Susan, Thanks a lot for your compliment. The problem with mail is you don't know the people you are "speaking" with, so you don't also know at all how they feel after a reaction whether it's a laughing one or a critical or... Peter KESTENS.P@DEBCOM.BE BELGIUM -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: Susan Kline <skline@proaxis.com> Aan: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org> Datum: donderdag 3 september 1998 0:01 Onderwerp: Re: 20 tons of tension 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
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