I’ve never been to Germany. I can’t speak the language. Besides “almanac” facts, I can’t say that I know much of anything about Germany except the cultural stereotypes (beer drinkers, disciplined, competent, efficient, humorless).
But for whatever reason, I’ve always admired it from afar. As a 10-year-old in St. Louis, I remember riding in my friend’s dad’s Mercedes and thinking “Damn, this car is as smooth as a newborn baby’s ass” and my friend’s dad bragging about German engineering. I remember “Soccer Made in Germany” on PBS mornings before Sunday School; the incredible din the stadiums made when some guy scored a goal was hypnotic.
So unlike a lot of people, I always kind of liked Germany - for what little I knew about it. As I grew older, of course, I learned the history of the country, and how post-WWII generations of Germans have had to bear the burden for that history.
To me, seeing the scenes around Germany today and for the rest of the month for the World Cup is cool. I’m glad the world is seeing the lighter side of the country. Hopefully I’ll be able to go there someday.
Pretty simple, I know, but that’s all I’ve got to say.
The thing I know about Germans is that they insist that rules can never be broken.
If everything in a Mexican city hall is available for a price, in Germany it’s impossible to obtain without everything in perfect order for any price.
Germany has changed a lot since the Wall came down. The younger Germans are a lot less uptight and would fit right in with anybody their age in the US or UK or wherever. Of course this doesn’t sit well with the older generation, but the Internet, cable television and a penchant for world travel has made the new generation of Germans far more worldly in their tastes. The younger Germans are for the most part still very much anti-war, liberals and I would strongly advise not to even try to get into a political discussion with them. Unlike a lot of Americans their age, they are well-versed in world politics and, to be subtle, they are not exactly thrilled with the current political bent in US/UK politics…then again, neither are most people on this board.
You really should go to Germany and visit. Great place, great people, fascinating history, lots of things to do and drinking beer with the locals is always a good starting point.
Germany is lovely. I traveled there with a tour when I was in HS-the German club sponsored it. I found the people to be warm, and friendly-not rigid at all. This was in 1978. We even got to go to East Berlin, which is an experience that I will rememeber the rest of my life.
I think it is easy to stereotype any country or ethnicity. But it is individuals who matter. I would like to catch some of the World Cup (I’ll have to find it on basic cable-in English-first); I’m glad that the Germans have a chance to show their hospitality to the world.
In fact, ShibbOleth just left today to go see some of the Cup games. I’m sure he’s enjoying all the wonderful stuff you guys are talking about right now.
I must confess, I remain suspicious of Germans due to the actions of people like Siegfried Stanke and Kurt Von Hess, who attacked Steven Littlebear without cause or provocation.
My dad lived in Germany for a number of year so my kids and I had an opportunity to visit him and spend a lot of time traveling Europe. Of all the countries we saw, I would have to saw that Germany is by far my favorite. It is gorgeous. You should go.
I have a cousin who lives in Germany. He lived in a condo on a two way street that has a double line down the center, meaning you can only turn into your garage if you’re coming down your side of the street. Coming home one afternoon and being in a rush, he turned into his building across the double line, which he normally wouldn’t do. No cops were around so he thought he’d risk it. He got a warning in the mail a couple of days later. Somebody in a pub across the street saw him and marked down his license plate and reported it to the police. :smack:
Yeah, I want to live in a country just like that. :rolleyes:
Uh-huh. And here in America I had a friend whose neighbors called the police on them because their toddler was crying and they were outside smoking a cigarette.
Umm… child crying… possibly in distress… causing a racket and the neighbour may be trying to sleep, vs. an illegal turn which hurt no-one and caused no inconvenience to the nosy bugger having a beer in a pub.
