Welche Sprache?

A long time ago, I managed to travel through Europe and do not think anyone ever pegged me as an American. I left the t-shirts and sneakers home and my language skills in French and German, while never good enough to pass as a native, were good enough so that no one ever thought I was an American. I pretty much got by on my German speaking skills, my French passive comprehension being much better than my active language ability. It was actually a handy skill to have at the time because back then, in the midst of a terrorist outbreak, Americans needed a visa to travel in Europe and having arrived before the new rules were in place I did not have one. Still I managed to criss-cross 6 borders on public transport and never be asked for my passport.

I'm still capable have having random thoughts and the occassional dream in German, although my conversational skills have decreased notably. My French has become even more passive but I can still read a bit and get the general picture - can no longer follow a conversation unless it takes place v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y and is very simple in nature. I'm thinking these skills - plus the incredible growth of English speakers on the continent will get me through the first part of the trip. Think I can find my way into Geneva and over to the little bed and breakfast before we meet the group. Should be able to find my way around Chamonix when the group all assembles - managed to do ok in Provence a few years back - even escaping my friends on one occassion to test my skills over dinner in a remote restaurant. (They wussed and ate at our hotel - and missed a great meal!)

Roughly a third of this trip is in Italy. One would think with my last name and heritage that this would be the easiest part of the trip. Ha! My Dad would tell stories of trying to speak to me in Italian (my grandparents and aunt spoke three languages: Italian, French and Arabic). My Dad, born here, spoke passable Italian and some French. He said as a toddler I had an uncanny ability to answer anything said to me in Italian with the English translation. The result is that I know nothing.

Actually, that is not exactly true - I know how to make sounds that my Dad used to say whenever he was trying to tell me "you won't be happy if your face freezes that way." There was second phrase he used when the first phase elicited a smile. I think they translate roughly as "Ugly face" and "Pretty face." I also can spit out a bit of gibberish which my childhood memories recall Dad using whenever I was fusing over my food (often). I never really got an accurate translation of that one but I'm pretty sure it went something like "Be quiet and eat what is put in front of you." I ignored those instructions as well as I ignored the Italian my Dad tried to teach me. I know on this trip he will be watching down over me as I struggle in Italy and I will be able to hear his voice reminding me that I should have paid attention to my dear old Dad.

Also, hoffentlich auf dieser Reiser, I kann mich an genug Deutcher erinnern. Grammatik zählt nicht! (There should be an umlaut over the 2nd a in this sentence but I have no clue how to type one!) Followup note - thanks Kye! No idea why you know how to make an umlaut but glad you taught me! :)

I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.....

The full quote - at least according to my friend Kathleen's fb page goes: I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." MJ

I was looking for a title for this essay which is based on conversations I have had over the last month with a few people who react to news of my trip with the phrases: "You're doing what? Why? Are you sure you can do it?"

I'll answer the last question first: No, I am not at all sure I can do this entire trip but then I wasn't sure I could run the half marathon earlier this Spring - especially after a winter that allowed for next to no outdoor training time! (Really, I moved to Central NJ to avoid the blizzards - ok, that is another story....). As I've gotten older, basically since I passed that magical age of 40, a few years back now, I have stopped being so afraid of failing at these sorts of things. I never would have tried the half marathon at 30. This Spring, I came to work the following Monday and proudly told everyone of my 6,022 finish and my time guaranteed not to impress: 2:47. It impressed me because I didn't know if I could finish with an official time-under 3 hours. (Call out to Megs - who finished 13th - for asking me to try in the first place!)

I made it through last year's hike across England (see sister blog) despite three really, really, really tough days. The first one saw my feet on fire (ok, not literally but it sure felt that way) and my whining (loudly) "are we there yet?" at every hotel we passed on the main street of a town that seemed to exist purely to have hotels-ours was the last one in town. The 2nd day I walked further than I have ever walked before and finshed the walk with a dash across an active freeway and a half mile (400 yards my arse!) added to the end of the day. I didn't recognize my feet that night. The last occurred when my thigh muscles tensed up (admit it: forgot to stretch) making walking down hills extremely painful and embarrasingly slow.

I don't know what is going to happen on this trip. I am comfortable with the distance; slightly wary of the inclines and declines and nervous about the higher altitudes. Figure if I don't make it, the views from the hotel as I wave goodbye to everyone in the morning will still be pretty special.

As for why I do this - simple, because I can. I am fortunate enough that this sort of adventure is viable and as my childhood friends know, I learned at an early age not to take the future for granted. My Mom never got around to her long list of travels, they would come when my Dad retired, but Mom didn't see 50. I think that is why my siblings and I do some of the crazy things we do (Dan's Ducati not included), we are "lucky" enough to realize that if you can do it now, you need to do it now.

Also, it's been a year of a few too many reminders of that fact. Many of you know that for at least one day on this trip, my thoughts will be with my friend rebuilding her life after loss. There were too many this year: a highschool classmate, my Uncle's best friend and his wife. All the more reasons to keep doing and keep living.

So, if the way to succeed is to be wiling to fail, I'm going to Chamonix and going to begin walking around Europe's highest mountain. We'll see what happens. Carpe Diem!

The Map

Thought I would provide a map again this year so you can see the hike details. It's not quite as interesting as last year because 'round the mountain' is exactly that - a circle. The mountain in question is Mount Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps - at 15,782 ft. The first recorded summit was in 1786. President Theordore Roosevelt summited Mt Blanc 100 years later.
I won't be doing that - just walking around it - starting in Chamonix where the first Winter Olympics took place, hiking into Italy where Courmayeur is the famous Italian town and then back into Switzerland.
No one is really sure who actually owns the summit - France or Italy. It used to be part of Sardinia but since the time of Napolean the actual ownership of the summit has been subject to debate centering around various treaties and maps. The two latest agreements between the two countries - in 1947 and 1963, totally ignored the issue. I am actually somewhat curious as to the border controls on this hike - into and out of EU nations. Hope we get to ignore it all too.