La Dolce Lingua
KATRIN TÄÄKER
Loves Me and the world Lately I’m beginning to realize that life goes on as you push it. I’m going to put it into practice too. There’s no point to accuse various indirect influences or other people. It is you who determines things for yourself. If you can cope with yourself, you can cope with the whole world.
Katrin Tääker knows that each language also comprises a deep cultural layer that one cannot understand merely by looking at the shiny surface. She loves September because of the weather and because of the fact that she was born in this month. At Studio Lingua, Katrin has inspired her students already for years, teaching them both Estonian and Finnish. The fourth edition of La Dolce Lingua is here for you to read as a fresh croissant in a cosy café. Have a glance at the rain through the window and then dive into Katrin’s world. Homeland The first thing I recall is the Juminda Peninsula where I have participated in the Indian Camp for several times. The Indian traditions are followed there: prayers, meditating, sweating tent and teepee. There are 5-6 Native Americans, mostly from Arizona. Sea eagles are flying above the camp. This is a place with really good energy.
Norway in summer In the summer I travelled with my companion by car through Northern Norway. Fitting your own thoughts and plans and with another person’s ideas is quite an experience. I have also travelled with my daughter – she is my best companion on trips.
Camino walk For several years I have planned the Camino walk but I have always had no time or money. I don’t make any promises now either but I’d be proud if I did it. In connection with this I recalled another very good book – "The Camino" by Shirley MacLaine.
Hikers on heels While travelling, one can recognize how small the world is. We were taking a ferry in Norway from Tromsö to the Lofoten Islands, the travel time was four hours. And there we met a married couple who had come from Australia. They did not know anything about Norway and had got there by chance. They had bought a tourism trip to Greece but it was cancelled and they were offered a two-day trip to Northern Norway. The woman had high-heel shoes and their clothes were absolutely not fit for hiking. They had no idea whether there were any hotels on the island. But as there was no room in our car, we waved and left them on the coast to explore the island.
11
September I love the end of August and the whole September. Absolutely magical time! Maybe namely because of the fact that I was born in September. I have somewhere read a theory that a person loves the time when he/she was born. September is also a new beginning for me, a lot more than 1 January. New beginning I’d like to bring my lifestyle more in order. I have lived in a very bohemian style, I have appreciated this kind of life. I haven’t observed the time or considered what things to do during a day – I have rather lived in accordance with my emotions. Maybe actually it’s not correct to say bringing lifestyle in order but it is rather doing things deliberately. Moreover, the time left is slowly reducing. It seems to me that we shouldn’t just while away the time.
La Dolce Lingua
KATRIN TÄÄKER
Meat I just love meat and especially red meat, which is not healthy at all. I am an emotional eater.
Books I don’t have to find time for reading because I come from the time when there were only two TV channels … Since childhood I have gathered all the information from books and this habit has remained. Up to now I consider books very important. Books that have effect on me … “Ice” by a Finnish writer Ulla-Lena Lundberg which in 2012 won the Finlandia Prize. I read again and again “Recovery" by Rami Shapiro. It is a book between a philosophical novel and a self-help book. If 20-30 years ago I’d known these things, how I would have lived? Evidently one acquires knowledge step by step. You can know just as much as you are ready to receive.
News Watching television takes a lot of energy but I try to listen to the news at least once a day. It seems to be utterly important. Evidently I have the need to check! I am also afraid because of the crisis in Ukraine. Though I realize that my fear will not affect the situation. Music Kari, Ola & Lars Bremnes – a sister and two brothers. They resemble the Johanson brothers and Kärt but not entirely. I listened to this music quite a lot in summer in Norway. One of my latest discoveries is an African jazz singer Angelique Kidjo. I like every kind of music – what I listen to depends on my mood. In the mornings, brisk and easy music helps to achieve the spirit and start the day. In the morning I want to be efficient. In high spirits! Scenarios Sometimes a negative scenario begins to roll in my head, the story originates from the past times and does not concern my present state at all … I have learned that it mustn’t be suppressed! A bystander’s glance must be retained. Now it is so and it will change. Teaching I can see the result! Immediate feedback! The feeling that I can influence a person and it’s in my hands. The students believe everything that I’m saying now … This is tremendous responsibility! The old cannot acquire new knowledge! The belief that the old people cannot learn any more is absolute nonsense. My oldest student up to now has been a 71-year-old Anglican woman priest from Canada. She is a real language freak who is interested in so-called small languages. For example, she has studied Faroese and also Estonian.
2