Heh, you seem to be very spiritual. I admire that trait.
Though, the only reason I admire that very character is because I knew I cannot be spiritual... ever. Except through drinking, but that's just me.
But I do find that, living among European community, it's so much comforting and easier to understand them through speech read. From my experiences in US for the most of my life, that isn't so. The exception one is my old American friend's family in which they were very... ORAL and that was the first experience I've ever encountered his family, and I was pretty impressed by their training mentality.
The con part about Europe is, though, you have to be multi-lingual around Europe especially where my job is concerned. It's not so bad once you get used to their system and basic words of various countries.
Just got off work after 18:30, thank god, and my boss is keeping me and few other staffs in his mega office for our usual drinking hour.
Hmm what about your first experience? Specifically the one that you were "impressed" by hearing people's ability to utilize the best speech-read talk? Maybe I am asking too much of a high expectation, i dont know. Just curious if you have went across such one.