From the diaries - whataboutbob

Well I'm in Romania where it's a normal day... but like most Americans, my holidays are mobile.  Therefore, from me to you, Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm reminded of a line in the movie "Sweet November" where a friend of the principle female actress says "Happy We Stole Your Land and Killed You Day".  That's actually a little tongue in cheek but the truth is that the holiday is based on a friendship post-harvest meal between recent Puritan immigrants and Native Americans.  It's since been modified to serve as a symbol of multiculturalistic harmony as well as to promote more shopping for the Christmas season (signed into law 1940 - yep).

Last year I wrote a piece about a tragedy that occurred in my life several years ago.  It was a piece which frankly horrified and sickened a lot of people, and therefore I won't repeat it.

But as one of the portable traditions on this day is to give thanks, and to look back at the past year, I can't help but reflect how shocking it is to look through the window of the media at what my country has become.

In an effort to further gauge our abilities, I thought it was time to do another poll - this time about the languages we speak.

With the multitude of elections occurring around Europe, it would be great to know who speaks what, to help us translate articles in the local press.

For the purposes of the poll, pick the language you speak BEST.  

And yes I realize there are too many languages spoken in Europe to fit in this poll.

English isn't included because I'm assuming we all speak it and/or read it already since we're here ;)

Pax

A lot of us move around and have origins in different places than where we currently live.  So for the poll below, just answer where you currently live.  If you're on vacation or about to move somewhere, put the place where you will be living.

But what does all this mean? What is the treaty (referred to hereafter as the CFE) refer to? And why should anyone care?  Obviously most people don't, as this meeting is only being reported in the Russian press.  Yet it's one of the most important treaties of our time and absolutely vital to the future of Europe and NATO-Russia relations.

One of the most wonderful (and sometimes) confusing things about Europe is all the languages spoken... from the big ones like German or French to the more obscure ones like Romansh,  Vlach, or Breton.

While nobody speaks them all, it sure helps when visiting a new place to learn a few words and among the most important are the numbers.  How else can you tell the waiter you want three more beers? ;)

Below the fold I'll start with the numbers 1-10 in Romanian.  Join the thread and post the numbers that you know, along with how to pronounce them (approximately) in English!