What does Wales mean to you?
Andrew at Wonderful Electric has a question:
“Can you describe a significant aspect of Welsh life in 12 words or fewer?”
I would be really interested to hear what Wales means to you, especially those who live elsewhere in the world.
Gone are the days that you could correct a Frenchman’s assumption on seeing a GB number plate that you were anglaise – the mere mention of the word galloise would have him almost genuflecting in deference to the Welsh rugby team (I may be exagerrating a teeny bit there, sorry)
But it would be interesting to hear from Kirsi in Finland for example, what do you think of when you hear the word Wales or Welsh?
December 6th, 2005 00:47
Drat. “What Wales means to me” is a post I’ve had in very draft form for a while now; in fact, ever since I came back from a week’s holiday there in September. I guess I’m going to have to hurry up and get it into order now, amn’t I? ;-)
No easy answer to your question though, not for me anyway. I suppose Wales/Welsh to me it means half of my family history: a place that half of me comes from, but it’s the half of me I’m a bit less in touch with than the Scottish half. But it’s a place and a language I want to learn a lot more about, as a way of making a firmer connection to that vaguer half of me. Does that make any sense whatsoever??
Probably not :-(
December 6th, 2005 01:15
Thanks to The Bishop and I and a number of alcoholic beverages being consumed prior to a UEFA cup tie in Vilnuis back in 1994 (no, please don’t go looking up the result), there may well be group of Latvians under the impression that the Welsh are in the midst of a strenuous yet largely unreported struggle to throw off the yolk of 800 years of imperialist English oppression in a bid to take their rightful place in the world.
The fact that the local consulate had insisted that the union flag rather that the red dragon was flown at the ground rather added “proof” to our version – one of our new Latvian friends (a soldier, or so he’d assured us) had to be physically restrained from climbing the flagpole to make the switch.
I blame the language barrier for what was clearly an innocent misunderstanding.
As for me, I’d have to choose the twelve words: mountains and valleys, male voice choirs, rugby, sheep and a tribal territoriality.
December 6th, 2005 01:18
I meant the European Cup Winners’ Cup, of course. UEFA CUP? Silly me – I was thinking of 1996.
December 6th, 2005 01:48
Croila, I’m really looking forward to that post coming out of draft form :-)
Em, tribal territoriality? Maybe I’ve been away too long. Oh I just thought of one – Porthcawl (is it Porthcawl or Barry?) being known as ‘iya butt bay. Still makes me giggle.
December 6th, 2005 04:51
All I can think of is Dylan Thomas and “Under Milkwood.”
December 6th, 2005 11:46
Hmmm… despite not living there currently and not having plans to live there, the only word that I can think of is Home.
The other words are “Grand Slam!”
December 6th, 2005 14:44
I’ve got to admit it. I didn’t like Porthcawl :-( Gimme Tenby any day.
December 6th, 2005 18:05
First things/words that come to mind are:
- Cardiff and especially Cardiff Castle. The only place in Wales I’ve ever visited – and even that was brief :(
- Bilingual. I loved how everything was written in two languages – just like in Finland. And Welsh is such a funny looking language, I loved it!
- Rugby.
- Sheep.
Unfortunately that’s about it. But hey, one of my favourite photos of Cardiff can be seen here. :)
December 6th, 2005 23:22
Karan: isn’t it strange that Dylan Thomas is not the first thing that comes to mind in relation to Wales? I wonder why.
Dragon: sweet, sweet words. Don’t they roll of the tongue so easily? Welsh. Grand. Slam. Mmmm…
Croila: I’m with you on Porthcawl. Although it’s improving slowly apparently. Tenby is lovely isn’t it? My brother used to take the kids there on holiday most years.
Thank you Kirsi, I know that bakery. Not sure about the “funny looking language” idea though… :-)
December 6th, 2005 23:47
Mmmm.
Rugby!!
Red
Taffy
Gladys Pew
Welsh – a language with lots of consonants that don’t sound how they look.
Lamb
Rolling green hills
A tiny piece of me (my great-great grandparents emigrated from Swansea to 1872)
December 7th, 2005 00:06
Brecon Beacons. Best lamb ever. Peat bog. Cardigan Bay. Tea cakes. Welcome.
December 7th, 2005 04:17
What does Welsh mean to me? What else but “Daisy”! :-) I consider you my personal ambassador.
December 7th, 2005 09:40
Ah lovely! And thank you Nancy – wonder if I get a chauffeured limousine with that? ;-)
December 7th, 2005 18:22
But Fi, the one of the beauties of Welsh is that – unlike English – letters largely have consistent sounds. I think my first six or seven family holidays were in Tenby before we got daring and went up north to Criccieth.
December 8th, 2005 01:34
I know I’m biased but I’d argue that Welsh was one of the easiest languages to pronounce – if you break it down and say everything phonetically. Em, how about some master classes over at yours? :-)
December 8th, 2005 04:36
Wales has some of the very best bloggers – wit, charm and sociability.
December 13th, 2005 17:10
12 words. Humm.
Pembrokeshire, golden beach miles, boardwalk, nude men run to sea, shock (me).
February 7th, 2006 15:43
Wales!!
Sheep, Sheep and more Sheep!!! oh… and did i say Sheep! lol
The place where everyone wants to be!
March 9th, 2007 14:32
For me, Wales is the land of my birth i have never been able to get back since. I have been living in the united states most of my life and all of my family is from wales. for me its a matter of getting to my roots. something that makes me unique. although i have never seen wales fromt eh stories i have been told, its the kind of place that everywhere should be like. a proud and humble people who are warm hearted and generous. I hope one day to see for myself.