Crocs - Why I Love Them

  I love Crocs. They look ugly and clumpy but they are so practical. 

Firstly, they do not cramp your toes and deform your feet like fashion shoes.

Secondly, they fit. The rotating strap is slightly tighter in one direction than the other.

They are quick to put on. If you have the rotating strap facing forwards, they are slip ons. Pull the strap back and they are secure around your heel.

You can wear them in the rain.

They protect your toes from hitting against objects. They cover your whole front foot from sun to prevent cancer of the upper foot.

If you get them wet, they are quick to dry. 

If you get them muddy, you can wash them off.

If you want real Crocs, look for the Crocs logo, the crocodile.

If you can't afford them, you can get cheap imitations.

I don't care about the add on charms.  But if you like them, you can individualize your shoes.

I like only one style, the flat ones with the rotating strap. Definitely the flat ones, not the silly heels.

I find them pricey. I also like the cheaper imitations.

Useful Websites

DAILY MAIL 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11354739/Crocs-rock-worlds-ugliest-footwear-spent-20-years-winning-fashions-shoe-snobs.html#newcomment

UK

https://www.crocs.co.uk/on/demandware.store

SINGAPORE

https://www.amazon.sg/s?k=crocs+usa

WIKI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocs

USA

https://www.crocs.com/

How to protect your cabin bag when travelling

I had luggage assist on the railways. Unfortunately, people, trying to help, didn't understand that four wheel bags need to be upright. They insisted on dragging the bags forwards on two wheels. This damaged the front pocket of the bag, leaving dirt and holes, and damaging the beading edge.

I bought a patch in a craft shop. the assistant said to me, "You don't want an iron on patch. You need a glue-oo patch."

Problem
How do I prevent more damage next time? My wheel on luggage gets damaged easily. How can I protect it?

Answer
Do what you see done at the airports. They charge you to wrap your suitcase in what looks like clingfilm.

You could encircle your bag with a strap.
Use clingfilm.
Add bubblewrap.

Wrap an old blanket around it, then a plastic bag.
Place a pretty new pull-on bag inside an already old and dirty larger bag.

Author
Angela Lansbury.

Straphangers, American Slang, French Graffiti, and Translating

George Bernard Shaw said that the British and Americans are two nations divided by a common language.

America has a host of words whch sound strange to English speakers, but you can find most of them listed in Wikipedia and Webster's American dictonary..

Problem
What are straphangers?

Answer
People on the New York underground train, hanging onto straps provided to stop them falling when the train lurches to a halt.

This question was asked by people in other parts of the USA, UK and Australia. I was surprised that other Americans, or overseas visitors living in America - one cannot be sure, did not know the term. I've been to New York several times and lived in Rockville, Maryland. I assumed the term was well known all over the English speaking world.

It was obvious to me. Was it common sense? What hangs from a strap? I immediately get a vision of people hanging on. I'm sure I've seen straps as well as vertical poles and horizontal poles on trains all over the world.

When faced with a foreign word, you can sometimes find the meaning by looking at the context and working out which of several possibilities it could be. Like the old quiz game, Animal. Vegetable, or Mineral? Human or object? For what purpose? For whose benefit. Where is it? What does it help or prevent. Visualise the scene. How are the people standing or the objects placed? Is the strap hanger a person or an object.

Stories
A French Language Story - Set in Paris
Similarly with identifying graffiti in a foreign language. I was disappointed in my inability to translate graffiti when I went to Paris after a gap of three or four years. I though I spoke French fluently but the signs on walls made no sense. It turned out that most of the signs were political statements. Down with - followed by somebody's names. Or supporting a person or political party.

I also needed to know the slang terms for police. I tend to avoid learning rude words and slang words. However, it helps to know if you are listening to a belligerent conversation. If you think you are fluent in a foreign language, you might like to check out the current graffiti and slang terms before travelling.

Conclusion
Nice to know that citizens of Boston will rush to help a stranger in times of trouble.
If you want a city where the trains have sliding doors on most underground stations, try Singapore. (But the DLT with its gaps is not for the nervous, although the areas between the gaps for doors are blocked, which is one stage better than no barriers.)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4524328/Woman-faints-Boston-subway-tracks.html#reader-comments

https://www.boston.gov/visiting-boston

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer. I have several other posts on American English and learning foreign languages. Please share your favourite posts.