Fighting to learn Unity, which uses C#... and I keep thinking in C. Blech.

at some point I should try to learn C# too... is it like C++/Java, Python, or some other language?

It is Microsoft's answer to Java, and (in my opinion) is not as bad as C++.

It's much more like C++ than Java, and the part I really dislike is this syntax:

for(int y = 1; y < rows-1; y++)

That looks like valid Java, and better than C as you can declare the i in the for statement (which I think is not possible in C). What about it do you not like?

Basic looks easer...
for y=1 to rows-1
doing what ever here
next y

The C/C++/C#/Java version is much more flexible, as you can have it terminate for any condition, such as end of file or when a flag is set or both, and the increment can likewise be anything, such as reading from file or doubling (whether it i considered a good idea actually use that flexibility I do not know).

the more modern high-level languages just add on (a lot) more functionality/ease-of-use (less work on your part, but greater overhead: more code/operations) to what the older high level languages or older languages more close to low-level/assembly, did

also, with C++ (forgot if Java has this or not), there's:

VARIABLE-- // subtraction

and pre-vs-post-operation increment/derementing:

++VARIABLE vs VARIABLE++
--VARIABLE vs VARIABLE--

What about it do you not like?

well, I prefer (because that's how I think) to write out my loops. Doing this:

y=1;
if
y<rows-1 then y=y+1;
else
blah

This syntax: for(int y = 1; y < rows-1; y++), while doing the exact same thing, makes my head hurt and I always spend a good minute or so remembering how to translate it when I encounter it, and several minutes remembering how to write it when I need it.