On mobility and languages

“Where are you from?” For three days last week, I was asked this question several times at the European Parliament in Brussels. What was an Asian girl doing at European Youth Media Days anyway? I would explain that I am Filipino and that I was attending because I am studying in Europe. I was surprised by a Greek girl who knew a number of Tagalog words and the Irish girl who was a big Lea Salonga fan, but I disappointed the Spanish by saying I couldn’t speak their language.

What struck me most is that many of the 270 young journalists from all over the continent are also on the move and that the European language is not just English, but all the languages of the member countries of the Union. Perhaps the diaspora is not exclusive to Indians, Chinese and Filipinos, and the knowledge of English is not always enough.

Related posts:

24 hours in Brussels

Pinay at the Parliament

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Comments

One Response to “On mobility and languages”
  1. tutubi says:

    why didn’t you tell the spanish that spanish who colonized our country didn’t teach the Indios their language since they held the Indios in low regard

    I studied spanish in college and can still speak and understand a little of it. Also the reason why I can understand a little french and italian

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