What's in a Number....??

We teach kids how to count  1..2..3..4.. etc. But in some situations they get confused and start asking questions about a missing number - but that's cultural differences playing a role, which may be hard to comprehend for the foreigner.

13 Have you ever encountered the following an a lot of European countries or in the US?

• The 13th floor in a building
• The 13th gate at the airport
• The 13th row in the airplane
• 13 at dinner - often the teddybear is invited as the 14th guest

4  The EastAsian equivalent to 13

17   Italians write the number in Roman letters as this XVII - often changed to VIXI - which means "I have lived" - no wonder they regard this number as unclucky.

8  is considered to be a lucky number in Chinese culture - yes there was a reason why the olympics in Beijing started August (8th month of the Year) 8, 2008

7 and 11 are also considered in a lot of countries to be lucky numbers..... oh wait, is that how the convenient store chain 7 Eleven got its name??

But if you have read Douglas Adam's "The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" - you will know that the answer to all questions is 42    :o)

One - deux - tri - fyra - fünf - seis -qi - thmaanya - ni -juu.