[The best of friendships, clearly. If you can't use each other for your own goals, who can you use? At least they all know they're competent and that's what they're all here for, even if it's unspoken.]

I don't doubt that. You wouldn't have gotten as far as you have if you weren't good with people. It's just a matter of wearing down that pride of his...

[He notices Attila's reaction but doesn't draw attention to it, instead thinking on his question.]

You know, I don't know. I never bothered asking. I believe US students were required to take either Spanish or French back when he would have been in school so perhaps one of those?