The American's guide to living in Germany

[Bumpy 25]

Most Germans are not Bavarian. True that.

And the best beer in Europe is in either Belgium or The Czech Republic.

[DanHessen 2,964]

 

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).

I thought I'd heard that scratched record before.

[leky 173]

 

Most Germans are not Bavarian. True that.

And the best beer in Europe is in either Belgium or The Czech Republic.

Yuch on the Belgian beer, but then it's all a matter of individual taste innit.

[Expaticus 752]

The Becks Warsteiner thing is the classic "damned if you do, damned if you don't" american abroad travel situation.

 

So, if you choose Becks, you're demonstrating that you have no taste by choosing a german beer commonly found in the US anyway. If you choose a Warsteiner, you're belittled for trying too hard.

 

The most american of all traits is being taught to give the local culture a whirl ... it's the Germans and British who invade to Ibiza and demand their Warsteiner or Watneys Red Barrel, respectively.

[gentle jim 35]

 

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.

Wow gourmet food, doughnuts very er healthy and basic..LOSER

[gentle jim 35]

I once visited Kentucky...a great state,wonderful people so intelligent

[BellyFlyer 8]

If you want to test the locals' skills with things geographic in nature - ask a German how many states there are in the USA.

 

I repeatedly hear "52".

 

The 50 continental states, of course, plus Alaska and Hawaii...

 

Or maybe they are counting Puerto Rico and D.C.?

 

Mexico and Canada?

 

The best part is that to date the boneheads have always argued the point with me.

[RickMunich 3,901]

Ask an American tha same question and you frequently get 52 as well.

[ian 3,996]

 

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.

Is the UK an island? Really? I think you'll find that it is England that is the island! The UK is a continent!

Scotland is also an island!

[eof 36]

The UK ISN'T an island, but rather the combination of an island (Great Britain) and part of another island (Northern Ireland).

[Florida08 1]

Are you guys serious?

 

Listen, if some of you really live in Germany, than some of your statements may apply to where you are currently living. But please do not make ignorant statements that you can not use a Visa card in Germany. Most reputable stores will accept VISA/MASTERCARD. There are geldautomats (ATMS) everywhere, so if you have an American VISA/MASTERCARD or debit card, you CAN withdraw money. Deutsche Bank, Sparkasse, Commerz, so on...they all accept the cards. There is even Chase now in Germany, an "American"bank.

 

Anywhere you go in a foreign county, you are perceived as "weird" or "stupid" by the natives. In America, they laugh when they see a group of very light skinned Brits with the men wearing capri pants (usually only women wear them in the US) and Pumas, or the damn soccer jerseys, and the cheesy Florida shirts fumbling through tourist maps.

 

So you have to look at it from all angles. Its easy to poke fun at someone else, but remember, someone is always poking fun at you as well!

[ian 3,996]

 

The UK ISN'T an island, but rather the combination of an island (Great Britain) and part of another island (Northern Ireland).

@eof. Keep up!

The UK isn't really a continent either!

Now Scotland! Thats another matter!

 

Edit... Oh! I see. You thought some people reading this really didn't know. And you wanted to inform them?

[horseshoe7 270]

 

I thought I'd heard that scratched record before.

My point is, you never (or rarely) hear an American agree with a criticism about America. I make these silly "defense" comments because not once (except for a good friend here from Florida who finds America kinda scary now when he goes back) here have i heard an American say "true", then engage in a civilised discourse as to why people might have such opinions of Americans. It's always full guns blazing. These stereotypes that people have "Oh typical american... blah blah" is not because of what you say, it's how you say it that people find so annoying.

 

Anyway, it is however a waste of time to try to make you listen. You'll just find a reason to devalue me, and therefore not acknowledge anything i say. "Typically American..." ;p

[Dr. Love 63]

 

The UK is a continent!

Sure. As 90 watt weißwürst.

Bollocks of the day I would say.

[kitty_kat 2]

Horseshoe7 "My point is, you never (or rarely) hear an American agree with a criticism about America. ..."

 

Word From The Wise... You really need to expand the number of Americans you need to meet. And not just those that are of Anglo-Saxon heritage.

 

Not only will I tell you everything 'wrong' with the US and Europe respectively, but I can also concur, ill-advised and uneducated people exist in both cultures ... unfortunately. :rolleyes:

[georgiagirl 35]

 

My point is, you never (or rarely) hear an American agree with a criticism about America.

Nonsense. The harshest criticism I have ever heard about America came from Americans. Get out from under your rock. Actually read some of the stuff that's posted on this forum and you'll see plenty of Americans actively criticising the country.

 

If Americans disagree with your criticisms, perhaps it's simply because your particular viewpoint is incredibly skewed. People who have actually lived in the country are likely to take issue with your ill-informed opinions.

[TexMunich 58]

 

oh here we go...

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?

 

These stereotypes that people have "Oh typical american... blah blah" is not because of what you say, it's how you say it that people find so annoying.

 

Anyway, it is however a waste of time to try to make you listen. You'll just find a reason to devalue me, and therefore not acknowledge anything i say. "Typically American..." ;p

Did you ever think that:

 

"Stereotypes" and "Typically" also apply to how you "say it that people find so annoying".

[therealjade 1]

I think people who live abroad become a lot more defensive of their home countries. So if you want to speak to an American happy to criticise the US, the best thing will be to speak to one who actually lives there.

 

@ian: When I was 12, I got a penfriend through an agency. The agency gave me some very good advice: " Do not try to make jokes. It is very difficult to convey humour in writing and will often lead to misunderstandings." Being German (and hence not having a sense of humour in the first place) the advice was easy for me to follow; but I'm thinking it might be something you want to consider too.

[bohemka 4,338]

I think the real problem is that most people who've left their home country are just so damn tired of hearing nursery school-level stereotypes about their home country.

[UpQuark 9]

 

Nonsense. The harshest criticism I have ever heard about America came from Americans.

 

I think the real problem is that most people who've left their home country are just so damn tired of hearing nursery school-level stereotypes about their home country.

Where do I join the queue to kiss both of you?