Schneeketten and Train Languages

Schneeketten - pronounced SHNAY-kettun - are chains to put on the tires of your car in extremely icy/snowy road conditions.

Yesterday I bought our first set, as we plan to do a lot of skiing this year, and are going on a five-day ski trip five hours away in the French Alps (to a specific resort where I remember my dad having to put chains on when I was a child). I'd rather be able to get up the hill than be turned away by the police for not having chains.

Anyway, the mechanic at the garage saw I had an iPhone and told me the chains company had a free App for me to download, which I did on the spot. It included a video of a lady driving in the snow and stopping to put her chains on! :-) And the mechanic said to me in German, "See, it's a lady...I mean, excuse me, but..." It was funny.

And now on the other topic of the title of this post, Train Languages: 

When one rides a train from the German-speaking area of Switzerland to the French-speaking area, the language order of the PA announcements changes. Starting out in Zürich, one hears everything first in German, then in French, then in English. By the time one arrives in Geneva, the announcements are presented first in French, then in German, then in English. I didn't quite notice where along the way they made the switch.

The kids are in full show preparation mode - Jason's had rehearsals all day Saturday and Sunday twice in the past three weekends (in addition to 2-3 mid-week practices until 7pm), and Emily's been having extra rehearsals as well. Shows start Wednesday - 5 performances of Les Misérables (Jason singing Marius), and one of the nativity show for which Emily is stage manager for younger kids. Exciting! And the grandparents arriving Monday to join the fun!

Posted via email from K's Café