germany_canada_dialogue e_o_i I never did see the park that used to be an airport and the Queer Berlin tour got canceled. But it wasn't all bad. With the all immer_immersion, if not as immer as advertised, I got slightly more fluent in speaking the language. I read a 19th-century play (okay, so it was edited for high-school readers). I saw a church where Pachelbel was the organist. And the non-Germany side trips! The Netherlands one weekend and Switzerland another - something I never expected when I signed up for the class. I felt incredibly lucky (especially since the hosts paid for almost everything in Amsterdam). Odds and ends: I missed peanut butter, which isn't that popular over there, at least not in Kassel. Patricia, my "host mother," noticed and bought some sweet cinnamon-y version. I haven't had sugary peanut butter since I was a kid, but I wasn't complaining. I'm sad I'll probably never see their dog again even if I see them. Lara, though alert and pert and well-trained and fetching (literally), is advanced in age and dog lifespans being what they are... But I do have a video of playing fetch with her where I say "Gib mir" when she's holding the ball. And she actually gibbed it! Gute girl. and I made up some germany_canada_dialogue, it is very accurate 240129 ... epitome of incomprehensibility Misblathed, forsooth! That's what I get for not going to sleep at a reasonable hour. HERE is the dialogue and the rest should go in just "germany." ... Canada: Hi Germany! Just letting you know, it *is* possible to have too many cobblestones. Germany: Hi Canada! Thank you for the message. I've never had that particular thought about cobblestones before, but I believe I would agree with the statement that there could be too many cobblestones. It's not necessarily a particularly interesting statement, but thank you for making sure I knew... Wait a minute, is this one of the times where you're indirect and passive-aggressive about something? Canada: Don't call me passive-aggressive! I'm just trying to be helpful! Germany: Oh, okay, thank you for trying to be helpful. But since the possibility of there being too many cobblestones seems, on further reflection, quite obvious, I assume there's some further connotation to your message. Canada: Now you're just being pedantic. Germany: I'd say I'm more practical than pedantic, in general. Canada: You *would*. Germany: Yes, I would! I just did. Canada: Now *you're* being sarcastic. Germany: I would characterize that as dry humour rather than sarcasm. But since we're giving each other helpful advice now, be honest: do you think *I* have too many cobblestones? Canada: Did I say that? Germany: No, and that's the problem. DO YOU THINK I HAVE TOO MANY COBBLESTONES?? Canada: ...Okay, fine, yes. They made my feet sore. It was annoying. How's a person supposed to walk over those things in sandals? Germany: How do you have feet? You're a country. Canada: I am one with my people. I have people and my people have feet. Germany: But were those people wearing sensible sandals? Canada: Oh sure, shift the blame. Just because you don't want to give up your precious cobblestones. Germany: Well, I don't. I think there are just about the right number of cobblestones in Germany. Canada: Oh? How many are there exactly? Germany: How the hell should I know? Canada: I thought you were super organized. Germany: No, just punctual. And I don't go around counting every cobblestone. That's would be silly. Canada: Well, I just assumed by association that you were knowledgeable about cobblestones. See, "glockenspiel" is a German word, and it was in the music score of a song I sang in grade five called "Roses and Cobblestones." See the cobblestone connection...? And there was a six-note instrumental bit that was marked "glockenspiel," so the other kids and I would find it hilarious to sing those six notes to the words "glockenspiel, glockenspiel" when we were supposed to be silent. Germany: What does that have to do with anything? AND HOW CAN A COUNTRY BE IN GRADE FIVE?? Canada: I am at one with my people, and my people are sometimes in grade five. Germany: ...Do they ever get out of it? Canada: Yes, but they have to get around the cobblestones first. 240129 what's it to you? who go blather from