steepholm

I actually DID have a high school teacher who asked me why I wasn't reading The Magic Mountain in German. It was tough enough going in English at the time. (A friend who had moved away had suggested we read a book together and discuss it by letter -- it was her choice of book. About two-thirds of the way through she couldn't stand it any longer. I think I finished it myself, but am not sure.) However, he was the sort who could learn a new language in six weeks or so (less if he had a new girlfriend who spoke it -- okay, I exaggerate slightly).