Monday, February 23, 2009
Amazing technology
This morning our U.S. phone (voice-over-internet through Voicepulse) was ringing and I knew it was too early for anyone in the states to be calling us but the caller ID said it was Montana so I answered it and it was my friend, Lisa Bennett, who just moved to the Czech Republic with her family as IMB missionaries. The crazy part is that they have a voice-over-internet phone through Vonage with their home number in Montana. So from the Czech Republic she called from her Montana phone to my Tennessee phone in Spain. CRAZY!! But we had a wonderful conversation and I have been thinking all day how amazing it was that she just picked up her phone and called me for free.
Monday, February 16, 2009
American products
The other day there was a sign posted in the workroom at school indicating that Lidl, one of the grocery stores here (think Aldi), was having their "American Products Week," where evidently they feature a different ethnicity of food each week. We were told we could find "luxuries" like peanut butter, pancake mix, maple syrup, etc. We don't usually shop there, but decided to go check it out. We were expecting Jif, Aunt Jemima, Kraft mac and cheese, but were a bit disappointed. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera with me and can't remember the brand name, but it was something generic and the selection was tiny. They did have peanut butter and pancake mix, but it still wasn't a great deal and we make our own from scratch anyway. Interestingly, we did, however, find these cookies on the snack aisle.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Driving School
I (David) started driving school in November to get my Spanish driver license. After three hours of class each week, numerous practice tests, and a doctor's exam, I am now scheduled to take the written test February 17. If I pass, I will begin driving lessons in a car with an instructor.
It has been an interesting process to say the least. After getting my book, I read the first chapter and then took a practice test over the chapter. I missed over half the questions. The first chapter included numerous definitions, including:
(if you're wondering, I have yet to see any cultivators driving down the road in Spain...)
Wonder what it's like to get a license in Spain? Here are some sample practice questions to prepare for the test. If you're bored and have a few minutes, try these ten questions. If you just want to read the questions with their answers, scroll down.
1. On a road with one lane in each direction with a paved hard shoulder of one metre wide, at what speed is a truck permitted to drive?
a. 80 kph
b. 70 kph
c. 90 kph
2. In a four wheel drive vehicle, the driving wheels are...
a. the front wheels
b. the rear wheels
c. the four wheels
3. Whitish-blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipe is a sign of...
a. a lack of oil
b. an excess of grease
c. an oil leak
4. How much can a solid load project from the ground projection of a 7 metre long truck?
a. it can't project
b. a third of the length of the vehicle, both in front and behind
c. two metres in front and three metres behind
5. A bus and a truck meet at a narrow stretch of road without signs which give priority. If we don't know which entered first, the vehicle that must reverse is...
a. that which has the greater maximum authorized mass
b. the truck
c. the bus
6. How can you warn the driver in front of your intention to overtake?
a. by means of your directional indicators
b. by means of appropriate acoustic signs, outside a built-up area, or optical signs both inside and outide a built-up area
c. by means of appropriate acoustic or optical signs, both inside and outside built-up areas
7. Is a private car towing a light trailer considered to be a group of vehicles?
a. yes, it is an articulated vehicle
b. yes, it is a road train
c. no, because the trailer is light
8. Are you permitted to drive a farm tractor weighing over 3,500 kg of MAM (maximum authorized mass) with a class B driving license? (this is the license that I will have)
a. no, because it exceeds the 3,500 kg of MAM
b. yes, if the maximum authorized speed does not exceed 40 kilometers per hour
c. yes, if it is carrying fewer than nine people, including the driver
9. An automobile especially designed for the transport, simultaneous or not, of merchandise and people, up to a maximum of nine, including the driver is...
a. a private car
b. an adaptable mixed vehicle
c. a van
10. In the situation above, what must you do if you want to continue driving straight ahead and the vehicle behind you wants to turn right?
a. I must wait for the main traffic light to change to green
b. I must turn right
c. I must continue straight ahead without waiting for the main traffic light to change to green
And the answers:
1. On a road with one lane in each direction with a paved hard shoulder of one metre wide, at what speed is a truck permitted to drive?
a. 80 kph
*b. 70 kph
c. 90 kph
The posted speed limit in Europe is only for private cars and motorcycles. There are four classes of roads and eleven classes of vehicles with different speed limits on each type of road. I must know them all for the test.
2. In a four wheel drive vehicle, the driving wheels are...
*a. the font wheels
b. the rear wheels
c. the four wheels
3. Whitsh-blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipe is a sign of...
a. a lack of oil
*b. an excess of grease
c. an oil leak
4. How much can a solid load project from the ground projection of a 7 metre long truck?
a. it can't project
b. a third of the length of the vehicle, both in front and behind
*c. two metres in front and three metres behind
5. A bus and a truck meet at a narrow stretch of road without signs which give priority. If we don't know which entered first, the vehicle that must reverse is...
a. that which has the greater maximum authorized mass
*b. the truck
c. the bus
6. How can you warn the driver in front of your intention to overtake?
a. by means of your directional indicators
*b. by means of appropriate acoustic signs, outside a built-up area, or optical signs both inside and outide a built-up area
c. by means of appropriate acoustic or optical signs, both inside and outside built-up areas
7. Is a private car towing a light trailer considered to be a group of vehicles?
a. yes, it is an articulated vehicle
*b. yes, it is a road train
c. no, because the trailer is light
8. Are you permitted to drive a farm tractor weighing over 3,500 kg of MAM (maximum authorized mass) with a class B driving license? (this is the license that I will have)
a. no, because it exceeds the 3,500 kg of MAM
b. yes, if the maximum authorized speed does not exceed 40 kilometers per hour
*c. yes, if it is carrying fewer than nine people, including the driver
9. An automobile especially designed for the transport, simultaneous or not, of merchandise and people, up to a maximum of nine, including the driver is...
a. a private car
*b. an adaptable mixed vehicle
c. a van
The car that we drive for the dorm is an adaptable mixed vehicle, though it looks like a van to me.
10. In the situation above, what must you do if you want to continue driving straight ahead and the vehicle behind you wants to turn right?
a. I must wait for the main traffic light to change to green
*b. I must turn right
c. I must continue straight ahead without waiting for the main traffic light to change to green
It doesn't matter what direction you want to go. If there is a green arrow and the person behind you wants to turn right, you must go right. Then you get to find a place to turn around to get back where you wanted to go.
How did you do? You must make at least 90% to pass the written exam. Needless to say, it quite common to have to take the test a few times before passing.
It has been an interesting process to say the least. After getting my book, I read the first chapter and then took a practice test over the chapter. I missed over half the questions. The first chapter included numerous definitions, including:
(if you're wondering, I have yet to see any cultivators driving down the road in Spain...)
Wonder what it's like to get a license in Spain? Here are some sample practice questions to prepare for the test. If you're bored and have a few minutes, try these ten questions. If you just want to read the questions with their answers, scroll down.
1. On a road with one lane in each direction with a paved hard shoulder of one metre wide, at what speed is a truck permitted to drive?
a. 80 kph
b. 70 kph
c. 90 kph
2. In a four wheel drive vehicle, the driving wheels are...
a. the front wheels
b. the rear wheels
c. the four wheels
3. Whitish-blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipe is a sign of...
a. a lack of oil
b. an excess of grease
c. an oil leak
4. How much can a solid load project from the ground projection of a 7 metre long truck?
a. it can't project
b. a third of the length of the vehicle, both in front and behind
c. two metres in front and three metres behind
5. A bus and a truck meet at a narrow stretch of road without signs which give priority. If we don't know which entered first, the vehicle that must reverse is...
a. that which has the greater maximum authorized mass
b. the truck
c. the bus
6. How can you warn the driver in front of your intention to overtake?
a. by means of your directional indicators
b. by means of appropriate acoustic signs, outside a built-up area, or optical signs both inside and outide a built-up area
c. by means of appropriate acoustic or optical signs, both inside and outside built-up areas
7. Is a private car towing a light trailer considered to be a group of vehicles?
a. yes, it is an articulated vehicle
b. yes, it is a road train
c. no, because the trailer is light
8. Are you permitted to drive a farm tractor weighing over 3,500 kg of MAM (maximum authorized mass) with a class B driving license? (this is the license that I will have)
a. no, because it exceeds the 3,500 kg of MAM
b. yes, if the maximum authorized speed does not exceed 40 kilometers per hour
c. yes, if it is carrying fewer than nine people, including the driver
9. An automobile especially designed for the transport, simultaneous or not, of merchandise and people, up to a maximum of nine, including the driver is...
a. a private car
b. an adaptable mixed vehicle
c. a van
10. In the situation above, what must you do if you want to continue driving straight ahead and the vehicle behind you wants to turn right?
a. I must wait for the main traffic light to change to green
b. I must turn right
c. I must continue straight ahead without waiting for the main traffic light to change to green
And the answers:
1. On a road with one lane in each direction with a paved hard shoulder of one metre wide, at what speed is a truck permitted to drive?
a. 80 kph
*b. 70 kph
c. 90 kph
The posted speed limit in Europe is only for private cars and motorcycles. There are four classes of roads and eleven classes of vehicles with different speed limits on each type of road. I must know them all for the test.
2. In a four wheel drive vehicle, the driving wheels are...
*a. the font wheels
b. the rear wheels
c. the four wheels
3. Whitsh-blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipe is a sign of...
a. a lack of oil
*b. an excess of grease
c. an oil leak
4. How much can a solid load project from the ground projection of a 7 metre long truck?
a. it can't project
b. a third of the length of the vehicle, both in front and behind
*c. two metres in front and three metres behind
5. A bus and a truck meet at a narrow stretch of road without signs which give priority. If we don't know which entered first, the vehicle that must reverse is...
a. that which has the greater maximum authorized mass
*b. the truck
c. the bus
6. How can you warn the driver in front of your intention to overtake?
a. by means of your directional indicators
*b. by means of appropriate acoustic signs, outside a built-up area, or optical signs both inside and outide a built-up area
c. by means of appropriate acoustic or optical signs, both inside and outside built-up areas
7. Is a private car towing a light trailer considered to be a group of vehicles?
a. yes, it is an articulated vehicle
*b. yes, it is a road train
c. no, because the trailer is light
8. Are you permitted to drive a farm tractor weighing over 3,500 kg of MAM (maximum authorized mass) with a class B driving license? (this is the license that I will have)
a. no, because it exceeds the 3,500 kg of MAM
b. yes, if the maximum authorized speed does not exceed 40 kilometers per hour
*c. yes, if it is carrying fewer than nine people, including the driver
9. An automobile especially designed for the transport, simultaneous or not, of merchandise and people, up to a maximum of nine, including the driver is...
a. a private car
*b. an adaptable mixed vehicle
c. a van
The car that we drive for the dorm is an adaptable mixed vehicle, though it looks like a van to me.
10. In the situation above, what must you do if you want to continue driving straight ahead and the vehicle behind you wants to turn right?
a. I must wait for the main traffic light to change to green
*b. I must turn right
c. I must continue straight ahead without waiting for the main traffic light to change to green
It doesn't matter what direction you want to go. If there is a green arrow and the person behind you wants to turn right, you must go right. Then you get to find a place to turn around to get back where you wanted to go.
How did you do? You must make at least 90% to pass the written exam. Needless to say, it quite common to have to take the test a few times before passing.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Library wish list
The library here at ECA has an ongoing "wish list" of books for all ages, K-12. If you have any of these books around your house or if you are willing or able to go to a used bookstore and send them to us, please let us know. CLICK HERE to view the wish list.
Rachelism
This morning
Rachel - "Mommy, guess what! Last night I had a dream that my Sunday School class from Hixson Presbyterian went to Nineveh."
Keri - "Ninevah?"
Rachel: "Yeah, with JONAH! The real one."
Rachel - "Mommy, guess what! Last night I had a dream that my Sunday School class from Hixson Presbyterian went to Nineveh."
Keri - "Ninevah?"
Rachel: "Yeah, with JONAH! The real one."
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