You know you're turning German when...

[Johnny English 3,071]

1. Stop at the red man without a car in sight.

2. You think in Euros without converting to Sterling/Dollars.

3. You laugh at German comedy on TV.

4. You reprimand strangers in the street for busting rules.

5. You fold your clothes neatly before sex.

 

Actually I have been here less than a year but reckon some of you guys can continue this thread so that we all know what to watch out for - and when to join Jimbo for the "Midnight Express" home.

[Bubble Gum 15]

I'm guilty of the first one !!!

 

When I was in New York this summer I was patiently waiting at a stop light (and day dreaming) till I realized that there were no cars and everyone was crossing the street. That was a wake up call.

[asbachnate 1]

6. When you mix Coke with beer.

7. When you convert everything into DM's before paying.

8. When you have a new baby, and they offer the BABY the cigar, then you really know you have arrived. lol

9. You find nudity on TV normal.

10. You hate Bush and America, but have no real idea why.

11. You think Diesel at .90 a liter is cheap. (Give me $2.00 per gallon any day!)

[bubblylady 16]

Folding clothes neatly before sex? Where did you get that from??? :blink:

[Guest]

12. When you're back home instead of saying 'excuse me' you find it easier to say 'entschuldigung'.

[Big C 2]

Or you could leave Germany before it gets this bad.

 

@3 lions - since when did people say "entschuldigung" in Munich? They just shove you out of the way.

[MadAxeMurderer 6,243]

Right I'm guilty of 2&3

Actually maybe 4 is reprimanding smokers inside UBahn stations counts

 

But 1. Never, never, ever. Shoot me if you see me doing that. (Hmmm same goes for 5)

[Bubble Gum 15]

Been guilty of saying 12. in other countries :ph34r:

[Chalmondley Warner 13]

13. When formulating a question you instead formulate a statement then stick 'oder?' at the end of it.

 

When that happens it's time to turn in your passport and get your Ausweis card instead.

[VDB 5]

definately guilty of 2. and 9. but that has nothing to do with me staying in Germany becasue it's the same back home in Holland. Luckely I haven't had much trouble so far, guess i've to stay here a little while longer .

 

and to add one...

 

14. if you say 'mahlzeit' to your collagues not only when you go for lunch but during the better part of the day.

[Johnny English 3,071]

Regards folding clothes neatly before sex, OK - kinda poetic licence if you will. "alles in ordnung" was my theme.

[Tewy 7]

guilty of 1,3,4,7!! oh god!

How about another one:

 

15. refusing to make any loud noise past 6 in the evening as it's against the rules!

[Guest]

Past 6, i though it was 8? Or thats why none of my neighbours speak to me!

[Tewy 7]

house work, banging, drilling, the like til 5/6 and then you're allowed to listen to music and TV at nornal viewing levels, then after 10.30 it's bed time!! oohh lovely, got into trouble for making noise recently. Got a nice highlighted leaflet posted through the letter box from the Hausmeister stating exactly what we were allowed to do and what not! Grrrrrr

[Keydeck 9,248]

You people and your obsession with rules. Honestly I think some of the expats in Munich care more about the rules than the locals do. Just because a rule exists doesn't mean that people are adhering to it. For Christ's sake there're rules at my old university that I as a graduate can draw my sword under the campanile, shoot pigeons in front square and ride a horse on the cricket field. Doesn't mean I'm about to do it though. I've lived in Munich since '99, lived in a number of apartments and never came across any of the things that people are incessantly moaning about. I and any of the neighbours I've had just got on with it. Yes we've had complaints when the music was too loud or when we decided to have a BBQ on the balcony and smoked everyone out of it, but these are normal complaints. You say you're sorry and you just get on with it. I just don't know where half of the problems people have come from unless the people are specifically looking for confrontation. Let's love each other, let's befriend those who live next door to us, lets increase the peace. Everybody needs good neighbours. That's when good neighbours become good friends.

 

And if the bloke in my building who seems to have a Saturday morning carpentry hobby is reading this, then you'll get yours when the revolution comes ya bastard!

 

I's going for decaf.

[Guest]

You are taking supreme delight in catching others making mistakes. If you have aquired that personality trait, you are ready to truly enjoy working in a German job environment. This is not only my observation, expats who have come here on their own, and live and work here, have observed this too.

[Tewy 7]

I've been here since 1997 and never have I had any problems until I moved into my current flat 4 months ago, I do wonder whether people have much else to do than complain about their neighbours!

[Sweetbee 1]

Margret hit it right on the nose! I have also noticed this "trait" of taking delight in others mistakes and hope never to turn out like this.

 

Also, if you begin to dislike the notion of fun then you can honestly say I am German.

[Radegast 3]

... when you refer to football teams by their moronic German names: Arsenal London, Chelsea London, Juventus Turin. Argghhh! Luckily they don't know the Villa play in Birmingham.

[Keydeck 9,248]

Of course, because only stupid people wouldn't know where Arsenal and Chelsea are located. I mean they are English football teams so any civilised person should know all about them.