I want to mention to you people from the Americas how very unfamiliar much of your "cultural background" appeared to me. I am talking of food (what are jalapenos? what's a cupcake, what's the difference between cheesecake and Käsekuchen? and so forth without end), holiday traditions, the school system, education, family traditions and rituals, remembered movies, books, music, citations from tv series, characters, not to speak of US domestic politics, religious and ethnic communities, and so on. There were so many allusions I didn't understand. I googled a lot and and sometimes asked for an explanation, and I am a lot more aware of your cultures now than I was back then. - Maitani

Maybe a tiny foretaste of what it means to migrate to a foreign country. - Maitani

Wow, that is so true, Maitani. How difficult it is for all our immigrants. Where do you live? - Anne Bouey

In Germany, Anne. - Maitani

You have mentioned your English--learning. I believe that you have an exceptional grasp of our language. :) - Anne Bouey

Thank you, Anne. :-) To me it is a privilege to be able to communicate in your language, because through it feel I have access to the world. And because I have always loved this language, when reading Jane Austen novels years ago, and now, being able to talk to you on friendfeed. - Maitani

I brought a specimen over for further study. My biggest epiphany so far is that Norwegians are a very strange people :) - Eivind

No doubt about that! I hope (and I am confident) that your specimen will continue to thrive in that particular environment. :-) - Maitani

Oh, Eivind, you never cease to amuse me. I'm going to miss that so. Hope to see you and Maitani (and Jenny) on frenf.it. :) - Anne Bouey

Eivind:) - Alistair

Loved your feeds Maitani. Very educational. Thank you. - Alistair

Thank you, Alistair. :-) - Maitani