Thread: A nice week in Germany

Hey folks, I just got back from a nice little visit to Germany. I had more time than usual and the weather was splendid for the last several days, so I actually was able to get out and about in Munich and Rosenheim this time around. A few things struck me.

First off, it was really clean. I'm usually there in the winter when it's more difficult to notice such things. There is a definite local pride that goes along with having a homogenous culture. I stopped by the Rosenheim Bier Festival one evening and again noted the same thing. Though the place was packed to the gills with beer-chugging locals, the ground was free of trash. The crowds were such that the beer halls (actually enormous tents several hundred feet each crammed with hundreds of picnic-style tables) were overflowing to the point that it took us about half an hour to find a couple of seats, yet no one pushed or shoved and folks happily shared empty seats at their own tables when they became available. Thinking of the contrasting scene at our own state fair was depressing.

Secondly, it was friendly and safe. At no point did I feel that there was any neighborhood in which I would be unwelcome or in danger. Interestingly, as I commented about how courteous people always seemed in Bavaria, one of my hosts commented that the Bavarians are the more rude Germans while the truly courteous ones live in the north. I haven't spent as much time there (usually just in and out for a business meeting), but my colleagues from Bremen and Hamburg are among the friendliest people you're likely to meet, so I guess there could be something to that.

Thirdly, I didn't see any Mexicans, Hondurans, Salvadorans or Guatemalans having to do any of the jobs over there. Neither were there many Indians, Pakistanis or Arabs, though there were a few more in the city than out in the Bavarian countryside. As a matter of fact, all of the road crews, cooks, gardeners, etc. seemed to be actual Germans. Either the Germans are willing to do lots of jobs that Americans are not or else someone is lying to us about what jobs we would or would not do. Incidentally, these jobs were being done well. As I passed a McDonald's (I only pass them -- I don't eat there), a well-groomed German man in his mid-twenties or early thirties was vigorously scrubbing the windows to a perfect shine. I actually stopped and watched for a moment as this conscientious fellow rushed about his tasks which he carried out with typical Teutonic precision. It's no wonder that those guys make the Ultimate Driving Machine when they bring such vigor to simple tasks such as tidying up the local fast food establishment.

As I watched the well-choreographed hustle and bustle of the industrious German people, I had a little flashback to my youth, back when Dallas had a similar energy and charm. What I realized is that there seemed to be no demeaning job in Bavaria. Rather than the menial jobs dragging the German people down, the people elevated those jobs to their own little works of art, and in so doing they not only reaffirmed their own dignity but raised the standard of the community.

I remember when America used to be like that.

Welcome back CrocketG.

Sounds like you had a good time. Here's what's been going on in the last couple days:

Speaking of beer... The big news around here today is the Miller beer situation (browse around for the appropriate thread(s)). [the 'good']

Also, city of Hazleton PA has decided to postpone implementation of its ordinance [ lots of speculation and details are still a bit sketchy, but generally considered - 'the bad'].

Now, about 'the ugly' - well .... guess I'll have to think of something...

HTH,

Welcome back Crocket. Funny thing happened. When you left so did all the trolls lol. I think they were here to mess with you man.

W

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

Welcome back Crocket. Funny thing happened. When you left so did all the trolls lol. I think they were here to mess with you man.

W

I'm not sure how to take that

As it happens, I went through some recent threads that came up while I was gone and can see that you are mistaken. I recognize at least one of our old buddies here under his umpteenth username in the Islam vs Christianity thread.

Originally Posted by PhredE

Welcome back CrocketG.

Sounds like you had a good time. Here's what's been going on in the last couple days:

Speaking of beer... The big news around here today is the Miller beer situation (browse around for the appropriate thread(s)). [the 'good']

Also, city of Hazleton PA has decided to postpone implementation of its ordinance [ lots of speculation and details are still a bit sketchy, but generally considered - 'the bad'].

Now, about 'the ugly' - well .... guess I'll have to think of something...

HTH,

Those short trips are really tiring because there's no time to get over jet lag, but the business end of things went about as well as was possible and I did get to enjoy some good beer and cured meats.

The thing about Hazleton is disappointing. I guess there are fewer and fewer Americans with gumption, particularly in the political arena.

Germany had to import a lot of Turkish workers after the war
because the male population was so reduced. They have some
problems because of it. My German friends tell me there's a lot
of resentment on each side & that's why we should not do the
guest worker thing. You cannot meet the expectations of all
sides. I travel to Germany for work. They do have an
immigrant problem in all of Europe compounded by colonial history
& its migrations. One thing: in Europe is you have to
show id & not some driver's license which you obtained with
a trilingual test & appartment lease to prove residency. Did you
know Belgians have Dutch/Flemish language boot camp to
immerse immigrants children in the language? So much for
the soft, PC view of the Europeons.

I just got back from Hong Kong.

1. The cleanest place I've ever seen.
2. Devoid of crime from what I saw.
3. Everyone was very kind and helpful.

And...

4. Everyone spoke English.

So it was the polar opposite of where I live in the US. I didn't want to come home.

Reading this, you folks are convincing me to return back to Germany, where my grandparents came from.

I'm heading over there in a few months, and who knows?

One thing is for certain: unless things change here in the next year or, the country I was born and raised in will have disappeared forever.

I don't want to make you guys envious but I just got back from Wichita Falls. OH....and a gringo waited on me at IHOP

CountFloyd,

I been thinking the same thing. I am eligible for citizenship since I can prove lineage. I can wallow in the social programs in my old age!

Crocket,

Did you bring back a Cuckoo clock from the Black Forrest?

My instructor was Bavarian and she said the same thing about cleaning and that sitting with others is customary. She said, you can tell if an American is leaning, with their back on the wall because they bend their knee and put their foot on the wall. She said, a German would never do that because his shoe would get the wall dirty.

Sounds like you enjoyed your trip!

Dixie