IrishOboe

The gem of a story for today is a lesson in why I must learn Swiss German, otherwise known as “dialect.“  The background information you need for this story is that Swiss kids grow up speaking dialect and don’t usually hear much High German until they hit school at about age six.  Thus, I am acutely aware that when I speak German to the neighborhood kids it can sound as strange as when I tell them off in English (yes, I’ve done it once).  Today as I walked to the tram for my fiddle lesson a trio of girls from about 3 to 6 years eagerly greeted me.  I’d said hello to them before, but this time curriosity got the better of them and they came running up to me.  Here is the dialogue with my thoughts in italics.

Hello all!  The old Janet is back!  Her struggles are far from over, but praise God her feelings are back to their giddy selves.  Thanks for bearing with me, praying, and sending notes!  Aunt Sarah sent an update with a love note from Billy. J  Aunt Prudence sent a note with a gift from Jay’s store.  They stories never end, and what did he find in the dump this time but a five Euro note in a new shirt pocket!  I’ve been advised to go eat ice cream in Germany, a command which I will happily obey.