If you've got access to S4C next Tuesday, here's what you should be watching at 9 p.m. One of the stranger aspects of my Welsh-learning experience has been the low-level and mostly unprofitable fame that's come with it. I'm stretching the definition of "fame" here, of course. I am not actually famous. But I am well-known enough here that if there were such a thing as Welsh-language Celebrity Brother, I would probably get the call*.
I'm not the first American to learn Welsh. But I am the first one to do so totally on my own, using free stuff I found on the Internet, and then dedicate countless meg of web space to bigging myself up over it on two blogs. I can't help thinking that I am "famous" not because I am unique, but because I have no shame.
Whatever the reason, I found myself being followed by cameras, written about, and interviewed on radio. When I first moved to Wales, I had no phone or Internet but people were getting in touch with me by calling the BBC.
Next Tuesday's programme is the culmination of the BBC's following me around for 10 months, from before I left to the United States to the start of this semester. I got a chance to view the programme a few weeks ago and it was interesting to see all that time squeezed into about 50 minutes. I can only hope that when I die and my life flashes before me, it is as well-edited and treats me as kind.
My only complaint about the programme is that I'm in it. I am so skinny. I am sure people will lose track of what I'm saying in interviews because they will be too busy thinking: "Does he not eat? He says he's struggling financially, but surely he could go out and beg for enough change to get some chips or something."
Fortunately, my lanky frame wandering about is interrupted by intelligent things being said by Rachel, funny things being said (loudly) by Eric, quick YouTube clips that make it look as if I am not as boring as I actually am, and lovely scenic shots of the Twin Cities and Cardiff metro areas.
*This is a lie, by the way. I'm not that well-known, but I wanted to work in a Celebrity Big Brother joke.
16 comments:
I love the suspense they're building up there...
Congrats anyway - that's really cool!
Wow, that's deadly. We don't get the Welsh BBC over here in this bit of Irish land. Will it appear up on the internet somewhere?
Saw the trailer for it on the other night, a good week in advance! See, you must be a celebrity.
Yeah, Huw, I just saw the promo tonight. It's weird to see me on my television.
The questions is will you beat Pobol Y Cwm in the ratings war!!!
I hope they are paying you a fee!!!
Everyone write to the Beeb and demand Welshy telly! I am very disappointed that I will not be able to watch this.
Can you You Tube it?!
Jenny
Jenny -- It may end up being available through the S4C website after it airs, but I don't know. I can't YouTube it because: 1) I don't have the capacity to do that (i.e., I don't have a VHS player); 2) The producer of the programme specifically said, "If it ends up on YouTube, we'll have a pretty good idea of who to go to."
Hmm, the sister lives down in the Hinterland and gets S4C, maybe she can tape it. But then is it going to be in Welsh? We won't understand it!
I know subtitles are available. And I think it will broadcast again on Sunday (20 May) with the subtitles on.
Congrats, brotha. Very cool.
Do you mention wrestlemania or beer floats anywhere in the documentary? If not, I can only assume you weren't being real and instead played it up for the cameras.
I suppose there is no way for us Americans to see it?
Eep, I REALLY want to see this!
Can't somebody just film the TV with a camcorder while it's on? That's the way to tape stuff these days, now that video recorders are obsolete. Which seems a bit backwards, really, but there you go.
Dan -- It does feature me impersonating Ric Flair. If S4C (the Welsh-language channel) makes the programme available online, I promise to provide a link to it.
Or perhaps y'all could pester BBC Worldwide to put it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BBCWorldwide
wohoo you're on TV; next thing you know you'll be starring in Welsh movies!
Will the S4C sell copies at some point? I had this sudden vision of using your video as a motivational tool for students at Cwrs Cymraeg...or at least an interesting addition to our video library...immortalizing you forever in the annals of Welsh learning fame. (That sounds kinda wrong for some reason...)
I don't actually, know, Sarah. I will see if I can't get my hands on an extra DVD copy and send it to you.
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