The End Of Our Trip

[zack24]

After three weeks of Greta and I smoking, eating, and drinking our way across Italy, we took 4 flights over 28 hours to get to Monterey, Ca. in time for my son's graduation from a 15 month school in Mandarin Chinese at the Defense Language Institute. An incredible achievement- graduated top of a class of 32 and won the Commandant's Award. We managed to totally surprise them by showing up- For a graduation gift, I gave him one of my reverse calabash designs, a nice assortment of Samuel Gawith tobaccos, and an Italian lighter..A great time had by all!
Father and son- the elder enjoying a little Samuel Gawith Black Forest- the younger enjoying an EMPTY Savinelli pipe

Greta and I at a great micro-brew at Big Sur.

 

[tbradsim1]

Fine looking Young Man, Great Family, I know you are glad to be back home though, thanks for the pics and info about your trip, loved it Zack.

 

[bigvan]

15 months?! When I took the Chinese Mandarin course in '88/'89 it was only 47 weeks and I barely made it through.
Bravo Zulu!

 

[docwatson]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, it couldn't have ended any better. Great photos of everyone.

:clap:

 

[zack24]

Big Van, It's a brutal course. He ended up with a 343(I think)- basically the level that they expect to see from someone who graduated from the course and then had another two years assigned in the country. It was the highest score they had recorded from a non-native speaker at the school...and his background was as a high school Spanish teacher- he tested out of that language at the same level...Pretty amazing considering how I have to struggle with easy languages like Italian...

 

[pylorns]

Congrats, great pics!

 

[cigrmaster]

Zack, not too proud of the kid huh? You should be that is a great accomplishment, I am sure he will go far in life. I am glad you had a great trip and a safe return. Now what is on the menu for next weekend, I miss Gretta's cooking.

 

[zack24]

Harris, Hey, you name it! We owe you big time for taking care of the princess Dolce....

 

[boudreaux]

Enjoyed following the trip through your posted pics, Zach. Made me want to return to Italy for a third time. Your son's achievement is an admirable one. Daunting language to learn. Congratulations to him. Love that sweet little dog!

 

[gwtwdbss]

Great pics. Thanks Zack!

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Congrats! I know how difficult learning languages can be - my major was in Vulgarity and that took me many months to master.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Harris & The Princess - now that paints quite a picture.

 

[shaintiques]

Looks like it was a great trip, very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

 

[cigrmaster]

Zack, that risotto dish Gretta makes would be perfect. I need to come over early and watch how she makes it. I have the ingredients here but did not have a clue how to prepare it.
peck, Dolce is in love with my dog Brutus who outweighs her by about 80 pounds or so. Brutus was whining after she left last night wondering where she went to.

 

[trailspike48]

Welcome home Zack. Enjoyed the updates on your trip, and the photos of your family. I'll bet the princess was glad to see her family.

 

[fnord]

Congratulations, Zack. Your son's accomplishment is amazing and your grandson is adorable.
One of my step-brothers went through the Presidio's Russian course and spent the following two years on a mountaintop in Turkey translating intercepts from the Rodina. I hope your boy has a better duty station.
Fnord

 

[zack24]

Fnord,
He'll be working underground beneath a pineapple field in Hawaii for the next two years...He had a choice between that or DC...Another place for me to visit!