One of the reasons I became a Mingler was to keep my English up to speed. It was going down the drain real fast after I'd left my British partner, and I didn't like it at all!
When I first got here I even had to look up a great many things, also because most here is AmE and I'm used to BrE.
It really helped to discuss, argue, talk, laugh with you all on all kinds of subjects, and it has done my English a lot of good. Even though I don't speak it on a daily basis anymore, thinking and writing it seems to be enough to keep the cogs from getting rusty.

I just had a visit from 2 English friends, and it's great to notice that I can still fluently swap from Dutch to English without any effort at all, like I always could.
Had I not been on Mingle, that would've been somewhat different, lol.

So I'm ready to go to the USA -apart from having the suitcase I want

Anyhow, a BIG thank you!

CrystalFairy, we are glad to have you here.

Your English is better than some English people I know.

Once again, on your trip to the States, don't forget your passport, it helps over there if you're a little bit crazy, so you'll fit in well.

Oww, that's sweet! Thank you, David!

I heard that before, haha.
And no, I won't forget my passport ... They won't even let me leave my own country without it, and I think my son would be rather PO if he'd drive me all the way to Amsterdam early in the morning only to find out that I haven't got my brain plugged in. Not to mention my daughter if I'd miss my flight

I think you will like Alabama, the people down here in the south are so friendly and I am sure all your dutch slang terms will go over big. Welcome, and we are glad to have you, have a great time.

Wishing you a safe journey when you go, you could need your snow shoes in some places, I believe it is a bit of a White World there at the moment with the snowfalls.

When are you coming to the USA Chrystal? Those a great news!!

Crystal...
You are one awesome lady, you may have come out here to keep up on English, yet you have given so very much more.

Thank you for being here.
I hope and pray that you have a safe and wonderful trip.

Thank you all!
Mingle (meaning you!) really has helped me so much to keep my English language muscles in shape!
Last year I added an English spiritual forum to my repertoire, just to get more familiar with that jargon in English.
I read a lot about that stuff in English as it's often the source language, but holding a conversation in English about it, is yet another issue.
I think I mastered that as well I could do workshops in English now, which feels good :) Who knows what the future holds for me!
In an odd way English has been part of my life for nearly 30 years! And I still don't really know why.

@ MARIA, I leave and arrive the 3rd of Feb.

Thank you, Sitka!
You're pretty danged awesome yourself!

Humm you could have fooled me your English in the forums is a hell of a lot better then some that live in the States.....

Hope you enjoy your trip... now if your going to Alabama now they talk funny to me and I live in Texas... They will love your accent...

To me I love to talk to those that are from a different areas due to accents.. Which I tell everyone I don't have one.. but seems a few disagree with me on that.. Actually I sound like a country hick it seems

Have a safe trip and enjoy your time..

Hello im just a new in here

I'll send you my bill in the mail..lol..wink.. .. so now does this mean we can talk faster around you now..lol.. I was getting tired of talking really .. s l o w l y..a n d
.LOUDLY.. around you..lmfao..jk.

Hey people who speak English are grateful for Mingle to improve their language skills. Hope you "Have a Blast in Bama" my southern stomping grounds were in greater Atlanta and Florida but the friendly rivalry with Bama was a lot of fun as they have some awesome (yikes I am starting to speak Californian) people and they often crossed back an forth for conferences and special events.

LOL you will probably want to get a Southern Slang dictionary even though they try to say the southern speak is fading "home speak" may contradict that.

Hope you have a wonderful trip and get lots of inspiration for your art. Take tons of pictures to post on your profile. But I am with Dodo you are and asset to the community of Mingle and we appreciate you.

P.S. A special perk about your trip is "Bama Boy's" are some fine, did I say FINE, men.

But ... but ... I like it slow ... esp with a Canadian accent ... Vera sexy!

Thank you, Pacific! My son in law and daughter told me that the southern slang isn't that bad where they are. But I'll just see what it's going to be like.
I'm sure I'm going to have a brilliant time! There's more ppl jokingly suggesting that maybe I'll find myself a man there, lol. And sure, you never know what's going to happen, but I doubt it.

Thank you!
My flight is to Houston, then on to Pensacola. I may have a brief moment outdoors in Houston to have a smoke, or 5 in one go after 12 hours of no nicotine, and prolly be glared at for doing so hahaha.
But that is likely all I'll be seeing from Texas

But I'm not gone yet, another 2 weeks to go. I was just reminded of the English bit because of my friends visit this morning :)

Your English is much better than mine, CystalFairy. My late husband being a Canadian helped and my children too... although they still correct my English... like I say "are you smoking grass?" My son goes "It's weed, mom."

Have a wonderful time in the U.S.

Have a safe flight,Crystal! Enjoy!