I met another set of strangers last night (Sat evening) at a wedding of a local lad and his lovely German bride. (He is awesome too.) My German [4 years of HS] disappeared after I became fluent in Spanish, (not enough room I suppose) but I gallantly strove for recollection of 'greetings and small talk German,' and some returned, to the delight of the Bride's parents and Aunties. I shall have them over for dinner before they return to Germany and in the between time I will go to some "Brush up your German" website.

At the reception, I challenged one young fellow, a stranger, "What will you be doing in 5 years?" and he found it a penetrating question. "Maybe finishing my PhD," was his considered answer. At this point he is a HS English teacher, and very frustrated with the system AND the kids. I would be too. "Hands up those who wish to learn something today." Oh. Sadly I don't see any hands. Sigh.