Meet Thoma, who was keeping my language skills “sharp” today. He was asking me where I was from while he was sharpening my knives, and as I explained I am from America, he went on to say how beautiful a country America is. So I asked him where he had been, and he said he’s been to New York, LA, and a small town in the south somewhere. When I proceeded to ask him if he had gone to visit family, or for work, he simply grinned and responded—“I have never been there.” At first I assumed I had misunderstood him, but then he went on to explain, “I have traveled to America in my books you see—and I just know it must be a beautiful place!” My new friend, Thoma the traveling knife sharpener—I wonder where his books will take him next?