20 tons of tension

[Susan Kline]

Dear Peter,

I didn't feel offended in any way. I was just making a joke by
understanding what you said, and replying using a Dutch word. My little bit
of fun.

And it's true that Americans are very backwards when asked to speak a
foreign language ... on the other hand, we're fantastic at understanding
people who hardly can stammer a word of English. Your English is just fine,
by the way.

Susan
-----------------------------------------------------------
At 09:09 PM 9/2/98 +0200, Peter Kestens wrote:
>To all of them who may be blamed by my answer,
>
>I only wanted to tell most of you hardly read or speak a foreign language.
>If we Belgiums want to be understand or want to be succesfull in business,
>we have to talk at least 3 (and even more) languages.  English is one of
>them.   For those who are interested, my first language is Dutch, then
>French and after that, English and German.
> I only want to excuse the way I put it:  I did it a little bit laughing
>with you "poor little  Americans who aren't able to talk a foreign language"
>:-) but didn't  at all have in mind to blame anybody of you.  As Michiel van
>Loon said: I only pushed the wrong button. So, ...
>
>And no, I'm not hexalingual,  I can speak three languages and have notice of
>German but that's it.
>
>BTW,  I'm convinced you do perhaps the same when you read my English.  I've
>many times the feeling  American or English people will tell the same but in
>a more easy and simple way.
>
>Over and out.
>KESTENS.P@DEBCOM.BE
>BELGIUM
>-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
>Van: Susan Kline <skline@proaxis.com>
>Aan: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Datum: vrijdag 28 augustus 1998 0:01
>Onderwerp: Re: 20 tons of tension
>
>
>At 09:51 PM 8/27/98 +0200, you wrote:
>>Michiel,
>>Verwacht toch niet te veel van die Amerikanen;  ze zijn absoluut geen
>>talenknobbels zoals wij hoor.  Ik ben echt benieuwd om hun reactie te zien
>>(en horen?)
>>KESTENS.P@DEBCOM.BE
>>BELGIUM
>
>Dear Peter,
>
>Agreed. Hardly a talenkenner in the whole bunch of us. Well, we're just
>spoiled, since the whole world seems willing to speak our native language.
>
>Best wishes,
>
>Susan
>
>P.S. Michiel ... ein bißchen Deutsch, vielleicht, kann ich lesen. Nur ein
>bißchen.



Susan Kline
P.O. Box 1651
Philomath, OR 97370
skline@proaxis.com