One of Those People Who Speak Two Languages

Tuesday I decided not to post since I figured I wouldn't have much traffic around this place due to the Fourth of July celebrations. I guess I was wrong. I also went and played some tennis with Manfred. It was a good day for it, not too hot, but we both played pretty poorly, and agreed to blame it on the splotchy light flitering through the trees.

Wednesday I didn't have to go to Biology in the afternoon for the second week in a row. It was cancelled and replaced by Spanish for the others. We also got our Chemistry tests back today. The teacher asked to speak with me, since I got a 4 on the test. He assumed it was because I couldn't speak German (although I'd probably chalk it up to my ineptitude at the science of Chemistry), and told me that if I wanted to be "one of those people who speak two languages" that I'd have to work hard on my German skills. It was some very good advice, so I went searching for some helpful study guides. It helps when people organize things for me. I can be motivated when I want to be, but if nothing's in order, I get very little accomplished. So I found a few websites, including one that everyone here can use to increase your global and cultural awareness. Okay, probably not any of you who've had a German class in school, but for the rest of you: Essential German. I especially like the section titled "Food & Drink," because those things are about all we eat here. ;)

Also for those of you who cannot speak the German language, I've dug up a resource of Mark Twain quotes on the language, to keep you satisfied and relieved that you never did decide to venture into the grammatical mess the people I'm living with call a language. And so the first one:

"It is easier for a cannibal to enter the Kingdom of Heaven through the eye of a rich man's needle that it is for any other foreigner to read the terrible German script."
- photo autographed to Ed. Potzl, 2/1898; Notebook, 1898

"Ich bin ein ausgezeichneter Fahrer." Ich hab's von "Rain Man" auf Deutsch gelernt. Es ist mir immer interressant, amerikanischen Filme hier zu gucken, besonders die, die ich schon gesehen habe. Meiner Meinung nach, Dustin Hoffman hat das Oscar so viel für seine Stimme als sein schauspielen gewonnen, weil das Film war sicher nicht so gut wie auf Englisch. Auch wurde das Zitat "K-mart sucks" als "Einkaufszentrum ist scheiße" übersetzt. Obwohl es noch lustig war, es war nicht wahr, nicht echt so zu sagen, und es lässt mich traurig. Außer Filmen guck' ich nicht so oft Fernseher, aber manchmal schaue ich Fußball oder Tennis an. Tara, nächste Sommer hast du sicher Spaß. Entweder gehst du wieder nach Europa oder gibt es "Tara allein zu Hause," d.h. "Party bei Tara," oder? ;)

If anybody would like to try and beat Parker to the draw on that math problem, they're welcome to it. Furthermore, and wishes, wants, desires, whatever I can do for anyone, just let me know.