Katie Krueger's Snippets of Gratitude

“You’re a loner!” says the speaker, pointing at me in front of the room.  I slowly lower my hand as 150 heads turn to look at me.  I can feel my cheeks getting flush.  “There’s no one else in the room like you. In fact only 1% of the population is like you.”  I had [...]

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I was talking in my sleep this morning, right before I woke up. I don’t remember it, Diene had to recount it to me later. It sounded something like this: “Ocupado,” I mumbled. “What?” Diene asked. “Ocupado.” “What is ocupado?” “The men’s bathroom.  It’s ocupado.   That’s what I’ve been saying all along.” That’s right. Apparently [...]

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In the past week, I have  conducted two business meetings entirely in French.   This is something I would have thought entirely impossible at one time.  This makes me trés contente.  I am grateful to have been gifted with an affinity and respect for languages, and for every opportunity I have to practice my french, [...]

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The internet is such an amazing tool that has opened my world wider than imaginable. One of my favorite recent connections made via “le net” is with a fellow linguist who has created a website dedicated to learning Wolof. How cool is that?! Why not expand your own vocabulary today and learn 10 Random Wolof [...]

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In two days, I leave for the American Association of Grant Professionals Annual Conference in Arlington, VA. I am so excited to travel a little bit, discover new vegetarian restaurants and book stores in Arlington and DC, have gobs of time to myself and spend four days with other grant writers. I am presenting a [...]

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Between us, Diene and I can speak six languages: English, Serer, French, Wolof, Pulaar and Hindi. (Ok, invoke the past tense – spoke -for me and Hindi. In less than five years, I have completely forgotten all but the salutations – but such an exorcising of knowledge is a skill in itself.) What these means [...]

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