This semester, I've learned to have a pretty basic conversation in Urdu. I started from the very beginning, knowing not a single thing about Pakistani culture or the language. I can kind of understand a phrase or two when I listen to my Pakistani friends talk to themselves now. It is very interesting how far I have come with a language that I never thought I would use or learn to use in my life.
It feels like just a few days ago, I didn't know anything but now I can greet my Pakistani friends in Urdu and ask them very basic questions like how their day is going and things of that nature. Whenever I meet new Pakistani, I can say basic conversational phrases to them and they are very surprised that I am able to do that. It is always fun to see that unexpected and surprised reaction from people.
The difficulties lied mostly in getting started and finding a path I want to take with the language. At first, I wasn't sure what was a realistically obtainable goal and I just messed around with the alphabet and trying to write the language. Once I realized that it is more feasible and effective to just try to learn the verbal spoken language instead of the writing system, things got a lot easier. I realized that all I needed to do was speak and have a conversation in Urdu since I won't be using Urdu for any academic reasons at all. Then the difficulties mostly went away. It was an amazing journey and one I wouldn't mind doing all over again or add on to.
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