languages

[Theresa Wiegert]

> In Europe it is not uncommon to at least understand three foreign
> languages.

Well, I would say it's rather uncommon. Frenches rarely speak English, not
to mention German, and it's the other way around with the Germans. It's
getting better though, but only concerning knowledge of English. It's
mostly countries with small populations who know more languages, mainly
because there's noone who knows theirs! And - rather important - they
don't change the languages on films and series on TV, which is a wonderful
source of getting to know a language. 
I remember a situation on a gas station near the border between France and
Germany. A big German man, much resembling Donald's neighbour was quite
upset, because he wanted to pay, but there was something wrong with his
card. And he was yelling in German to the poor lady behind the desk in the
station, who apparently didn't understand a word, and in French tried to
calm him down, which made him even angrier! Anyway, my mother was trying
to pay as well, and grew tired, so she offered to help, knowing both
German and French (being a Swede! :)
She was so happy afterwards, jumping out of the station, smiling her head
off. 

Anyway, I'm generalizing a lot here. For instance, you guys here on the
list are excellent in english, and I don't want you to be angry at me
now! :) And I know people at scientist faculties are almost always
speaking in english, because there are foreigners everywhere. So it's just
the person in general you meet when you are out camping I'm referring to. 

-- 
/Theresa, who actually  does speak 3 other languages, but that's not
normal for swedes either (and I'm not good at it!)

KVACK!