I have been nominated for the Liebster Blog award by the gracious and always interesting (and multilingual) Sara E. Ackerman, Author! These are the rules if you wish to participate:
1. Acknowledge the blog who nominated you and display the award. Thank you to Sara Ackerman, Author!
2. Answer the 11 questions the blogger gives you.
3. Give 11 random facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 11 blogs.
5. Notify those blogs of the nomination.
6. Give them 11 questions to answer.
I am delighted to share the answers to her questions.
1. Out of all the countries you have visited, which did you like the best and why?
I lived in three countries on two different continents by the age of thirteen. I was born in Havana, Cuba, to Asturian parents. Asturias is a region in the northwest of Spain. I always promote it because it is not well known outside of Spain and that’s why I decided to start the #TheOtherSpain collection of photographs. If I had to choose, I’d choose Spain. However, I feel I will change my mind when I visit Scotland…
2. What is the most extreme thing you have ever done?
Changing my place of residence from a city to a village of about 60 inhabitants. I lived there for 19 years. People thought I wouldn’t last a couple of years. Lesson: never challenge a Green Dog.
3. If you could take someone with you in your travels, who would it be?
I would undoubtedly take my wonderful Scot, the man who gives the best hugs in the world.
4. If you could give someone $1 million who would you give it to?
If it has to be a person, I’d give it to my sons, equally divided.
5. For what in your life do you feel the most grateful?
For my health and the people in my home.
6. Given the choice of anyone living or dead, who would you choose to have dinner with and why?
I ‘d choose Noam Chomsky because I find the way he explains the world both thorough and easy to understand.
7. Give some advice to other bloggers or blog starters.
The only advice I feel qualified to give is enjoy it and write what you would like to read.
8. What is the most scandalous thing you have ever done?
I haven’t done anything really scandalous. I am allergic to unnecessary drama. I’m scandalous enough just being me!
9. What is your greatest accomplishment?
Raising my sons and learning that I am capable and worthy. Accepting that I am A Green Dog and proud of it.
10. If you could do any career in the world, what would you do?
Write and travel. Or cook.
11. If you could live one day over again, what would it be and why?
Probably the days that my sons were born because I was too worried about doing it all so perfect that I didn’t live it like I would have liked.
ELEVEN RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME
1. I am the Green Dog because my oldest son said that I was like a green dog in the middle of a herd of cows to explain how utterly weird I was in comparison to other people.
2. I am bilingual (Spanish-English) because I grew up In New Jersey in a Spanish family. I also speak French and the dialect of western Asturias, Fala.
3. I am an only child. If I’d had brothers, I would have left home before I was 18. The double standards would have been unaceptable.
4. I am an ESL teacher.
5. For almost two decades, I was a cattle farmer in a small village in the mountains.
6. Just recently, I found a word that describes how I feel: Monochopsis, the subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place.
7. I mix up words in Spanish and English and have a knack for speaking both in the same sentence, changing from one to the other every few words. Tu sabes what I mean?
8. I have a hard time understanding most jokes.
9. I am a chocolate addict. Once, I ate 11 (lol!) chocolate bars in one go!
10. I am a chronic overthinker.
11. I found love on Twitter. So far, so good…
I would like to nominate the following blogs:
https://gbolaboadetunji.wordpress.com/
https://hocuspocus13.wordpress.com/
https://theshowersofblessing.wordpress.com/
https://settleinelpaso.wordpress.com
https://rajivbakshiblog.wordpress.com
https://afterlifelovestory.wordpress.com
https://theoriginalphoenix.wordpress.com
https://curvygirlme.wordpress.com
https://cowpasturechronicles.wordpress.com
https://erikadaniellephoto.wordpress.com
Now, here are my eleven questions for you!
1. If you could erase a moment in your life, which would it be and why?
2. Who’s your favourite literary heroine?
3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
4. Do you like to cook?
5. Who would you change lives with if given the chance? Why?
6. What would you never change about yourself?
7. What would you tell your younger self?
8. If you could fast forward 20 years, would you? Why or why not?
9. What superpower would you like to have, mind reading or strength?
10. Who is your hero?
11. What would you want people to know about you instantly and why?
The Green Dog Chronicles. My New Life in Navia 
Technically my blog is award free, but I’m super tempted to take this award. XD
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought it was a fun way to learn about the person behind the keyboard. It’s always interesting to really ‘see’ people as they are. You’re welcome ! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your answers. I’m bilingual also. Since my husband is caucasian, I’m used to speak only English. I grew up with six other siblings, so I used to share, fight, and play with each other. Thank you for including me. I appreciate it>
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome! My native language is Spanish but I started learning English when I was six because we went to live in the US (New Jersey) for 7 years. I played this game with my cousins where we’d say a sentence half in English and half in Spanish…our parents didn’t like it too much as their English wasn’t as good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know my siblings, cousins and most of the young people in Hong Kong do speak 1/2 and 1/2 in sentences. Either they feel cool to throw in some English or too hard to find Chinese words for them….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally get it! I mix both languages up, sometimes with hilarious consequences!
LikeLiked by 1 person
One time I went back to Hong Kong, was in a Taxi talking to the driver in Chinese. I couldn’t finish the sentence because I spoke in the English sentence structure, like Spanish and English are different: white house vs casa blanca!
LikeLike
Oh, I get that! Happens to me many times. Being bilingual wires your brain differently.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, definitely!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on The Showers of Blessing and commented:
I want to thank Mari who nominates me for this award. Please visit her interesting and wonderful blog at https://greendogchronicles.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for reblogging! Hugs and good Monday 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I found out more interesting facts about you! I knew we shared bilingualism but I didn’t realize you were an ESL teacher, too. I’m also quite curious about your time as a cattle herder. It sounds like there might be a lot of stories from that experience! Noam Chomsky is one of my favorite linguists, which might be odd to have a favorite one of those but when I was getting my minor in linguistics, his theories resonated with me as a language learner. I’d love to hear your impressions of Scotland when you go. It’s on my bucket list. And my hubby is Scottish, too (a couple of generations removed, but still)….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, please! My boyfriend is Scottish! From Angus county, Dundee! My sons play the bagpipes and yes, we do have a Scottish Bagpipe too! As for Noam Chomsky, his explanation of capitalism and democracy is so clear and he guides you through it so well that it was a revelation for me to watch his documentary on Netflix, ‘Requiem for the American Dream’. Cattle farming is what my family on both sides did for centuries. I am part of the first generation to go to university. There are many anecdotes to tell from over 15 years worth of farming… I might tell them sometime. Thank you for the opportunity to participate! Buenos días desde Asturias!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t seen that documentary on Netflix. I’ll have to check it out. As for the bagpipes, I’m impressed your sons know how to play. That instrument always gives me goose bumps. Have a great day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’re typical of Asturias, bagpipes, as well as the north of Spain. Thank you and same to you 🙂
LikeLike
Fascinating!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for reading 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading! 🙂
LikeLike
You’re welcome! Have a great day 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you so much for the nomination but I am just too tired.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t you worry! Hugs xx
LikeLike
Congratulations!
This is so interesting and endearing. I now know the story behind the “Green Dog” name.
Monochopsis- that is a new big word for an all too familiar feeling.
If not that it is coming from you, I would have said finding love on Twitter is wishful thinking. Are you still on Twitter? Can I look you up?
The cattle farming for 2 decades- was this on a ranch? I ask because I come from a country with lots of cattle farmers but they are all normads and they rarely ever come close to teaching English language.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. Thanks for the nomination.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re very welcome! I tweet as Mari Wyrd Green Dog or @greendogdiary. My cattle farm was a small family farm I ‘inherited’ from my mother inlaw and I did it because it was the best way to care for my family and work. In Nay case, both my mother’s and father’s family were farming families. I speak English because my parents emigrated to Cuba (where I was born) and to the USA where we lived for 7 years. I would have said finding love on Twitter was impossible…but here we are, a year later and all well! Thanks for your kind words 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome! I thoroughly enjoyed your post. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will be following you on Twitter. Thanks.
LikeLike