Today was the final of the nationwide English language contest I qualified for after having won the federal state-wide competition.




Briefly, the jury wanted to disqualify me, because they couldn't believe I (or somebody from my family) was not a native speaker and it is not allowed to take part when you speak English at home or have been to an English-speaking country for more than four weeks once.


I made it to the final and everybody (even the jury) was convinced I would win, but then some arsehole from the jury said that he wants to disqualify me, because no person could get an accent like that from studying English at school. They realised they couldn't kick me out anymore, so they simply made sure I didn't win it, so I "only" made the second place.

It was a huge occasion with TV cameras everywhere and hundreds of people watching and everybody was baffled when I didn't win it. Even the winner came over to talk to me afterwards and said that she didn't understand why I didn't win.



Personally, I don't give a damn about whether I'm first or second or in 10th place, I just find it unfair that it seems like sometimes you get punished for your talents and the hard work you have put into something.



I'm very disappointed.

You'll go on to better things and good things will come to you.



But, yes--you are being punished and singled out... don't let any hippie lovin' bullshit rhetoric fool you---you are definitely being punished for being better than the others.



....but in the end, Dave----you are still better than everyone else.




I've been saying this all year, but you're better than all the other folks in this forum. You're perfect, and they're stupid and annoying. You just keep on keepin' on

This was probably the first time in my life I was an official victim of unfairness! My dad said that things like that will happen more often in my life, even if it simply is not fair.


I hope this won't limit my chances of getting a job in England someday. Because it simply does sound better to say "I am the best in the whole country" than to say "I am second best...".

Well, maybe that's life. Great.

Dave1992 said:

It will not limit your choices in England, Dave.
You'll get a job there just fine.

The British don't really speak English the way it's suppose to be spoken anyways, so I think you will NOTHING to worry about.



I'm proud of you. Making it all the way to the national competition in your country is amazing. It's more amazing than all of the accomplishments of the entire United Kingdom for the last 5 years put together, and you should be damned proud of that.

TheVoid said:

Unfortunately, it does not surprise me

They couldn't handle the fact that you are so brilliant and above average, hun

TheVoid said:

That's fucking hilarious coming from a yank.

But, Dave, speaking for my people , he may be spouting all sorts of shit today but he's right about one thing - you'll have no problems getting a job over here. No problem at all.

vivid said:

I mean, boo--what's up with calling a pair of sneakers , "trainers"??
That shit ain't right.

TheVoid said:

You're talking out of your "fanny". Now that's not right.

erik319 said:

All, I know is I've done a lot more training in my trainers than sneaking. But in your case Dan, perhaps you better stick to the americanisms.

It sounds like you were better than number one, you were literally unbelievable.

That actually makes a more interesting story though - judges could not believe you or your family were not native speakers.

You's a genius!!!!!

Life lesson - can't rely on judges or contests to validate your talent.

erik319 said:

I'm only saying all this out of love.

You folks know I love you over there on that island!

America and Great Britain share a long history together. We've rescued you more times than I can count, and your prime minister serves as a de facto vice president to our President. We're forever linked..... in love!



.
[Edited 4/9/10 8:54am]

vivid said:

That's no way to show your affection for us!



We gave you rock n roll, Elvis, MJ, Prince, Led Zeppelin, The Beetles, Elton John, and Miles Davis.

In return you gaves us Take That and the Spice Girls.

We're inextricably linked to each other!

.
[Edited 4/9/10 8:55am]

TheVoid said:

Cinnie said:

The spelling was changed to its current form only we exported the boys the UK.

TheVoid said:

Doing drugs is WRONG.

Dave1992 said:

And not a YouTube link in sight.

HamsterHuey said:

To be fair, he was probably worse before the drugs

HamsterHuey said:

I don't think it's gonna be on youtube, but I'll keep y'all posted!


But I've got some pics!




You see that thing under my left eye? That was the beginning of an itching rash I had all over my body after a couple of hours. I went to the hospital and the doctors said that it may well be stress-related and psychosomatic.
Apart from that, you can clearly see the disappointment in my face...





- First round.




- First round. (I was still happy and confident back then! )




And this overwhelmingly ugly, old, fat, nasty, oh-so-intelligent, shit-talking fuck-face is why the jury had to put me into second place by one fucking point.




I think this was the final round. I am talking to quite a famous bbc moderator (Paul Hollingdale) on-stage.




Thinking: "I'll rape this motherfucker to death."

Those trophies are huge. You could barely get your hands around them. In the last shot you had to cup it from underneath.

Probably weighed a lot.

Congrats. 2nd in the country is still very awesome.

I really don't care about the trophy.. I don't even know where to put it.

But I sho'nuff did care about the extra money I would have got. And simply not being treated this way.

Dave1992 said:

If you'd been here, you would have gotten a HUGE hug (including ass-grab) and we would have called everybody utter cunts before getting smash-faced drunk.

I am playing Prince & The Revolution's extended version of "Girl" (B-side of America) and Prince is crooning "Your ass is so tight..." and I am thinking about you.

Dave1992 said:

I love how you touch it... keep a firm hold on that microphone, mister...

You!

HamsterHuey said:

I'd so LOVE to get drunk with you!

It sucks that this particular judge would keep you from winning the competition, since it seems like you would have deserved 1st prize.

I don't get his reasoning about how you couldn't have learned that accent from school. Did he consider that you might have learned to fine-tune your accent from watching movies and TV programmes or simply interacting with English natives, either when visiting England or with tourists/exchange students in Austria or simply through the Internet?

I know that in my own personal case, most of my knowledge when it comes to the English language comes from watching TV and movies, listening to music with English lyrics, reading English-language magazines, books in addition to interacting and reading stuff on the Internet.

I visited London and southern England when I was 10 years old and I was able to talk to local folks in English with a decent accent, even though it was 2 years before I would start to learn English in school.
[Edited 4/12/10 5:14am]

Dave1992 said:

That sucks.

and I know that feeling well.
[Edited 4/12/10 5:30am]

Im so sorry hun!

But forgive me for being daft but I dont understand.. You had to good of an english accent? So you had to speak in english but yours was too good?? WTF is that...???...!!!!!....




Forget the contest, You looked GORGEOUS! Thats all that really matters...

tinaz said:

didn't he just?