42968 replies to this topic

[hobglobin]

slow

good night darling, the beach bum who's disturbed by some remains on the beaches

[Curtis]

low

The funny thing in Germany is that when you ask for directions they don't want to answer in English although everybody can speak English perfectly. Why are they like that hobglobin? Also almost none of the street names and signs are in English. I remember I wanted to go to Analitika Trade Show by metro and the ticket machine was all in German, I was like what the hell,... even the woman behind the counter didn't want to reply in English, and when I asked her why she said because you are in Germany...then an American soldier heard me talking to that woman and he bought me a ticket from the machine....lots of American soldiers live there. There are quite a lot in Giessen. I feel sorry for them too

[casandra]

blow

but have you been to France, Curtis? They're much better over there....it's the only place in the world where the Info centre personnel speak only french and they expect you (the tourist) to speak it too....(plus the taxi drivers make fun of the way we speak our french) ...

[Curtis]

job

never knew you were from Quebec...it's late night in there, go to bed

[hobglobin]

jobless

hi people...and well Curtis, I wonder with whom you spoke then...the average German won't have a high command of language and only the younger people (esp. students) are better because they often lived for some time abroad. For me and many students I met it's the same, speaking English you don't really learn at school, but later in the job if necessary or never really (many of the non academics)....but of course information staff should be willing to speak it. And street names and signs are as in almost all European countries mostly in the native language, only in bigger cities with fairs and much tourism (like Frankfurt, Munich) it's different. In my home town now even the announcements in the metro are in English when there's a trade fair. And Gießen is a special case...it's a small town without tourism and perhaps they don't really like the US soldiers ....but now there are not many left anymore (after all the pull-outs in the 90s). When I studied there (many years ago) they had their own town quarters with even streets with English names, their own shops and all the other infrastructure was made as if they are at home in the US. So there wasn't much contact to the local population. Anyway now only very few are left, when the AAFES depots (when I was there perfect for student's jobs ) were closed and also many barracks are gone and used for other purposes now.
(and as addendum, yes first I thought you confuse Germany with France )

Edited by hobglobin, 19 August 2012 - 03:06 AM.

[Doki]

homeless

[casandra]

shelter

hey guys...hi Curtis, BB-san...hi dr H...at least Monday is over...

[Curtis]

roof

I've been to Germany many times before, the last time I was there was back in 2006, just before the world cup. I lived in Zurich, Switzerland for 3 years, so I understand German a little bit.

Hi Cassandra, Monday is not over yet!

[swanny]

spoof

Hi all, been going crazy here for a coupe of weeks. And tomorrow I'm up for jury duty. Yay me!

[casandra]

SNL

hey swanny.. hope it won't take long.....
and Curtis, I was so busy yesterday that I thought it's already Tuesday today......

[Curtis]

Prime Time

Any update on the body part case in Toronto?  Every time I hear such news I tell myself why they let Homolka out.

[swanny]

Time after time

[hobglobin]

time machine

it's so hot here

[Doki]

washing machine

Moan-day is almost over. Waiting for Tuesday and then Wednesday and then Thursday and then Friday and it will be Saturday!!! Looks so close.

[hobglobin]

green washing

I'd say still so far away