[another Linda]

Originally Posted by katezbox

I used the Turkish Rosetta Stone to prepare for my daughter's wedding (meeting the groom's parents and doing a toast in two languages) and our subsequent trip to Istanbul for a second reception.

Ah, Kate, you are a much better person than I. To prepare to meet my son's soon-to-be-inlaws I used "Tagalog for Dummies." Of course they've lived in Alaska for 20 years and English is no problem.

[katezbox]

Originally Posted by another Linda

Ah, Kate, you are a much better person than I. To prepare to meet my son's soon-to-be-inlaws I used "Tagalog for Dummies." Of course they've lived in Alaska for 20 years and English is no problem.

Linda,

You make me laugh out loud. I must say that my daughter is fortunate in her in laws. They have only sons so treat her like she is a princess.

k

[jojo]

Halle, 10 or so messages ago - You said "Warning "Hook em Horns" sign does not mean you are a Texas fan." Please say more....

In the interest of continuing education.... An Amelia colleague

[Halle]

Hi JoJo,

When you use the "Hook em Horns" sign you are implying the man is a cuckold!

Of course this would really get the Italian men blood boiling mad so I used it frequently when driving.

Have you ever driven in Italy?

After three years I could drive with the best of them, of course my husband kept his eyes closed when I drove.

[Muncle]

One thing that an American must remember when driving in Europe is the citizens' attitude toward traffic laws, signs, and lights. In Germany they are sacrosanct. Had Poland put stop signs and do not enter markings on the border in 1939, WW II would have never happened. In Italy, however, such things are merely suggestions. A stop sign or red light -- yeah, some folks might stop but it's no big deal. Makes crossing the intersection so much more exciting. One way arrows with a do not enter sign --- kinda clears traffic for you and, if you hurry, gives you a clear shot to the road or bldg you want. And my favorite, of course, are lane markings. You see 3 lanes clearly marked. 3 lanes? Doubtful. I'm guessing a minimum of 4, maybe 5 lanes of traffic. And if it gets a bit too crowded, there's aways that stretch of pavement where the people walk. It's right next to the street, so logically it too is available for cars. And then there's the pea soup fog on the packed autostrada around Padua/Verona where everyone drives 100+ kph 'cuz the tiny taillights ahead of them are going 100+ kph.

Scary as hell, but fun. I really was relieved to get back into Switzerland.




`

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by Muncle

One thing that an American must remember when driving in Europe is the citizens' attitude toward traffic laws, signs, and lights. In Germany they are sacrosanct. Had Poland put stop signs and do not enter markings on the border in 1939, WW II would have never happened. In Italy, however, such things are merely suggestions. A stop sign or red light -- yeah, some folks might stop but it's no big deal. Makes crossing the intersection so much more exciting. One way arrows with a do not enter sign --- kinda clears traffic for you and, if you hurry, gives you a clear shot to the road or bldg you want. And my favorite, of course, are lane markings. You see 3 lanes clearly marked. 3 lanes? Doubtful. I'm guessing a minimum of 4, maybe 5 lanes of traffic. And if it gets a bit too crowded, there's aways that stretch of pavement where the people walk. It's right next to the street, so logically it too is available for cars. And then there's the pea soup fog on the packed autostrada around Padua/Verona where everyone drives 100+ kph 'cuz the tiny taillights ahead of them are going 100+ kph.

Scary as hell, but fun. I really was relieved to get back into Switzerland.

`

Ohhhhh, Munc,

I have the perfect quote for you, after you besmirched my choice of languages to learn and now this Switzerland thing. Now, I ask you, could this quote be any more appropriate, from me to you, as I wait by the mailbox for the delivery of my Rosetta Stone Italian.

Here's the quote from Orson Wells.......


"In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland, they had brotherly love; they had five hundred years of democracy and peace and what did they produce? The cuckoo clock."



Now, c'mon, Munc, you have to admit, I know. It is a good one, under the circumstances.



And Halle, thank you. I did not know that sign meant cuckold.

And this is just getting to be such an interesting thread for transitions. The cuckold and the cuckoo clock and all those literary relationships between the two. Shakespeare used the cuckoo-cuckold connection from time to time in his plays. Oh my! If I were an English major, I would be getting a case of the vapors right now. (Probably from finding myself face down in the stream of consciousness.)

And jojo, I so very much agree about the need for continuing education. And we are all so helpful here on TOTV, making it an excellent place to seek continuing education. I remember one night a few months back when I explained what a tramp stamp is. I think everyone found the information to be quite enlightening.

Boomer

[tony]

Maybe I shouldn't ask, but why would Texans use a hand sign that I was told in my very young years to never use, to never even think about. I'm still afraid to ask about it. And now they call them Hook 'em horns? What? My grandma would not be happy about this.

[Carla B]

Supporters of the University of Texas Longhorns use it 'cause it looks like a Longhorn. Go Longhorns!

[another Linda]

What an exciting night! I've learned a new quote by Orsen Wells and I looked up the previous post about Tramp Stamp Barbie. Sigh. Life is good.

[Boomer]

My Rosetta Stone Italian has arrived.

And so far I know how to eat and drink and read and write and run and swim and cook. I know how to do all these things in singular and in plural and in both sexes. And that is after only a half hour. (Well, I guess if you show me pictures that is.)

Boomer