Relative Clauses and German Sausage

I woke up and, as has been my routine lately, promptly turned to Pimsleur lessons while stretching on an exercise mat.

Lying on my back on the floor, trying to become flexible again, I learned that the word “that” in Hindi is pronounced kee. Which means it is very similar-sounding to “that” in Spanish (que), French (que), and Italian (che), all of which are pronounced with an initial k sound.

Brandt and I at Loreley on the Lower East Side; Photo Courtesy of Valerie Raffle

Today I was taught how to say, among other things, “I think that the stores are open.” For me it is a big deal when I learn to construct—in a new language—a sentence consisting of a main clause and a relative clause. I think I must be a heavy user of relative clauses in my daily life.

In the evening Brandt and I went to a German Biergarten, Loreley on the Lower East Side, with some of my running teammates.

No German was spoken, though I did successfully translate a menu item or two involving sausage and potatoes. It is a relief to know I can still talk about something in German!