I sat down to begin my next bit of translation for Old English (we’re continuing with the Life of St Edmund, by Aelfric) and I translated the first line with needing only to look up one word. Þa gewende se ærendraca arodlice aweg and gemette be wege… (The rest of the sentence went on to say: Þone wælhreowan Hingwar mid eallre his fyrde, fuse to Eadmunde, and sæde Þam arleasan hu him geandwyrd wæs.)

And then it occurred to me: I’m working on my Masters degree. In Scotland. And I’m learning two languages. Whoa. (And then I proceeded to have to look up eight of the next eighteen words, which hey, I guess is still pretty darn good.)