- Studies have shown that children raised in bilingual environments excel in reasoning, memory, and problem-solving skills.
- I seemed to have an easier time getting good grades in my high school and college foreign languages classes (in my case, French and Russian).
- During my college days in central Indiana, I greatly enjoyed astounding fellow students who would hear me speaking on the phone with my parents. Several friends admitted to me that I was the first person they ever met who was raised in a bilingual household.
- For a brief period of time (during my university studies), I was able to call myself a polyglot.
- My sister and I can simply chat in Polish when we need to convey secrets or nasty gossip.
- I have been able to unwittingly eavesdrop on private conversations in international airports, big-city department stores, and the like. And some of these conversations have been hilarious.
- I can watch Polish movies without having to turn on pesky subtitles.
- I can read all the incredible recipes my mom passed on to me. And I think in Polish when I cook, or sew, or crochet, since my mom taught me these skills.
- I can communicate easily with each one of my cousins, both in the USA and Poland.
- Traveling (especially in Slavic-language speaking countries) is easier, since I can readily pick up the key phrases. (On our most recent trip to Croatia, I suspect that my attempts to speak a few words in Croatian resulted in complimentary drinks and desserts. Can’t complain about that.)
- I can dream in both languages!
- I know twice as many Christmas carols as most people.
- I enjoy feeling (relatively) unique.
- There are few things as beautiful as reading poetry in the actual language it was written in.
- Sometimes a profanity in Polish (or even Russian) is much more fitting in a situation, and therefore much more satisfying to use.
- I believe that my bilingual upbringing (thanks, dear parents!) has molded me into a person with a deeper empathy and respect for other cultures.
Monica Lists 