I just got an e-mail from a European friend, an exchange student who spent his senior year of high school in the States 40 years ago. He hasn’t been back, but we’ve kept in touch. I hadn’t heard from him in a couple of years and while his English is still pretty good (usually better than mine) it seemed a few things in his e-mail got lost in translation.
“How are you,” he wrote, “Is it as bad over there as we see on TV? It made me very sad to hear that all Americans have lost their jobs and that they spend 12 hours a day looking for work in obsolete automobile factories. I don’t think Europeans want those cars. What we like is American culture. Almost all you hear on the radio here is American rap music and everyone goes to American movies. Couldn’t more Americans get jobs as rap singers or movie stars? That would seem to me a better idea. Or as basketball players? As everyone knows all Americans are good at playing basketball and it is a good, well-paying job. Why would you want to make cars when you could play basketball?
“I was sad to hear on the news that all Americans have sold all their houses for very little money. Why? I would be very sad sell my house for a very low price. It has been in my family for over 300 years. But if I had to sell, I would not take very little money.
“How did all Americans lose all their money? Some of my friends here say Americans are greedy, but I have been to America and I know that you are not greedy. Besides, I said, ‘if they were all greedy, they’d have money and you just heard that none of them have any money.’ My friend said, ‘Then maybe they’re just stupid.’ So, I won your honor with my arguing.
“How do you like living in a tent under the interstate? It’s just a suggestion, but I think you should be able to find a nicer place to put a tent than under the interstate. If you don’t have a tent, I have an extra one I can loan you. I need it back by August, we’re going on a month-long camping trip in the mountains.
“It must be hard to buy food without any money. I have a good way to stretch a Euro. It’s called Catfood Helper. It was something my mother used to make after the war. Here it is:
1 Can cat food
1 Pound Egg Noodles
