Machete vs. Machete

If I haven't written the new/old volunteers lately than shame on me because they're pretty cool.  Their names are Philipp and Leoni, they're German and they're awesome.  It has been so much fun to have them at the orphanage because they bring a whole new aspect to this entire experience.  Philipp loves to go rock climbing and so last Thursday they took us to a gym in Chiang Mai and we all went rock climbing.  It was fun.  More than that.  It was SO much fun.  The people there were great.  We went again on Saturday and it was just as much fun.  Also, it's super cheap.  A big plus.  Reason number two why they're so great: they love good food (naturally, they're from Germany).  We love to reminisce about all the food we miss.  Mostly we talk about bread and cheese and of course I throw in pasta.  But above all the number one reason why I think they're so cool, they love their language.  They make German seem like this amazing language that you can not only learn but make fit you as if it was your own language.  Philipp talks about his language as if it's a part of him, and I'm sure it is.  I think our native language is a part of all of us, but it's different for Philipp.  Today we were talking and he asks me, "Do you say Machete?  You know for that big knife?"  Yes we do.  "But it sounds so.. 'Machete!' like a little girl." (I really hope you've been imagining this in a burly German accent) "In German we say MacHater!"  It's spelled m-a-c-h-e-t-e, but pronounce MacHater!  It was a perfect example of their love for the German language.  There they both were saying, "Machete!" while throwing their arms up into the air.

It has been so great having them here at the farm with us.  I love talking to them and joking around.  It seems a bit weird that when they leave in a week or so I will most likely never see them again.  So, Leoni and Philipp if you are reading this I hope you know that we loved having you here at the farm.  Thanks for teaching me great German words (Shiesser), showing me how wonderful your language is and how wonderful I can make my language, telling me about your dogs and therefore making me want one as soon as I can get my hands on one, and taking me rock climbing.  I hope that you eat a big piece of warm German bread as soon as you get home.

p.s. For those of you that have been squirming in your chairs, Philipp is spelled correctly.
and, more pictures here.  Of course.

Leonie and Philipp