this morning as i was waiting for the bus at the bus stop, two german teenagers came over to ask if i happen to have a lighter with me. i replied "nee", that i don't have one. &the guy who asked the question went away. the other asked, "du rauchst nicht? (you don't smoke?)" and i replied "nee (nope)" again. then he pressed, "ja? (yes?)"; confused, i said "nee" yet another time. then he explained himself, "ja? du rauchst nicht?", and only this time did i say "ja" in confirmation.
***
just thought it was intriguing how different cultures respond to negation... (:
you don't smoke?
-no, i don't smoke.
-yes, i don't smoke.
divine
Then let our trial teach us patience.
reminiscence
coniungere
"Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold."
