Best 3 things in Germany

Well I have to agree, Frankfurt beats Munich by a country mile, if for no other reason than the weather, it sucks period, been back and forth for almost 2 years and you can tell when you cross over into Bararia as it turns much colder or wetter loads of rain. Spend 2 week home in Frankfurt over Christmas and had a few days of snow over Christmas and then it all melted, day before we left went running was like a glorious spring day, the path was dry and clear not even much mud and reasonably warm. Drove to to Munich got out and almost turned around and drove home, freezing cold, ice everwhere nearly broke neck when I stepped out and slipped on ice. I forgot they don't bother icing the salt here so you walk at you own risk .

Post 89 was by me not THL borrowed here computer opps.

I don't think you really got my point
In Karstadt I don't need help neither, the things hang there and I try them then buy them or I don't. So I am glad, that they don't ask me. I don't like it in Mediamarket for example, where you get computers and stuff and might need help. There it bothers me, that they dont have enough people and have no clue

In expensive little shops I actually would expect some person to come and ask me if I need or want help. What would they do anyway, if they don't take care of their customers who might spend alot of money in this shops

Yes true what bothers me is the fact they still watch me and follow me around the shop when I have told them I am just browsing!!

yeah. Well when I feel observed (mostly by men on train for example ), I ask them, if they want a passport picture. They mostly blush and try to stare into space then
Maybe helps in shops too?

I used to live in the Russian speaking part of the Ukraine where the supermarkets are not self service and there is a counter for milk and a counter for butter etc and you have to go to the individual counter and ask for everything. When I first got there, I remember asking for milk at the milk counter in my best Russian and the woman claimed she didn't have a clue what I wanted. Things did get better though as my Russian improved!

Germany might be better than that but I still think that as a rule, the service could be improved. Come on, even in those Ukrainian supermarkets you would get a forced smile and a greeting! Here, I always making a point of saying hello but in return I seem to get a scowl and my food hurled down the conveyor belt...

I completely understand what you're all saying about the small expensive shops, with their over attentive staff but that seems to happen to me wherever I am, not just here - I must make an effort to dress posher when I am out shopping! I was looking for a suitcase last year and I was literally getting followed around some shops but it was those places that lost a good sale though... It was the same when I went jewellry shopping at Xmas. However, when I went back with my other half, it was a different story!

[quote][quote name='mike_a' post='68837' date='Jan 9 2006, 09:29 PM'] Taysiders are always a force to be reckonned with. With MacGonnagle's poetry as an example[/quote]

The finest of poets, so they say, from o'er the Tay, which is far away.

[quote]Oh, I know I'm right about that, it's part of my job to see that the electronics do it -- It can be removed, though. [/quote]Better not. Demolished last motor by landing it upside down in a field. Nobody hurt; lesson learned.

[quote]Naw. Trinidad & Tobago -- Let's see some cool runnings from them...[/quote]

Correct and sentiments agreed. Weedgies urnae famous fur wur spellin.

[quote name='j-m' date='Jan 10 2006, 05:34 PM' post='69046']

Germany might be better than that but I still think that as a rule, the service could be improved. Come on, even in those Ukrainian supermarkets you would get a forced smile and a greeting! Here, I always making a point of saying hello but in return I seem to get a scowl and my food hurled down the conveyor belt...

Remember when I first came to Germany and was in the Mensa queue at Berlin FU university. Irritated by the snarling non-service of the canteen assistents who barked at you in harsh berlinerish, I said to the one that served me "you could at least try and be a little more polite!" To which she replied with a great air of amazement "Ja, freilich!!" . I responded: Nein, nicht freilich. Freilich auf keinen Fall. Nur unfreilich!

just a quick offtopic: BUT

this new quote thingy and ppl who are not able to use it proper, make it really hard to follow the conversation, especially when you're a german, like I am

Hannah trust me when I say you don't have to be German to lose track.

Funny, I don`t find shopping that bad here, once you adjust to German sizes and styling and know where to shop its pretty easy to find what you want. First few years was tought, but over time I`ve adapted, I don`t have a problem finding what I need. The few odd things we don`t like here (like pillows) can be picked up in bulk when we go home. We go home or have family visiting each year so it isn`t that much of a hardship.

Hardest part of shopping in Canada and the US is getting used to the idea of shopping in a Fridge Freezer. They freeze you out.

GOOD GOD MARGE ITS 20 DEGREES OUTSIDE KRANK UP THE AIR

to go shopping in Canada requires removing the shorts sandles thin Tshirt and putting on heavy shoes jeans thick Tshirt and a Jean Jacket, then coming out every hour to warm up in the sun. I just froze in the mall!

Everyone thought I was crazy cause I keep asking them to turn off the air. I would take teddy our dog our for a late evening walk and every house had the air running inspite of the fact it was a cool evening.

Perhaps you look like a shop lifter?

(Mind you, having seen your photo I doubt it. Think I might have seen you in 'Yours' Irish Pub? )

I was in there the weekend before Christmas so it might have been then? Other than that I think I have only been in there on two other occasions and they were last summer! Mind you I am probably a face never forgotten

Best 3 things in Germany:

(not necessarily in order)

1. Aldi/Lidl/Plus (collectively)- they're inexpensive, conveniently located (all 3 are within a 10 minute walk from my flat), and the products they sell are usually reasonably good quality for the price.

2. public transport - I really appreciate that in buses the next destination is announced and lit up on the wall of the bus (as well as every stop on the bus route). It beats the hell out of asking a bus driver to let you know when you're arriving at your stop (in Ireland, more often than not, the bus driver says "oh, sorry, we went past X about a mile back" )

3. toilets - I'm dead serious! I'm referring to the the kind that flush forward (towards you) rather than backward. The first time I encountered one I was a bit taken aback by how 'up close and personal' it was (if ye know what I mean ) but I quickly got used to it and have come to appreciate how efficient, economic, and effective they are. German technology at its best.

honourable mention:

bathroom radiators-cum-towel racks - Brilliant for keeping your towel(s) dry and also for drying clothes (I've never seen these in Ireland or Britain. Why haven't we got them?).

tilting windows - Another thing I've never seen anywhere else and I don't know why. Great for airing the place.

1. Low Crime
2. Lower cost of living (compared to UK)
3. Beer and drinking hours.
4. Trains and Trams
5. Worker's Rights
6. Health Care and Social Security
7. Forests
8. Cakes
9. Weather (in the south).
10. Proximity to rest of Europe.

I generally prefer Germany to the UK, and find the Germans to be pretty much the same as the British in terms of their politeness and reserved nature. They are a lot better behaved, though, which is nice. Two years and not a single fight in the bars or in the streets, which is amazing even for a small town.

Things I don't like include high taxes, excessive paperwork, early closing times for shops, terrible supermarkets (what I'd do for a Sainsbury's!) and the way pork gets into every dish even traditionally beef ones.

1. Hot summers and cold winters. Give me knackig kalt over endless drizzle any day.

2. Cellars - where did I store my stuff when I lived in Englandß

3. No one mentioned Freibäder yet ? Being able to spend all day Sunday by the pool lying in the sun, or going for a quick dip after work. Oh and 3 - FKK !