’d learned made a real difference. And of course, I‑Translate was a lifesaver too.

Can you remember any popular novelty gadget from the past that is not so widely available today?
Another item that’s not quite a gadget but definitely belongs in the “things we once took for granted” category is the old‑style warming cabinet. In the eighties and nineties, you could walk into almost any homeware store and find one, usually under the brand names Hostess or Butler. They were wonderfully practical, keeping dishes warm before a meal. Most of my friends owned Hostess warmers, while I owned a loyal old Butler. And because my husband did most of the cooking, a friend laughed and said, “Trust you to get a Butler rather than a Hostess!”

When we packed up to move to Struisbaai, I reluctantly sold my old Butler, convinced there wouldn’t be space for it in our new home. I replaced it with a smaller countertop version, which served me well for a decade, even though it needed the occasional repair. Then, as luck would have it, a friend decided to sell her old Hostess. I didn’t hesitate. A small payment and my little cabinet as a trade‑in, and I finally had a proper warming cabinet again. And yes – I found a space for it! This particular cabinet needed to be derusted, and I managed to get that done for a reasonable fee too. Money well spent – I am delighted to have such an item back in my inventory!

Can you juggle?
Lovely question! – I can juggle three small things in the true sense of the word – but not for very long.
In my past life, I could juggle everything I needed to do in a day quite effortlessly. Not so much nowadays!

What is your favourite snack food?
Chocolate counted as an essential food group in my teaching days, and I treated it accordingly. If the staffroom coffee/hot‑chocolate machine went on strike, I was not far behind. My principal would pat my arm and say, “Give it twenty‑four hours, Helen — it’ll rise again.”

I’m over that now that my life is calmer – a square of dark, chilly Lindt will keep me happy for days.

Gratitude:
A fun one from Susan this week. IMO a little dirt didn’t hurt anyone.

I am certainly grateful for the dirt roads I have taken, both literally and figuratively.