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2017: The First Four Months

7/5/2017

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A Belated Happy Easter To You All!

I trust that you all had a wonderful Easter and that you still have some of your Easter chocolate left over! (As I write, I'm munching on an Easter egg I happened to find in my cupboard. I tend to keep my chocolate in the fridge, so the eggs currently residing in my cupboard are ones that possibly slip my mind until I go to fetch something from the cupboard for dinner!)
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In much the same way as I have done every year since I can remember, I spent some of Good Friday taking part in the local Lions Club Swimarathon to raise money that would ultimately be split equally between the Lions Club's own chosen good causes, Chailey Heritage Foundation's DRM Project and the Seahorses Swimming Club, members of which I was supporting in the water. We swam in relay for 55 minutes to raise as much money as we could for these two worthy causes and I was so proud of our wonderful swimmers. I would love you to get behind us and show your support by sponsoring our two amazing teams. We had a great time - and I, for one, was still aching the following morning!
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Indigo Languages: The Year So Far

It seems utterly ludicrous that we are approaching the second week in May already - how did that happen? Where did all that time go? And what have I been up to here at Indigo Languages since my last blog entry?

Proofreading

Since January I have been blissfully busy working on a number of smaller proofreading projects for clients.

In a recent meeting with Susan Ball, I learned that there could be a third book in her Universal Life Lessons series in the pipeline.

I look forward enormously to finding out what lies on the pages of this latest offering and to proofreading the book in the near future.
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Learning New Languages

I'm also painfully aware that I have yet to explore the two glorious language learning tools I have at my disposal, a CD rom to teach me Dothraki, of Game of Thrones fame, and Kloo's game for learning Spanish. I can't wait to try these out, although I must confess at this point that I have not once seen an episode of "Game of Thrones" (is that bad?!) - perhaps venturing into the linguistic world of Dothraki will inspire me to watch the show!?
What's more, after a recent (and amazing!) stay at the IceHotel in Sweden, I returned with an inclination to try to learn Swedish.

My cousin is married to a lovely Swedish woman (who is, naturally, highly proficient in English) and they have children who are growing up in a bilingual environment. And so I think it would be nice, when next we meet, to be able to hold a short conversation with them in Swedish!

I will be sure to let you know, in the coming weeks and months, how these language related antics are progressing!

What about you? Did you make a New Year's resolution to begin learning a new language? What language did you choose to learn (and why)? And how is it going?
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Why not let us know about your own language endeavours in the comments below?
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New Year's Resolutions!

15/1/2017

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New Year's Resolutions!

When the last New Year came around, I was terribly determined to spend more time on updating this blog more regularly. Unfortunately, whilst we, as humans, often have the best intentions, sometimes  life has a funny way of throwing other ideas into the mix.

Last year was a busy one for Indigo Languages, where I was asked toproofread a number of shorter documents as well as the highly impressive second offering from Susan Ball at Universal Life Lessons.

I also offered tutoring and study support sessions to a number of students at GCSE level as well as preparing a short translation from English into French for a client and translating elements of a website from German into English to enable a client to consider the products on offer and to place their order.

In 2017, I envisage refining the services offered here at Indigo Languages to a more focussed combination of proofreading, translation and homework support. 

Whilst I have enjoyed tutoring over the past couple of years and have met some lovely, highly dedicated and motivated students, I know that my true passion for languages lies within the realms of manipulating them to find the best way to convey meaning.

With this in mind, I will continue to focus my attention in 2017 upon growing the proofreading and translation aspects of my business, which I was pleased to see grew steadily throughout 2016. I will also continue to offer my highly popular homework checking services.

As we make our way through 2017, I look forward to growing Indigo Languages even further, and to assisting you with all of your proofreading and translation needs.

Wishing you all a belated Happy New Year!

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Back with the Blog!

2/10/2016

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Catching Up On Correspondence!
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I must confess - and apologise! - for the fact that it has been such a very long time since I last posted a blog entry. In the last twelve months I have mainly been busy getting to grips with my full-time role within a great company in the aviation industry, as well as carrying out a variety of translation and proofreading tasks alongside this.

I have translated a number of important documents over the past twelve months, including letters in French and an assortment of assignments in German. 

I have also had the pleasure of proofreading the second book in the Universal Life Lessons series, "Universal Life Lessons: Gift of your Greatness" before its publication on International Day of Peace 2016.

A Slight Change In Direction

In the past year, as well as proofreading and translation, I have also supported a number of pupils as they prepare for their GCSEs but from this point forward I have decided to focus my attention predominantly on proofreading and translation.

I will continue to offer the homework checking service for those pupils who need some assistance with short homework assignments but for now I am looking to concentrate on both proofreading and translation.

As always, should you have an article that you would like to have proofread or translated, please contact me through this website to discuss your requirements.

I look forward to hearing from you.
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International Translation Day - 30.09.2015

1/10/2015

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Hot on the heels of the European Day of Languages, yesterday saw another important annual event in the diary of any linguist: International Translation Day.

​Translating Through The Years

Translation can be a very rewarding profession, and one that is ever-changing.  Once upon a time, a translator’s resources would have been limited to a huge number of big, bulky dictionaries that they may have needed to transport from one venue to another in the course of their working day. These days, we have access not only to a wealth of exciting material online but also to discussion groups and other forums that are designed to allow us to consult with other professionals.  It’s an exciting time to be a translator!

Clients, whether professional or personal, also benefit greatly from these developments.  Technology has helped to simplify the translation process – just a few clicks and a client’s document lands in the inbox of their chosen translator, who could be living half way around the world in a completely different time zone, and can be back with them again in a flash.

​And if someone has received a short letter or email from a penfriend that is written in a foreign language, and they want to have a general idea what it’s about, the simplest of online translation websites can be a breath of fresh air.  It may not be able to handle the same level of complexity as a human being, but a simple ‘copy and paste’ into the box on the screen and that person’s letter suddenly begins to make sense!

The Role Of The Translator

​But while so much has changed in the world of translation, there is a lot that remains the same. A translator’s goal has always been, and always will be, to enable people to understand what has been written and here, at least, nothing has changed. Translators continue to strive to produce work of the highest quality, ensuring that the piece they produce fits the brief provided by their client, whose duty it remains to inform the translator of their brief with as much detail and accuracy as possible. 

The Concept Of Translation In Science Fiction

If we look back over the last ten, twenty, even thirty years, the concept of understanding a foreign language and the idea of bridging gaps in understanding between different species of alien has been explored to great lengths.

Several science fiction series and films have granted their characters a special gift in the form of a universal translator that enables them to understand many languages spoken by the aliens with whom they come into contact. In Farscape, there was the translator microbe, while Doctor Who’s TARDIS is also kitted out with a universal translator that allows the Doctor and his companion to understand and communicate the many alien languages they encounter. Star Trek is another show in which characters benefit from universal translators.

What Other Devices Are Used?

​In the Star Wars series, in which the characters often continue to speak in their own language, subtitles are used selectively. If an element of a particular story line hinges on characters being unable to understand something that R2D2 has said, then such an exchange may not be subtitled. On the other hand, if a story line involves one character giving an important speech about avoiding death at the hand of baddies, you’ll find this speech will have subtitles. 

The Use of Real Languages In Fictional Series

What is even more interesting about Star Wars and their approach to incorporating ‘alien’ languages is that, unlike the Na’vi language of Avatar fame, the ‘alien’ languages spoken were, in fact, real languages, perhaps lesser known languages that you would find spoken somewhere on our planet.

The Pitfalls Of The Electronic Translation Device

Whilst there are, of course, distinct advantages to having a device, in whatever shape or form that it might take, that translates everything you hear around you into a language that you can understand, personally I feel that such devices take some of the magic and appeal out of learning a foreign language.

Some may also lack the level of accuracy to which we have become accustomed when delegating a piece of translation to a trusted translator.

The End Of Language Learning As We Know It?

With all these whizz-bang electronic translation devices emerging and at our disposal, do you worry, as I sometimes do, that we will we lose the incentive, the motivation to try to learn foreign languages for ourselves? That, with the development of so many different means by which to understand words written and spoken in a foreign language without having to first learn the language from scratch, we will become a generation of people that simply bring the visions to life that were once captured in science fiction film and series of years gone by?

If someone offered you the chance to be implanted with a universal translator of some kind, would you take it?
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European Day of Languages - 26 September 2015

26/9/2015

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​​One of the most important days in any linguist’s calendar must be the European Day of Languages. Held every year since 2001, this is a day on which the Council of Europe strives to encourage its 800 million citizens to learn a new language, whether they are young or old, in school or in work.

​The Council believes that this is central to promoting intercultural understanding. It is also vital to the cultural heritage of Europe as a continent. As reported in an article in The Guardian last year, there are 23 officially recognised languages within the European Union. Alongside these, there are more than 60 indigenous/minority languages and a handful of others spoken by smaller groups of migrants.

How Have Children Been Marking The Occasion?

I have been finding out how some children have spent the day from some of my young friends. One of them told me how the children at her school had marked the occasion. 

Rosie told me how the Year 3 pupils spent time learning about countries in addition to France in which French is spoken, including Madagascar and Canada. In Year 4, children were learning about countries like Peru and Chile, where French is spoken. 

She went on to explain that Year 5 and 6 learnt some French songs and had fun cooking some foreign dishes. Meanwhile, in Year 7, pupils continued with their normal lessons but with a Spanish and French twist, learning about Christopher Columbus in their history classes and Louis Pasteur in French lessons. They also learnt to play Pétanque. Year 7 and 8 pupils painted Picasso faces in art. In Year 8 the children learnt a Spanish poem about a guitar and they also had fun cooking foreign delicacies!

As Similar As They Are Different?

​​One of the things that I love about foreign languages is their uniqueness. Some share a certain quality or qualities, yet each foreign language remains distinctive. Many of you reading this post will have undoubtedly already come across the video in which characters say a series of foreign words.
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Whilst their pronunciation is exaggerated and inevitably spiced with more than a hint of over-emphasis, the words chosen demonstrate in some small way that some languages do, indeed, sound similar to others, whilst others may stand out a little more for their unique sounds.​
If, like me, you’re a keen linguist and love exploring and finding out more about foreign cultures, you will love the advantages that learning a foreign language brings.
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Think how many different European, even world languages you know. How many of them can you speak? How much do you know about the countries in which these languages are spoken? Learning new languages and about different world cultures can open your eyes to a whole new way of looking at the world!

Another Year, Another Language...

​For Christmas, I was given a rather wicked present: this audio CD to teach me Dothraki, the language of “Game of Thrones.” It's been a busy year for me so far but, since today is the European Day of Languages, this seems to be the perfect time for me to take up learning a new language! 
​If you would prefer to learn a European language, rather than one taken from a television series, maybe Kloo Language Games can help. I'm sure they would be only too happy to advise you on their range of bright, exciting games designed to help you and your family to learn French, Spanish or Italian in a fun and inventive way! ​
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My Challenge to You!

They were kind enough to send me this great game to try out with some of my young friends - I can't wait to have a go!

I’ll be posting about my progress with learning both Spanish and Dothraki in the coming months so keep an eye on the blog!
While I’m deeply engrossed in beginning to learn these two exciting languages, I’m challenging all of you to try learning a new language too.

The important question, of course, is:


Which language will you choose?
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A Linguist Is For Life, Not Just For Term-Time!

19/8/2015

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Busy Is As Busy Does...

It's been a crazy few months here at Indigo Languages - but I have a few moments to stop, sit down, catch my breath and update you all.

Term time has ended for now so my pupils have the whole of the summer holidays to relax before lessons start back up again in September. But while my pupils have been enjoying a break, I have spent time focusing on some proofreading tasks.

The beauty of proofreading is that I receive requests not just from local clients but also from those that live further afield - I have assisted a number of clients in both Germany and America in the past twelve months.

And, just recently, I received an email from Australia!

"My Brilliant Blue Bohemian Butterfly"

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Four months ago, a young woman passed away. She had a chromosome abnormality that gave medical professionals reason to believe her life expectancy would be significantly reduced. They did not think she would reach adulthood. 

Anna, meanwhile, had other ideas. She defied all the odds, growing into an amazing young woman. Anna passed away at 29 years of age.

Her mother, Susan, was so inspired by her daughter's sheer and total determination that she penned this insightful account of Anna's life, infused with a splash of humour and many useful resources.  

Susan hopes that, by writing this book, she will pass on invaluable life lessons that she herself learned from her daughter.

Universal Life Lessons

You can find out more about Susan's Universal Life Lessons From My Brilliant Blue Bohemian Butterfly - and even order the book! - here. 

I absolutely loved and relished the opportunity to proofread this extra special book. As someone who works with youngsters with special needs alongside language interests, I could identify with many of the sentiments expressed in the book.

The Indigo Languages Proofreading Experience

I'm always ready and happy to proofread any assignment, whether it be a single paragraph or a hundred pages long! I work thoroughly, carefully and with exceptional accuracy on all the proofreading tasks that I undertake.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with me to find out more about the service I offer and how I can help you, whether you are putting together promotional material for your business or an article about one of your interests to be featured in a local or national magazine!

You can email me at sally@indigolanguages.co.uk or, alternatively, please use the Contact Form!
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Fountain Frenzy: A Roam Around Rome!

6/7/2015

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For a long time now, people have been saying that I should go to visit Rome. So, last week, that’s what I did!

So Much To Do, So Little Time!

The night before I left, I met up with three friends who had all been to Rome themselves. They recommended plenty of places to see during my three night stay, whilst a fourth friend was happy to lend me her copy of DK’s brilliant “Top 10 Guide to Rome” (I also bought myself the “Berlitz Pocket Guide to Rome” as I found the Bruges guide invaluable last year with its little informative guided walks around the Belgian town!) and suggest her own must-see venues.

And So The Adventures Begin!

I knew, from my friends, that the Leonardo Express was a pretty nifty way of getting from the airport to the city’s Termini train station. It cost €14 one way and whizzed me to the centre of Rome in around half an hour without a single stop.

On arrival at the station, I went looking for information - and snacks! Occasionally someone would approach me, asking if they could help me. It took a few minutes to dawn on me that their motives weren’t entirely selfless. For, once they’d taken me to where they thought I needed to go (even if it really wasn’t!), a hand shot straight out under my nose, demanding money for their efforts.

From then on, I vowed to avoid these apparently ‘helpful’ Italians. It felt cruel, but I didn’t feel entirely comfortable being hounded for money in return for the kind of information that I, myself, am accustomed to giving freely!

Fountain Frenzy!

I’d chosen to stay in the Hotel Julia, not so far from the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. The room was perfect for my needs. I set my suitcase down and went off adventuring. My first port of call was the Trevi Fountain. It was flanked by scaffolding, as my friends had warned me, but it was still possible to admire this magnificent fountain – the first of many that I located in Rome! – and to appreciate its beauty.

I passed several other equally majestic fountains around the city and visited the Colosseum, St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona with its three – count ‘em, three! – fountains.

In At The Deep End!

People often say that immersion is a great way to help you begin to pick up a new language. Although I learnt Italian at school for two years, that was almost 20 years ago and, with little opportunity to use the language between then and now, that knowledge faded considerably. In fact I'd not used it in so long that I honestly didn’t think I’d be able to remember any of it again. But even just being surrounded by the language, both listening to and reading it, jogged my memory.

As I went about my adventures, I would overhear little bits of spoken Italian here, on the radio, on the television, or conversations between people in queues in front of me. At first it was just noise, but soon I began to understand snippets of what was being said.

Settling In, Sinking In

And, after less than 24 hours in the city, I was beginning to pick the language back up - not with the greatest of accuracy, but with at least the confidence to attempt to hold my own. At first, I would throw in just the odd word in Italian here or there, an appreciative "grazie!" as someone brought my snack to the café. 

Just days later, on my unexpectedly premature return to the airport, I had somehow progressed to the point being able to have a whole conversation with the taxi driver about a photograph of his grandson that he showed me on his mobile!

I really do think there is a lot to be said for visiting somewhere new and taking the plunge: throwing yourself in at the deep end and trying to pick up as much of the new language as you can, in the country in which it is spoken.

After all, the real fun lies not in speaking a new language perfectly from the outset, but rather in having lots of fun whilst trying!
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Mothers' Day!

13/3/2015

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As Mothers’ Day approaches here in the U.K. I felt inspired to investigate the origins of the celebration and to find out how it is marked around the French and German speaking world. 

How It All Began

Mothers’ Day has its origins in the time of the Ancient Greeks and the Romans. Back then, festivals were held to honour the mother goddesses, Rhea and Cybele. In more recent times, Christians hold a festival known as Mothering Sunday, which is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Initially this was a time to visit the ‘mother church’ (i.e. the main church near a person’s home) for a commemorative service. More recently, however, the festival has evolved to become a celebration of mothers, often with cards and gifts for Mums everywhere.

In the United Kingdom, the origins of the celebration date back to the middle of the 16th century.  Christians held a celebration on the fourth Sunday of Lent (which, this year, means that it is coming up this weekend!)  After a period in which the celebration faded a little in popularity, Constance Smith tried to bring this Anglican tradition back and it wasn’t long before British retailers realised they could capitalise on this celebration.  As a result, the celebration here in the UK has become much more commercialised and has much less of a religious element. 

The Evolution of Mothers’ Day in America

In America, both Ann Reeves Jarvis and Julia Ward Howe were instrumental in the evolution of Mothers’ Day as a celebration.  Jarvis devised “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach local parents in the West Virginia area how to look after their children well. 

Jarvis’ daughter Anna sought to continue her mother’s work, seeing “Mothers’ Day” as a way of remembering the sacrifices a mother makes for their children. She envisaged people wearing white carnations and visiting their mothers or taking part in local church services. But it wasn’t long before florists began to cash in on the idea of flowers to mark the occasion and by 1920 she had become highly critical of the way in which the celebration had become so commercialised, encouraging people to refrain from purchasing sweets, gifts and cards from anyone seeking to make a profit from the celebrations. 

Furthermore, she was engaged in lawsuits against companies that used the term “Mothers’ Day.” Jarvis died in 1948, by which time much of her wealth had been swallowed up by legal fees challenging the use of the name and she sought to distance herself completely from the celebration, even making attempts to have it removed from the American calendar altogether.

For the suffragette Julia Howe, Mothers’ Day was a chance to inspire the promotion of world peace, with the celebration of “Mothers’ Peace Day” on June 2nd.

Mothers’ Day Around the World

Two examples of Mothers’ Day celebrations around the world caught my eye when I was looking into this celebration. Mothers’ Day is celebrated on different days throughout the world. As we have already seen, here in the UK, Christians mark the occasion on the fourth Sunday in Lent. In Thailand, the day is celebrated on the birthday of the country’s current queen, in August. In Ethiopia, meanwhile, families gather together every autumn to celebrate motherhood in a festival called Antrosht, an event that lasts several days.

Mothers' Day in German Speaking Countries

In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Mothers’ Day (Muttertag) is observed on the second Sunday in May. Switzerland was one of the first countries in Europe to mark the occasion, celebrating it for the first time in 1917. Germany’s first Muttertag happened in 1922 and in Austria some sources say that it began in 1924 whilst others cite its first celebration as happening in 1926.

Muttertag was declared an official holiday in Germany in 1933, taking place on the second Sunday in May and was particularly significant under the Hitler regime.  Medals were awarded during this time, called the Mutterkreuz, in bronze, silver or gold, the latter being awarded if you had eight or more children for the Vaterland. Since the end of World War II, the celebration has taken on a much more commercialised form, similar to that in the United States or here in the U.K., with cards, flowers and presents. In Germany, if Muttertag should happen to fall on Pfingstsonntag then it is brought forward to the first Sunday in May. 

Mothers' Day in France

In France, Mothers' Day (la fête des mères) is held on the last Sunday in May. Here, as in Germany, if Pentecôte should fall on the same day then Mothers' Day is moved.  In France, however, it will be moved to the last Sunday in June rather than to an earlier date in May.

Napoléon is credited with starting Mothers' Day in an official capacity in France in 1950.  Care is taken to ensure that Mum remains the centre of attention all day. She may receive cards, flowers, gifts or poems, or be given the opportunity to enjoy time out to relax on this, her very special day.  It is traditional to treat her to a cake made to look like a bouquet of flowers. French mothers will find themselves treated to a box of their favourite chocolates, some of their favourite cheese or even their favourite perfume. 

A Mum in a Million

Now that you've read a little of what happens around the world, and in particular in France and Germany, on Mothers' Day, it's your turn to spill the beans. What have you got planned for your Mother this Mothers' Day?
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'Swimmy Sally' is Going Back In the Pool!

11/3/2015

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My Easter Tradition

By now you all know that I'm a keen linguist who spends lots of time working to support students as they learn a language, or proofreading, or translating articles. 

But when I'm not doing any of those things, I spend time supporting youngsters with special needs at a charity called Kangaroos. The scheme provides recreational and social activities for a number of individuals with special needs in the Mid Sussex area. 

On Good Friday I will be taking a step back from my language work to take part in an annual event run by the Haywards Heath Lions, known as the "Swimarathon." Teams of six swimmers swim lengths of the pool in relay for 55 minutes in the hope of raising valuable funds.  The money raised by each team is split equally between the Lions Club's selected beneficiary and the team's own chosen charity.  

This year my team will be swimming to raise money for SERV Sussex (Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers - as chosen by the Lions Club) and for Kangaroos.

If you'd like to support our efforts - and I'd be very grateful if you did! - then please click here to visit our page for online donations. All donations - no matter the size - will be gratefully received and help to ensure the continued success of two brilliant and vital charities. 

Thank you!


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Memories Of The Fall Of The Berlin Wall - 25 Years Later.

3/12/2014

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The Day The Wall Came Down

November 9th saw the 25th anniversary of the day that the Berlin Wall came down. As with many notorious occasions, to this day, many people can still remember what they were doing when they heard the news. Can you? (Why not tell us in the comments below this post?)

Strange Goings-On In The East?

One person I spoke to, Beate, was 16 at the time and living in East Germany. Although she didn’t live in Berlin and didn’t quite feel the impact of the news as fully as those living in Berlin, there was a marked atmosphere all the same. On the evening of 9 November, she was travelling back from Southern Germany to her home.  As she and her family drove home, they passed through some towns and saw large numbers of people queuing.  They couldn’t understand why.  Back then, it was difficult to come by certain foods and other commodities such as cool clothes for the summer.  So Beate and her family simply assumed that perhaps something that scarce had suddenly become available and people were clamouring to get their hands on some before it ran out.

So What Was Really Happening?

As she discovered later, those people were actually waiting outside police stations, to get their hands on visas.  Once she and her family arrived at home, Beate remembers being told by her family to “Take your passport and hurry – you can get a visa for travelling to the West.” Beate did just that, and recalls being surprised to find her local police station quite empty. Meanwhile, Beate’s partner, who lived in Berlin at the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall, was among those that crossed into West Berlin as the first section of the Wall came down.

Just Like New Year's Eve!

Speaking to me about the anniversary of such a momentous occasion, Beate likened the atmosphere to that of New Year’s Eve – I can well imagine how this might have been the case, as everyone waited for the lanterns to rise along the line of where the Berlin Wall once stood (http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/in-pictures-border-of-lights--25th-anniversary-of-fall-of-berlin-wall-9849154.html?action=gallery&ino=1). I have a British friend who was in Berlin to witness this spectacular sight. Looking at these pictures, which are impressive enough on the screen, I can only imagine how much more of an impact it must have had on those that were actually there to see it in person - it must have been amazing!)

Once Upon A Time In The West...

Meanwhile, in West Germany, my friend, Annabel, recalls being in her living room, watching events unfold live on the television.  Like me, she was only 11 years old at the time (amusingly, she shares my birthday!) and so says that she didn’t really understand what was happening – but the scenes she watched on television that day are ones she will never forget: the wall tumbling down and people celebrating everywhere.  She had a pen friend in East Germany in those days and remembers thinking that her pen friend’s family could travel wherever they liked, now that the Wall had come down. She was pleased because she knew that, from this day on, they would have to endure no more queuing, no more food shortages and no more restrictions.

The View From The Outside Looking In.

As for me, I have no real memory of seeing the events unfold on the television, and most likely didn’t follow them in the newspapers either – but I did know that the Wall had come down. I considered it unfair that, in a country as advanced as Germany is, in attitude as well as technologically, they could still have something as restrictive as a Wall, coupled with such severe punishment if ever you dared to cross it in search of a better life. 

What Would The Future Hold?

I'll confess that, as an 11 year old, I didn’t really understand a great deal of the history or the politics surrounding the Wall’s existence, nor was I really old enough to comprehend the political concerns, on either side of the Wall, as it came down again (and it seems there were many - as reported in an article taken from the archives of the Economist: http://www.economist.com/node/14788230?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/ed/whenthepartysover). 

New Beginnings.

Even though I didn't fully appreciate the political implications, I was aware that a great many people had lost their lives trying to cross the Wall and so, in my mind, pulling it down gave the Germans the freedom they had always deserved to have, to move from one side of the country to the other with no more limitations. And maybe, to an 11 year old English girl, that was the thing that counted most of all.
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    About Me:

    I split my working week between a full time job within the aviation industry, individuals with special needs & languages (specifically French and German).

    I love to make time to travel the world - sometimes Europe and sometimes beyond! 

    Current TV viewing favourites include: Sherlock, Bones, The Big Bang Theory,     Doctor Who and NCIS.

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