Maria, look!

Context: In the bus. Behind me, a woman is sitting with a boy and a girl, both around six or seven years old. The children are facing each other.

BOY: Maria, look! She's putting her finger in her nose!!!

MARIA (the woman): That's ok. She can do it. It doesn't matter.

BOY, sounding scandalized: How come I'm not allowed to do it?!

MARIA: Who told you you were not allowed to do it?

BOY: Look! She's doing it again!!! She's putting her finger in her nose!!

GIRL: I do it like this! (I assume the girl makes demonstration.)

BOY, scandalized and disgusted: Look!! She's putting her finger in her nose and eating the bogeys! She's eating the bogeys!!!

From then on, I don't hear the rest, for I can't stop laughing...

In pictures - Le Charlot des rues

There are times when images speak louder than words. Over the years I have been taking pictures of people I see and situations I witness that I find interesting or simply beautyful. I have decided that I will post some of them here from time to time. They are images that show things that, were I a bit better with words, I would probably have written a post on them. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

I like to call this one the Street Tramp. I guess it's a bit redundant, but in French it sounds better: 'Le Charlot des rues'. I took it in Strasbourg in 2006.

Polite conversation

In the bus. A woman comes in with two little girls. The youngest (around four years old) sits next to an old man.

LITTLE GIRL, addressing the old man: Moien!*

OLD MAN, smiles and answers: Moien!

The girls chatter during the journey. When they arrive at their stop, the little girl takes her mother's hand and stands up to leave.

LITTLE GIRL: Äddi!**

No answer. The old man hasn't noticed that she is talking to him.

LITTLE GIRL, turning around, not wanting to leave before she has her answer: Äddi!

Still no answer.

LITTLE GIRL: Äddi! ... Äddi!... Äddi!

People witnessing the scene start smiling.

OLD MAN, finally noticing: Äddi!

Little girl smiles and finally lets her mother take her away.

*Moien = Hello

** Äddi = Bye