Thread by @funkybrownchick

Reading: "In Germany, a cluster of caravans in which sex workers operate are known by locals as "Liebesmobile" (Love mobiles) ... director Elke Margarete Lehrenkrauss decided to stop, get to know them and tell their stories in the documentary #Lovemobil." amp.dw.com/en/lovemobil-a…

"I knew about the 'Liebesmobile' from my childhood. Back then it was only German women who worked in them. That has changed a lot in the last 20 or 30 years. Today only women from abroad work in them." - Elke Margarete Lehrenkrauss

About murders & exploitation? "It is a must that as soon as women arrive here and end up in such a situation, they should be made aware of their rights, introduced to the language, and told that they can get out if they want to. Of course, language always plays a big role."

My opinion: If you live in a country, learn the language that country speaks fluently. Not for others, for yourself. As a migrant, people are going to fuck with you; you're in a stronger position if you can actually understand what's going on around you & advocate for yourself.

I don't completely understand how language acquisition, like hand washing, became such a partisan issue.

Everyone: Wash your hands. ✋
Everyone: Learn languages. 🌎

When I lived in The Netherlands, Dutch language acquisition classes were free for foreigners. So I took all the classes, and I learned Dutch fluently.

Many Dutch folks were like: "Why did you even bother? Everyone here speaks English." It's true. I found learning Dutch harder for those of us who spoke English, because Dutch people would usually just speak our language back to us.

In fact one of the first things I learned to say in Dutch (besides "Wie is de vrouw aan die andere kant?" ... long story) was basically "Ik probeer Nederlands te leren. Spreek nederlands alstublieft." (I'm trying to learn Dutch, please speak Dutch with me.)

As beautiful as the experience is, living in a country that's not your original home can be isolating.

Visiting is different than living. During my early days in Amsterdam (signing leases and other contracts in Dutch, having old neighbors on the ground floor who didn't speak English, etc.), I often felt lonely & shut out of things going on around me.

I felt safer & more integrated once I learned the language.