Language

     Have you ever tried to explain something to a non-English speaking person and find yourself repeating what they did not understand, only louder.  I am guilty.  Well, when I did not understand the train schedule, a delightful man tried to help me.  When I did not understand, he gave me a dose of the above medicine.  It was a very revealing lesson, and I hope I am never so demeaning again. 
     Everyone with whom I have tried to communicate by word or gesture, one on one, seemed to understand.  And their helpfulness goes beyond mere politeness, thank God. 
     As I observe people in public, I perceive very few differences.  Shoppers, shop; Drinkers, drink; eaters, eat, and except for their language differences, they could be anywhere I have been.
     In class there are some differences.  Our teacher, Frau Lüder, is quite soft spoke,.  The ladies, and especially Arisa, from Japan, also speak softly.  The men from Russia are split, with two having, deep, easy-to-hear voices and two speak undecernably.  The man from Arabia is also soft spoken but the man from Slovokia can be easily understood.  One of the most soft spoken in our class is Nick.  This makes me conclude that the vocal differences may be more personal or familial, as opposed to cultural or regional.
     When groups are speaking in what I must conclude is their mother-tongue, the speakers become quite boisterous.  This seems to be their normal speaking mode.
     Needless to say, but I am saying it anyway,  this is conjecture based simply on a short observation.