Things my students say: Ahoy!

We were talking about superstitions around the world in class and one of my students told me one that she said came from northern Germany. I'm going to write it as I heard it.


Student: If you put fire on a cigarette with a candle, then semen dies.
Me: What? If you light a cigarette with a candle semen dies?
Student: Yes, light a cigarette with a candle and semen dies.
Me: Semen? Really? They believe that?
Student: Yes. My friend is a semen and tells me this.
Me: ......OH.  A seaman. A sailor. A man on a boat.
Student: Yes.
Me: OK. So, if you light a cigarette with a candle, a sailor will die. Got it.


Honestly, I thought for a second it was superstition those romantic candlelight dinners had a second function, not only to seduce, but also to act as a form of birth control. Two for one. Don't worry honey, I brought a candle.