Knife sharpening 101

Most of the time here in the Czech Republic I feel quite at home, like everything is normal. Every now and then though I feel completely out of place or have an overwhelming feeling that I am in another country. Today was that kind of day.

I was in the cafeteria at school and I was standing by the metal bucket that contains hot tea. I was dispensing myself some tea and I casually looked over at the kitchen office window where one buys the lunch cards. Standing in the window was the lunch guy who sells the cards. He was sharpening a knife that had to have been at least 18 inches long. He was using smooth, slow strokes and had a quasi maniacal look on his face as if he was really enjoying sharpening this knife. Now this isn't so shocking until you realize that he was facing a huge line of children who were eagerly awaiting their lunch. I was in the middle of what looked like a line of children awaiting some horrible execution from lunch man slash executioner. I wish I had had a camera...this was a really creepy scene that I don't think would have occured in the states apart from a Wes Craven film at your local cinema.