Bwahaahaha!

[hmpf]

frogspace just posted about this, and I think I need to post the link in my LJ, as well, for all you non-German people reading my LJ who may think about coming to visit me someday... ;-)

The Germany Survival Bible:

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,406007,00.html

- full of useful advice on how to survive German traffic, German honesty, and German imaginary diseases.

Shame I didn't do this: http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,416564,00.html (It's fairly unusual for jewellers - more something for carpenters etc. Technically, I *am* a journeyman (journeywoman? *g*), though, and I probably will never be a master as I'm not actively working in the trade and hence cannot gain the necessary experience.)

ETA: This seems particularly relevant:

>>Personal invitations of all kinds are to be taken at face value. "We're having a party, please do come," means "We're having a party, please do come," and not "We feel rude not inviting you in front of these other people, but surely you'll have the grace not to show up." Similarly, "Come over to my house and we'll have tea," means that you should start planning a date and time for that pleasant event. It is not to be confused with the Anglo-American "We should get together sometime," which means "I hope I never see you again."<<

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,416920,00.html

So, when I say that I love having guests, I *do* mean it. (So come and visit, already!)

Comments

[mmapmaker.livejournal.com]

These details are wonderful! I'm particularly fond of the one regarding brutal honesty. And I remember there being dog poop issues in parts of Paris.... Perhaps that would be true of any city, or part thereof, that had limited green space as part of the layout.

[rasmizar.livejournal.com]

That's hilarious! So funny, so true... OMG, the one about the sex toy asparagus advertisement, and the (not-)queueing... *lol*
(Yet sometimes I'm as puzzled as any foreigner by strange German quirks, like that Hasselhoff thing, or "Draftophobia"...)

[stabbim.livejournal.com]

Personal invitations of all kinds are to be taken at face value. (...) It is not to be confused with the Anglo-American "We should get together sometime," which means "I hope I never see you again."

Hell yeah!!!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Hey! I came to see you and didn't get, like, eaten by Germany or anything! Actually I came to see you twice. I think that's how many times I've been to see you. Well, once I went back over there with you and once I went to visit. It wasn't three times, was it? ARGH! MEMORY! No, I'm pretty sure it's just twice and that I *want* to go a third time. If only I had more money *kicks bank account*.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Dude, I just got a chance to read the thing about the journey(wo)men and that's *awesome*. Really. That's so cool.

[jazzymegster.livejournal.com]

German imaginary diseases...

No wonder you're a hypochondriac!

[tgifa.livejournal.com]

Still not through with all the articles... I also like the one with the "Germanic Stare Down". I also Many people here have a staring problem.