July 27 The Girls' Inner-German Comes Out

Therese and my father-in-law have skipped town for the funeral of a distant relative. That leaves the rest of us chickens (bwaak!) no choice but to spend a day at the Salzburg zoo. It goes without saying in Europe, there's a direct bus that drops us right at the zoo entrance. Squeak, squeak. (That was the sound of me rubbing it in.)

The kids and I have made a pact that we speak English at home but must speak German while on outings, even if Therese is not with us. Previous attempts to enforce this have been unpopular. But today at the zoo something has clicked. As if by magic, the girls begin speaking German, not just to me, BUT TO EACH OTHER! They have never done this in their lives before today. Now, I didn't say it was good German. We're destroying conjugations, mutilating word order, mangling tenses, and it is pure delight. I don't correct them in any way -- just let it come out and relish the moment.

Something has obviously started to switch over in their brains. The immersion is sinking in. Ironically, I think Therese's absence is a catalyst for the reaction. Perhaps we are simply too accustomed to our nine-year habit of Therese speaking German to the kids while all other communications get conducted in English. Therese posits later that it's my attempt to speak German that inspires the kids to brave it themselves. "If poor old Dad can do it and flub it without embarrassment, maybe we can, too."

May it last!