Whatcha Doing

[windstar]

I took a break from here and went out and planted my new grape vine and raspberry bush. Also planted my two plum trees. Tomorrow I'll plant my pear trees.

Molly

[wienerin]

See how spoiled I am?? Today is cloudy and temperatures about 7° lower than last weekend when we had 22°C. And I'm sitting in the house freezing!!!

[windstar]

Our temperatures have now started getting up to 90. It's time for the air conditioner already. I'm working on my garden today.

Molly

[wienerin]

OMG - we have that temperatures in July and August only...

btw - Good morning, windstar!

[windstar]

Good morning wienerin,
By July and August we are 100+ and begging and pleading for fall temperatures to hit. Usually after the so called Easter snap where it gets cold right around Easter is over the heat is on.

Molly

[wienerin]

I'm pretty happy with the moderate climate we have here in Central Europe; although winters sometimes can become very cold, but summers are not that hot as where you are or as in the Mediterranean. I can't go to Spain in Summer, have to go there in April or September. Hot enough for me!

It is 3:45pm over here. It is funny for me to watch people get up and join the forum from around noon my time on...!

[windstar]

It is 8:52 am here. I guess ya'll go to other countries like we go to other states. It takes us much more effort to get to other countries. Must be nice to go to other countries so easily.

Molly

[Siobhan Shadow]

Darn it is cold today 24 degree's F. And windy so that makes it even colder. Summer is never coming this year I don't think. Me staying home and quilting. Shrai

[wienerin]

Travelling within the European Union has become as easy as your travelling other states. with no controlls at the borders, no customs etc. Many European countries have even the same currency, which makes things much easier too. Only the languages... 27 member countries and 23 different languages with 3 different alphabets!!

[windstar]

Darn it is cold today 24 degree's F. And windy so that makes it even colder. Summer is never coming this year I don't think. Me staying home and quilting. Shrai

Ya know...most of our winter weather comes down from canada..but summer will come. Whatcha quilting on.

Molly

[windstar]

Travelling within the European Union has become as easy as your travelling other states. with no controlls at the borders, no customs etc. Many European countries have even the same currency, which makes things much easier too. Only the languages... 27 member countries and 23 different languages with 3 different alphabets!!

With travel being so freely open there must be lots of other people speaking all languages to be able to adequately communicate. I think I would be looking and pointing if I couldn't figure or understand the language. They would know right away I am not from the area.

Molly

[la_cole]

With travel being so freely open there must be lots of other people speaking all languages to be able to adequately communicate. I think I would be looking and pointing if I couldn't figure or understand the language. They would know right away I am not from the area.

Molly

Molly, I travelled in Europe last summer and Japan before that. The common language is English. Many have been taught English beginning in grammar school, with teens to late 20's being the most willing to bridge the communication gap. Americans can be spotted quite easily because we look and act like tourists.

[windstar]

Wow it's such a learning experience here. Would never have thought English would be a common language. If I ever got there maybe I won't stick out like a sore thumb.

Molly

[wienerin]

... Americans can be spotted quite easily because we look and act like tourists.

... and, sorry to have to say so, because of the ignorance and arrogance concerning languages. I have met and dealt with a lot of Americans who came to Europe on business reasons, they speak some of our language(s), respect our customs and practice, are educated and have good manners; but with tourists from America ... regrettably only bad experiences. It is really sad, as those people drag down all other Americans in the esteem of those who they behave badly to.

Children here in Austria have to learn at least one other language in school, those attending higher education usually learn two or three. My daughter and little sister are both fluent in German (of course), English and French, plus have a basic knowledge of Spanish.

[wienerin]

Wow it's such a learning experience here. Would never have thought English would be a common language. ...

Really?? English is the lingua franca of our times (a language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different) as it is the easiest language to learn because of its simple grammar: hardly any flection of nouns, heavily reduced conjugation of verbs, straight structure of sequence of tenses, rather simple structure of sentences (subject - predicate - object ... almost no alterations possible). Thank God it is such an easy to learn language - or you would not find so many people worldwide to use it!

But "looking and pointing" works fine too!!

[Anael]

You're so right wienerin. I speak German like you, and we both communicate in English.........LOL
Somebody from Germany once said to me: 'let's speak English, that way we're both not speaking our native language' ...... very thoughtful

[windstar]

I added a couple more things to my album. Gonna upload picture of the prom dress in a bit.

Molly

[Siobhan Shadow]

In Canada you have to speak and read, write English and French. Some people in Quebec when you travel threw won't speak English to a person who only speaks English. I know I drove threw Quebec (Montreal) and stopped for gas and had to no choice say fill up the truck, and hello, but for directions I needed English the man refused to speak English to me. Shari

[la_cole]

... and, sorry to have to say so, because of the ignorance and arrogance concerning languages. I have met and dealt with a lot of Americans who came to Europe on business reasons, they speak some of our language(s), respect our customs and practice, are educated and have good manners; but with tourists from America ... regrettably only bad experiences. It is really sad, as those people drag down all other Americans in the esteem of those who they behave badly to.

Children here in Austria have to learn at least one other language in school, those attending higher education usually learn two or three. My daughter and little sister are both fluent in German (of course), English and French, plus have a basic knowledge of Spanish.

I'm sorry to hear that you have had bad experiences with American tourists... I travel with my husband who attends scientific meetings. Our site-seeing is an associated extracurricular activity. We always research local customs prior to visiting foreign countries and try to blend in as much as possible. I attempt to learn a few key phrases and words to use. But with a camera hanging about the neck and a large book bag in tow, we are not hard to miss.

[wienerin]

In Canada you have to speak and read, write English and French. Some people in Quebec when you travel threw won't speak English to a person who only speaks English. I know I drove threw Quebec (Montreal) and stopped for gas and had to no choice say fill up the truck, and hello, but for directions I needed English the man refused to speak English to me. Shari

We have similar problems here too in some regions. E.g. official languages in Belgium are French, Dutch (Flemish) and German. But when trying to get along with German there you still risk being insulted as Nazi.

The French know a lot of languages, but they are very shy using it. It happened to me quite often when being in Paris that they understood every word I spoke in German (to my sister or cousin), but would only answer in French.