well its been a year

[Stan B]

that Maryna and Katya have been 'in-country' and things couldn't be better. Katya is doing great in kindergarten and Maryna has adapted quite well to the island lifestyle. The only big thing that she still is looking for is a good job that fits in around Katya's school hours. Until then she will have to make do with going to the gym and hanging at the beach...aloha

[thesearch]

... in response to well its been a year, posted by Stan B on Oct 3, 2002

Oh my, a year has gone by?  

Congratulations.

Giving  piano lessons at home on that nice piano that you bought for her not work out?

[Mark H]

... in response to well its been a year, posted by Stan B on Oct 3, 2002

Stan,
Congrats and aloha! Haven't heard from you off the board in a long time, glad everything is going well. How's Maryna's english coming along, fluent yet? Can you guys watch a movie together and she gets it? My sister in law is from Spain as  you know, they've been married 20 years...we still have to explain alot of lines in movies to her. The slang just goes right over her head more than not. She's got a degree in Business from Univ of Maryland and movie slang still throws her from time to time.

Peace,
Mark H.

[Stan B]

... in response to Re: well its been a year, posted by Mark H on Oct 3, 2002

It took a few months, but Maryna really has gotten a taste for American movies and TV. She loves Seinfeld, the Adam Sandler movies and older movies the most. I know that it helped that she spoke english when we met, and then took lessons until she came over. It also helps that in Hawaii, english is a 2nd language for lots of people, so you don't get an attitude from others that you might get on the mainland.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: well its been a year, posted by Mark H on Oct 3, 2002

Interesting thing about that...

Victoria and Stas recently had a "special treat" at their English lesson. Their teacher showed them SHREK in English.

She said that they were able to follow it with no problem, and that they really liked the movie.

But I find it hard to believe that they got all of the inside jokes (the take off on Disney, the Matrix, etc)...

So, even if the language is understood... even if the movie is enjoyed... some of the stuff you just have to have lived here for years to get, I think...

(But it was impressive that they understood all of the many dialects that SHREK threw at them... I was encouraged by their progress...)

[Apk1]

... in response to Movies and Slang, posted by MarkInTx on Oct 3, 2002

My wife speaks English very well, yet I still need to explain simple things to her in the movies.

We rent DVD's every weekend, the kids choose what they want to watch, I get to choose something I like...and my wife chooses what she wants to watch, always a romance movie....(smile)...I gues the romantic movies do not need much explanation.

[KenC]

... in response to Re: Movies and Slang, posted by Apk1 on Oct 3, 2002

Guys,
IT progressively gets better.  When Lena first arrived, she would lean toward slapstick comedy or more action type movies (less talk, more action).  Her first movie in America was American Pie.  She laughed her butt off!  Now her taste in movies are all over the place with no language restrictions.  The thing I find interesting is that I have a difficult time understanding English spoken with a foriegn accent, but she has no problem at all.  I am the one asking, "What did he say?"
KenC

[Oscar]

... in response to well its been a year, posted by Stan B on Oct 3, 2002

.

[Philb]

... in response to well its been a year, posted by Stan B on Oct 3, 2002

thanks for the update.  I hope you have time to keep them coming from time to time.

[Jack]

... in response to well its been a year, posted by Stan B on Oct 3, 2002

Man, did that year fly by quickly!!

All the best to you and your family and continued good fortune.