The American's guide to living in Germany

[Eugene_ac 9]

A friend of mine, an engineer, is working in Chicago at the moment. He was asked the washing-mashine-question by a colleague. Also an engineer...

..."No, whats that?"

"You put your clothes inside and they come out clean."

"Cool! Never heard of such a f*cking great machine in Germany."

 

It's just what he told me.

[NOFXmike 18]

I agree with drivin west

[BellyFlyer 8]

 

When mentioning, for example, that you are visiting the capital of France for a weekend break, there is no need to clarify the point by always referring to Paris, France. Most people here will presume that Paris is in France rather some smallish community in Texas.

It depends on who you're talking to.

When I hear, "I'm going to Paris for a week," I often assume Perris Valley, CA. There's a huge wind tunnel there for indoor skydiving, and having the choice, I'd go to Perris not Paris. Of course, if I'm talking to a non-skydiver, I assume Paris, France... even though I'm from Texas.

[cb6dba 7,318]

Washing machine question? As in 'do you have them in europe?' or...

 

I was once aksed by an american girl if we, in europe had battery powered watches.

 

I said 'no, we just have the ones you have to wind up, much like I am doing to you'

 

However looking at this in a different way, I remember my parents getting their first microwave back in the 80's (I think).

 

How long had they been around in the states before that?

 

A friend of mine has a chevey (not sure what year I think its late 50's, its huge and blue and costs him a fortune to to take it out of the garage to wash it) and it has electric seats and windows and a sensor that detects light. The sensor detects the head lights of other cars coming in the opposite direction and automaticlay dips the headlights.

 

Our car doesn't even have that now!

[BellyFlyer 8]

 

almost like the poor mis-guided Texans..

Ha, ha! I'm Texan.

[UpQuark 9]

 

However looking at this in a different way, I remember my parents getting their first microwave back in the 80's (I think).

 

How long had they been around in the states before that?

The microwave was invented in 1947. Not sure how common they were around then, but I do know that we had one in our house (for heating up doughnuts and such) sometime in the mid to late 70's.

 

Know why we had a microwave to cook our sweet, rich, fatty, tasty food long before you did? Because America is awesome.

[Nicole 817]

My Mother In Law once asked me if we celebrate Christmas in England!

[horseshoe7 270]

I work in a hostel bar. American guest walks in, asks for a beer. i tell her we have Beck's or Warsteiner. She asks me which one she should choose. I say, well you can get Beck's pretty much anywhere in the world, and Warsteiner... (tried to finish with "...you can also get almost anywhere" before getting in that classic american way - cut off)

 

"You know, I think I'll have the Warsteiner. I'm really just here to take in the culture." (as if drinking Warsteiner is going to help her discover what it is to be German, as she's on country number 5 of 14 during a 20 day "European tour")

 

To the people who say that tripe: do you know what culture is, or is it just a general word that you associate with seeing buildings, having a cafe latte at the riverside, and getting your passport stamped? (Lest we forget drinking globally available beer)

[lilplatinum 7,142]

What Americans do you know that get 20 day vacations??

[horseshoe7 270]

the ones who have daddy pay for everything.

[DanHessen 2,964]

Can't you guys do any better than this?

[UpQuark 9]

 

"You know, I think I'll have the Warsteiner. I'm really just here to take in the culture." (as if drinking Warsteiner is going to help her discover what it is to be German

As if speaking to one American (thirsty for a beer) is going to help you discover what it is to be American.

 

 

she's on country number 5 of 14 during a 20 day "European tour"

And you're on person 1 of about 300 million.

 

 

do you know what culture is, or is it just a general word that you associate with seeing buildings, having a cafe latte at the riverside, and getting your passport stamped?

It's also visiting New York, Disneyworld or spending two months in a Winnebago driving through national parks

 

 

(Lest we forget drinking globally available beer)

Let we forget that most Germans drink piss-standard lager.

[horseshoe7 270]

oh here we go...

 

 

As if speaking to one American (thirsty for a beer) is going to help you discover what it is to be American.

why is it that this is the standard american response (i.e. you haven't met us all) to any negative comment about Americans abroad, yet in general, these stereotypes persist?

 

why is it that if you leave a post without all the fine print (yes, there are great americans, but yes I've met alot like I've described, etc), then you will get attacked?

 

For an American to listen, it seems they can only listen to an absolutely bulletproof statement.

 

Thank god it's 5pm. Not another one of these arguments... Have a good night. Not all Americans are bad. It's the defensive ones that are a pain in the ass.

 

DEFENCE, DEFENCE, DEFENCE!

[randy 141]

 

19. Our Dramatics annoy the Germans; try to refrain from tears-screaming-and basically all emotion.

Oh drat, I thought my colleagues liked my Friday tiffs.

[bohemka 4,338]

 

DEFENCE, DEFENCE, DEFENCE!

You've already used that one a bunch of times, bro. You need some new material.

[Bumpy 25]

 

A Finnish friend of mine knew a socialogy American student, living in France, who didn't know the UK was an island...that's a bit scary.

I saw a posting on the internet by this British guy who didn't know how to spell sociology. I guess, well, all I'm trying to say is that Brits are stupid...

[UpQuark 9]

 

why is it that if you leave a post without all the fine print (yes, there are great americans, but yes I've met alot like I've described, etc), then you will get attacked?

 

For an American to listen, it seems they can only listen to an absolutely bulletproof statement.DEFENCE, DEFENCE, DEFENCE!

Lick my balls. I did listen and then I responded. This American has heard it all before (as I'm sure you have). Why you're bothered that on an internet forum visited by many Americans you might get one or two who are sick to death of arrogant Europeans bitching about our tourists is beyond me.

[lilplatinum 7,142]

Hes a candian and he is an admitted troll, dont bother arguing with him it just goes in circles (cute routine, if you try to fight back you are 'defensive' which is bad, and he can just keep posting the same thing again and again).

[kent_73 3]

 

I saw a posting on the internet by this British guy who didn't know how to spell sociology. I guess, well, all I'm trying to say is that Brits are stupid...

Touche, my friend!

[miwild 160]

 

... we forget that most Germans drink piss-standard lager ...

You forget that most Germans aren´t Bavarians ... and don´t drink Bavarian Dünnbier