Bwahaahaha!

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!)