Below is a text with some of the expressions you have learned.

Join the Party!Lukaas was one of those kids who lived in different countries all his life. Not that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth; his father was a diplomat. So, every four years, the whole family pulled up stakes and headed for the new destination.

Now, as an adult, he was really a junkie for cultural variety. The bottom line for him was “Join the party! No matter who organizes it.”

Lukaas lived in Salzburg now, but kept on travelling on a shoestring, since he was a teacher. He actually taught Japanese language and, having lived in Tokyo as a teenager, he made an effort to pass on the salt and pepper of eastern life to his students too. He always talked about customs and festivals.

With his family and friends, he celebrated every holiday available. For the Chinese or the Jewish New Year he organized a dinner with traditional dishes. Lukaas was not a fat cat so somebody usually chipped in.

Occasionally, he was shown the cold shoulder or he found someone who was a party pooper who said “Well, really Halloween – or Mardi Gras, or Valentine – is not a local tradition”. “Who cares,” was always his answer, “Let’s celebrate anyway”.

So, all the year round was kosher to do a party. Mexican Independence, Swiss Day, French Revolution, all were great excuses to try different food and learn more about a culture, do something exotic and feel like a million dollars.