Sure is quiet around here.

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

I tried to learn German when I got there. I got the language tapes and the VHS tapes, and studied hour after hour. I finally thought I knew just enough to shop... and every time I spoke German to the people there, they'd answer in English. They wanted to speak English so much, I never did learn much German.

The fun part was going to Paris and trying to speak French (three years high school French, as taught by a woman from South Carolina, imagine the accent... ) to the shopkeepers there. They'd answer me in German!



AnnieLee

[Forty Rod]

Annie, I had the same problem in Japan.

Had a half dozen "Tedddy Boys" ('50s era hoodlums, black motorcycle jackets, DA haircuts, pegged Levis, skinny belts, tee shirts with cigarettes rolled up in the sleeves, and engineer boots.) escort me all over Hiroshima for two months of Friday night-Saturday morning tours of places most Americans never even imagine.

Unfortunately, what little Japanese I learned I have long ago forgotten.

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Oh my lands, Forty was hanging out with the Japanese version of the Fonz!!

ARRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!



AnnieLee

[Forty Rod]

Ayyyyy!

After I posted that last message, I went on a tour of Hiroshima for about an hour.

A lot has changed, but I'll bet a dime I could still find my way around the city and the area all the way down past Iwakuni.

Many good memories there, and from a few years earlier on Okinawa.

Seems that Hondori shopping area has grown up and become the "IN" place in that part of japan.  Too bad.

Peace Park will always be special.

[Trinity]

I tried to learn German when I got there. I got the language tapes and the VHS tapes, and studied hour after hour. I finally thought I knew just enough to shop... and every time I spoke German to the people there, they'd answer in English. They wanted to speak English so much, I never did learn much German.

The fun part was going to Paris and trying to speak French (three years high school French, as taught by a woman from South Carolina, imagine the accent... ) to the shopkeepers there. They'd answer me in German!



AnnieLee

That was my experience the first time in Germany too.  I wanted to try out some of my language skills but the citizenry wanted to answer in English.  I actually became upset and took it as an insult to my skills.    Therefore, whenever I meet a German here, I will speak English with him.  It is unbelievable how much German I have forgotten since I was last in Germany!  I work with some Germans and sometimes we'll go out for a frosty beverage and speak the mother tongue, but I have to think a bit.  AND... being a southerner, I speak on a more slower schedule than the rest of the world.  I think it bothers some of the Germans who take the Yankee's speech tempos and quadruple them!

Slim:  I pulled out my copy of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and I must diasagree.  He's speaking Hochdeutsch.  Plattdeutsch is quite different than any the German that you learned in school! 

Forty:  I shared a table and some beverages with some international students once and among them were some Japanese.  I don't know why.  Of all the words in Japanese that I learned (weren't that many), I still rememeber only one: Dendo kokeshi.  I remember it as fresh as if I had heard it just yesterday!     Oh how the mind works!!!

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

That was my experience the first time in Germany too.  I wanted to try out some of my language skills but the citizenry wanted to answer in English.  I actually became upset and took it as an insult to my skills.    Therefore, whenever I meet a German here, I will speak English with him.  It is unbelievable how much German I have forgotten since I was last in Germany! 

We can remedy that. Come with me to Belgium this fall. We can have a tryst and you can refresh your German!!

The German dialects were... interesting. The waitress in Bavaria had quite a chuckle at my expense. The bill was for 10 DM and change. I wanted her to round it to 11 DM (the tip was included in the bill). Eleven is "elf," but it didn't feel or sound right when I said it. So, I asked her> Was sagen zie "elf?" She looked at me and said: "elf." Then she broke into peals of laughter and told all the people at all the tables that the woman (me) said "elf" then asked how to say it. She kept looking back at me and saying "Elf!" and laughing all over again.

It's a good thing I was in a good mood or I would have tripped that liederhosen wearing old wench.



AnnieLee

[Trinity]

That was my experience the first time in Germany too.  I wanted to try out some of my language skills but the citizenry wanted to answer in English.  I actually became upset and took it as an insult to my skills.    Therefore, whenever I meet a German here, I will speak English with him.  It is unbelievable how much German I have forgotten since I was last in Germany! 

We can remedy that. Come with me to Belgium this fall. We can have a tryst and you can refresh your German!!

The German dialects were... interesting. The waitress in Bavaria had quite a chuckle at my expense. The bill was for 10 DM and change. I wanted her to round it to 11 DM (the tip was included in the bill). Eleven is "elf," but it didn't feel or sound right when I said it. So, I asked her> Was sagen zie "elf?" She looked at me and said: "elf." Then she broke into peals of laughter and told all the people at all the tables that the woman (me) said "elf" then asked how to say it. She kept looking back at me and saying "Elf!" and laughing all over again.

It's a good thing I was in a good mood or I would have tripped that liederhosen wearing old wench.



AnnieLee

  That sounds like something you'd see in a movie!! 

Oh, when I come to Belgium, can we please see the little pissing kid, please??

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

  That sounds like something you'd see in a movie!! 

Oh, when I come to Belgium, can we please see the little pissing kid, please??

< a long suffering sigh> Oh... I suppose.. for you, yep, we could see the whiz kid.

AnnieLee

[Trinity]

  That sounds like something you'd see in a movie!! 

Oh, when I come to Belgium, can we please see the little pissing kid, please??

< a long suffering sigh> Oh... I suppose.. for you, yep, we could see the whiz kid.

AnnieLee

  Yeeeee haaww!!

[Silver Creek Slim]

Slim:  I pulled out my copy of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and I must diasagree.  He's speaking Hochdeutsch.  Plattdeutsch is quite different than any the German that you learned in school! 

Maybe, I wasn't taught Hochdeutsch. 

Slim

[Trinity]

Maybe Hock-doich? 

[Silver Creek Slim]

Maybe Hock-doich? 

Probably. 

Slim

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Maybe Hock-doich? 

Probably. 

Slim

Isn't "Hock-doich" the sound a man makes when he is about to spit out a loogie?

< ducks and runs>



AnnieLee

[Delmonico]

Pumpernickel: define, I know it is a rye bread, but what does it mean?

[Silver Creek Slim]

Pumpernickel: define, I know it is a rye bread, but what does it mean?

[German, probably from dialectal, term of abuse  : obsolete Pumper, breaking wind (from dialectal pumpern, to break wind, from Middle High German, to knock, frequentative of pumpen, of imitative origin) + German Nickel, goblin; see nickel.]

Slim

[Joyce (AnnieLee)]

Pumpernickel: define, I know it is a rye bread, but what does it mean?

[German, probably from dialectal, term of abuse  : obsolete Pumper, breaking wind (from dialectal pumpern, to break wind, from Middle High German, to knock, frequentative of pumpen, of imitative origin) + German Nickel, goblin; see nickel.]

Slim

So pumpernickel bread is a goblin fart?

Figures Del would bring it up.



AnnieLee

[Delmonico]

I mentioned that in "The Shootist, back in 2002.

And it makes you fart like a goblin.

As I've said my research has lead down some strange paths.

[Silver Creek Slim]

I mentioned that in "The Shootist, back in 2002.

And it makes you fart like a goblin.

As I've said my research has lead down some strange paths.

That's fer sure. 

Slim

[Delmonico]

Yogurt Slim!  If ya do it right it might meet in the middle.

[Silver Creek Slim]