Lesson 2

 

Chilton Library

 

After entering the data about my vehicle (a 2011 Buick Regal), I found some items that will need to be taken care of upon reaching 25,000 miles (no 30,000 mile option for this vehicle).  They suggest that I inspect  the accessory drive belts, inspect the evaporative control system, and replace the passenger compartment air filter.  In the notes below the maintenance chart, the manual recommends replacing the brake fluid every two years as well.

 

The most recent technical bulletin was dated October 7, 2013 and discussed the replacement of the radio being an issue because some of the replacement radios were not the same as the original radio and may require different programming.  The manual recommends checking the part number on the radio with those listed in the bulletin to be sure the correct programming is used.

 

The information about the brakes on my vehicle was very technical.  (I have new appreciation for my brothers and father who are all mechanics!)  There was information about an automated brake bleed which may be required in some cases such as the brake pedals being at the wrong height or having the wrong feel.  Something I found interesting and kind of scary was how caustic brake fluids apparently are.  Warnings were given in the preface about getting any of this on the electrical system, painted surfaces, or human skin.  The same section gave warnings about sanding brakes due to that making the asbestos airborne, a well-known hazard.

 

 

Mango Languages

 

In anticipation of the Winter Olympics, I chose to explore the Russian language.  I learned that it is the primary language for 164 million people, and a secondary language for 114 million.  These people are mostly in Russia and countries formerly a part of the Soviet Union and in San Javier.    Within the lesson, I learned that, unlike Americans who greet the same person with a "hi" more than once in the same day, Russians would simply smile or nod their head rather than say the word for "hi."  In the short introduction, I found out that coffee is sipped through a sugar cube in Russia.  Clever!

 

I, however, wasn't so clever in choosing Russian.  What a tough language!  The pronunciations are so unfamiliar and the letters so different from our alphabet.  I liked the step-by-step approach to learning the language, giving me the opportunity to become familiar with one simple task before moving on.  I also loved the replay button!  The chapters are divided logically into situations in which a traveler may find herself in a foreign country.  The only thing not to like was the level of difficulty in the chosen language.  My fault!