I noticed this in the Local this week....some research done by a university team...over how high school kids in German respond to identifying various forms of government, in particular.... dictatorships. So the obvious bone that the university team threw out to the high school kids....was the Nazi government of the 1930s, and if it was a dictatorship. The overwhelming answer was that the kids weren't too sure if the Nazis were a dictatorship or not.
The university team obviously came back and said this was a huge problem....that it should have been a major agreement in the vast majority of kids quickly assessing that the Nazis were a dictatorship.
There are three observations that I can make.....as an American who has spent time in Germany and seen things up close.
First, watching my son go through the German schooling system.....I can vouch for the fact that they spent a pretty fair amount of time covering the Romans.....as they did covering their own German history. I almost had this opinion that they really didn't want to go over things from 1920 to 1945....like it was a subject best left on the table. Course, you have various Roman-period TV shows and movies now that attract a lot of attention....so maybe this does make some sense.
Second, the sad truth is that the Nazis were actually voted upon in elections, and a pretty fair percentage of Germans put their vote behind the party. It's hard to persuade folks who see the vote at work in a democracy, that a dictatorship comes out of this voting business. This is especially true for teenagers sitting in a class....thinking that voting for Pirate Party isn't that stupid of a decision if you think consider all your options.
Finally, the university did their survey only against high school kids. I would like to challenge them to go out and pick a couple hundred adults in their fifties and see if they get any better statistics. My gut feeling is that it just might be the same. In that case, this whole analysis and worried feeling.....is worthless, and you've got an entire country thinking the same way.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
The Image that Sells
It's an observation that I made this week. There are numerous British faces that come and spark up a positive image or a "sale" on the UK. But for Germany? The blunt truth is that Steffi Graff and Boris Becker are likely the only two Germans besides Chancellor Merkel, who most Americans will recognize. A sales pitch or positive image for Germany? It's kinda limited.
So where does the typical American get the German image?
Well....it's ironic in some ways....but it's the American who goes to the BMW or Mercedes dealer, who finds this German image and gets the sales pitch of Germany.
You walk into a BMW dealer, and they want to talk German technology. They want to make you weep over German engineering, which they explain is light-years ahead of Ford or GM. They want to give you the pitch over the absolute craftsmanship of each and every car....challenging you to find a single flaw or a minute bit of difference between one car and another.
As you sip fine brewed German coffee at the Mercedes dealer....the dealer is commenting over the little sensor that feels a bit of rain on the windshield....and activates the wiper automatically. They want you to settle back in the driver's seat and feel absolute comfort.
After an hour with the dealer.....your heart races and you feel like these Germans are sealing the deal, but they aren't even in the room. They sit three thousand miles away. Their car, and this dealer....are what represents Germany....to an American who has never been to Germany.
I realize that Britian has the Queen, Christian Bale, Gerard Butler, Kate Winslett, and Ringo Starr to sell the empire to Americans. But the Germans are crafty individuals. Car by car.....they sell Germany, and Americans sense some kind of pride in each German car they buy.
Forget BBC America, or that Piers dude on CNN....bring on the BMW dealer.
So where does the typical American get the German image?
Well....it's ironic in some ways....but it's the American who goes to the BMW or Mercedes dealer, who finds this German image and gets the sales pitch of Germany.
You walk into a BMW dealer, and they want to talk German technology. They want to make you weep over German engineering, which they explain is light-years ahead of Ford or GM. They want to give you the pitch over the absolute craftsmanship of each and every car....challenging you to find a single flaw or a minute bit of difference between one car and another.
As you sip fine brewed German coffee at the Mercedes dealer....the dealer is commenting over the little sensor that feels a bit of rain on the windshield....and activates the wiper automatically. They want you to settle back in the driver's seat and feel absolute comfort.
After an hour with the dealer.....your heart races and you feel like these Germans are sealing the deal, but they aren't even in the room. They sit three thousand miles away. Their car, and this dealer....are what represents Germany....to an American who has never been to Germany.
I realize that Britian has the Queen, Christian Bale, Gerard Butler, Kate Winslett, and Ringo Starr to sell the empire to Americans. But the Germans are crafty individuals. Car by car.....they sell Germany, and Americans sense some kind of pride in each German car they buy.
Forget BBC America, or that Piers dude on CNN....bring on the BMW dealer.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
What You Ought to Know About German Bahnhofs
An American will arrive in Germany, and eventually come to discover the all-important bahnhof (the train station). So, there's some advice here.
First, the sizes relate to the town....so Frankfurt will have a monster-sized bahnhof with pubs, restaurants, and various business operations. Some small town in the middle of nowhere....will have a pub....if they are truly lucky. Some of the more interesting bahnhofs that you might stumble across: Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Munich, and Stuttgart.
Second, there's typically parking available but you always pay for what you get. My advice is to avoid these circumstances unless its really necessary. Most have bus service or subway service into the bahnhof.....park on the outskirts of town using a free parking situation....and ride into the station.
Third, before the 1980s....there were actual people in the ticket booths at every single station in Germany. You could ask stupid questions and get advice (half of them actually English at the time). Things have changed. So if you live in a German town of ten thousand folks.....and you have a bahnhof....don't expect a live guy to be there to sell you a ticket. It'll be a machine. It will offer a English language option, which is helpful. You can also go online, and view your travel options via bahn.de.
Fourth, if you do get stuck at a bahnhof for several hours....there tends to be a pub within the building. It won't be fancy or cheap, but you can get a drink or two while waiting. I would strongly advise you to watch your consumption and don't miss your connection two hours later.
Fifth, food is not something you ought to be thinking about at a bahnhof. Bakery goods might be acceptable....but after that, don't order any real food items. It'll be a lousy meal and probably twice what you ought to pay.
Sixth, crime within bahnhof is typically not an issue. You are probably at one of the safer places in any city. Now, with that said.....if you are in a metropolitan city and outside the bahnhof.....you are in a zone where you might want to avoid. Cities like Frankfurt have a drug culture within five minutes of the bahnhof, and people get stupid around these areas.
Seventh, bahnhofs tend to be historical in nature. So when you stand there....take a moment to look at the construction, the ceilings, and the windows. The Wiesbaden bahnhof is a building that you could spend half a day walking around the interior and exterior...discovering things that most people just overlook.
Eighth, most bahnhofs are open by 5AM, and close sometime around midnight (depending on the last train). There are a handful of bahnhofs that are open twenty-four hours a day.
Ninth, for a day-long excursion....you tend to discover that as you venture out into German cities....the bahnhof is this central location where you can base all your orientation onto, and return in the late afternoon to travel back to your original spot. You can rattle off the top 200 cities in Germany....and the bahnhof of each is within mile of the center of town in almost every single case. Most sizeable bahnhofs will have a book shop inside, with maps on sale....so if you were hoping for a map of the town....they've got it (never less than five Euro or $7 though).
Tenth, there are certain occasions that you might want to avoid bahnhofs....like when a major soccer club is visiting your town for a game. Yes, there are fairly rowdy folks who show up and for an hour upon arrival and probably two hours upon leaving that evening....it's not the place that you want to hang out or be around. If you know of a major demonstration coming for Saturday....that might be a good reason to avoid the bahnhof because of incoming crowds. But the other 350-odd days a year....ought to be ok, and acceptable.
First, the sizes relate to the town....so Frankfurt will have a monster-sized bahnhof with pubs, restaurants, and various business operations. Some small town in the middle of nowhere....will have a pub....if they are truly lucky. Some of the more interesting bahnhofs that you might stumble across: Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Munich, and Stuttgart.
Second, there's typically parking available but you always pay for what you get. My advice is to avoid these circumstances unless its really necessary. Most have bus service or subway service into the bahnhof.....park on the outskirts of town using a free parking situation....and ride into the station.
Third, before the 1980s....there were actual people in the ticket booths at every single station in Germany. You could ask stupid questions and get advice (half of them actually English at the time). Things have changed. So if you live in a German town of ten thousand folks.....and you have a bahnhof....don't expect a live guy to be there to sell you a ticket. It'll be a machine. It will offer a English language option, which is helpful. You can also go online, and view your travel options via bahn.de.
Fourth, if you do get stuck at a bahnhof for several hours....there tends to be a pub within the building. It won't be fancy or cheap, but you can get a drink or two while waiting. I would strongly advise you to watch your consumption and don't miss your connection two hours later.
Fifth, food is not something you ought to be thinking about at a bahnhof. Bakery goods might be acceptable....but after that, don't order any real food items. It'll be a lousy meal and probably twice what you ought to pay.
Sixth, crime within bahnhof is typically not an issue. You are probably at one of the safer places in any city. Now, with that said.....if you are in a metropolitan city and outside the bahnhof.....you are in a zone where you might want to avoid. Cities like Frankfurt have a drug culture within five minutes of the bahnhof, and people get stupid around these areas.
Seventh, bahnhofs tend to be historical in nature. So when you stand there....take a moment to look at the construction, the ceilings, and the windows. The Wiesbaden bahnhof is a building that you could spend half a day walking around the interior and exterior...discovering things that most people just overlook.
Eighth, most bahnhofs are open by 5AM, and close sometime around midnight (depending on the last train). There are a handful of bahnhofs that are open twenty-four hours a day.
Ninth, for a day-long excursion....you tend to discover that as you venture out into German cities....the bahnhof is this central location where you can base all your orientation onto, and return in the late afternoon to travel back to your original spot. You can rattle off the top 200 cities in Germany....and the bahnhof of each is within mile of the center of town in almost every single case. Most sizeable bahnhofs will have a book shop inside, with maps on sale....so if you were hoping for a map of the town....they've got it (never less than five Euro or $7 though).
Tenth, there are certain occasions that you might want to avoid bahnhofs....like when a major soccer club is visiting your town for a game. Yes, there are fairly rowdy folks who show up and for an hour upon arrival and probably two hours upon leaving that evening....it's not the place that you want to hang out or be around. If you know of a major demonstration coming for Saturday....that might be a good reason to avoid the bahnhof because of incoming crowds. But the other 350-odd days a year....ought to be ok, and acceptable.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
A Bowle (Germany)
Bowle in Germany....means punch. Generally, it relates to a good bit of alcohol, mixed into something.
If your German friend says "Feuerzangenbowle", then it's a traditional German drink which involves a rum-soaked sugarloaf....that is set on fire and drips down into a wine bowl. Generally, this is served around the holiday season. To be kinda honest, it's loaded with alcohol, and just two cups will get you going fairly quickly. If you consume six of these over a three hour period, you will be fairly drunk. So limit yourself to one or two max.
Another serious element of the bowle...is usually a lot of sugar added into the bowl. If a massive sugar rush bothers you.....skip the bowle no matter what it contains.
Generally, this bowle business will occur at a party or a neighbor's house when you've been invited over. The German passion for alcohol in the holiday season fits with it. Most of the times that you might run into this will be in the winter period, with heated bowle concoctions. There are summer types, but it's rare that you might run into this in July or August.
If your German friend says "Feuerzangenbowle", then it's a traditional German drink which involves a rum-soaked sugarloaf....that is set on fire and drips down into a wine bowl. Generally, this is served around the holiday season. To be kinda honest, it's loaded with alcohol, and just two cups will get you going fairly quickly. If you consume six of these over a three hour period, you will be fairly drunk. So limit yourself to one or two max.
Another serious element of the bowle...is usually a lot of sugar added into the bowl. If a massive sugar rush bothers you.....skip the bowle no matter what it contains.
Generally, this bowle business will occur at a party or a neighbor's house when you've been invited over. The German passion for alcohol in the holiday season fits with it. Most of the times that you might run into this will be in the winter period, with heated bowle concoctions. There are summer types, but it's rare that you might run into this in July or August.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
The Frankfurt Airport
Throughout my life....I've probably been in the Frankfurt airport over one hundred times. In my early Air Force years at Rhein Main....it was the nearest place to catch the subway into Frankfurt. Over the years, I've ridden into or out of the airport several dozen times. So for those looking for a bit of advice....here are my ten comments:
First, there is the old airport terminal (number one) and the new airport terminal (number two). There are about one mile apart. The guys decided to have this tram which would pick you up and transport between the two. It's a lousy design (you have go up to a third-floor level.....then board and ride to the next terminal (two minute ride)....then go down from the third-floor level to the ground level. My advice, when you get dropped off at the airport...make sure you know the right terminal and have the ride dump you there. Avoid the tram ride.
Second, there's about twenty places to eat in the two terminals. In terminal two (the newer one), there's a McDonalds, a sandwich shop, and a coffee shop. Terminal one is the place which has more to offer on food.
Third, if you are stuck at the airport for eight hours....remember that you are just a twenty-minute subway ride into Frankfurt. So there's plenty of opportunities if you suddenly get stuck for a couple of extra hours.
Fourth, both terminal one and two have ample parking. In fact, your biggest worry is writing down your parking spot and remembering it as you come back later.
Fifth, crime. Yes, there are people walking around the entire airport on a daily basis, and waiting for you to put down a bag....then walk off with it. So pay attention to your environment.
Sixth, progression through the counter line, then the passport check, then the various security checks? You need to be at the airport at least three hours prior to the flight, if leaving from Frankfurt. If you arrive forty-five minutes before the flight, you can just about forget on catching that flight.
Seventh, the odds of the customs guys checking your luggage as you exit the baggage point? One out of hundred trips. In all these years and trips.....I've only had them check my bags once.
Eighth, these little currency exchange spots in the airport....are total rip-offs. If you want Euro....just find an ATM machine for some bank and buy your Euro there.
Ninth, if you've never been to Germany and your intention is to drive a rental car out of the airport.....have your map and game-plan already thought out. The minute you leave the parking garage, there will be a sign or two....indicating four significant directions. You'd best be ready to know precisely what direction you are traveling. And yes, a GPS would be nice to have at this point.
Tenth, stuck overnight? Well....there's a fancy hotel at the airport, which runs in the 200 Euro range ($250 a night). You can get a taxi to take you down a mile to a second hotel.....which is in the 160-200 Euro range ($180 minimum). After that, there's a hotel or two that run in the 140 Euro range. This is probably not the airport that you want to be stuck overnight. Yes, you can take the subway into Frankfurt, and find a number of 2-star hotels in the 100 Euro range.....all within walking distance of the train station. It's best not to plan for an event like this.
First, there is the old airport terminal (number one) and the new airport terminal (number two). There are about one mile apart. The guys decided to have this tram which would pick you up and transport between the two. It's a lousy design (you have go up to a third-floor level.....then board and ride to the next terminal (two minute ride)....then go down from the third-floor level to the ground level. My advice, when you get dropped off at the airport...make sure you know the right terminal and have the ride dump you there. Avoid the tram ride.
Second, there's about twenty places to eat in the two terminals. In terminal two (the newer one), there's a McDonalds, a sandwich shop, and a coffee shop. Terminal one is the place which has more to offer on food.
Third, if you are stuck at the airport for eight hours....remember that you are just a twenty-minute subway ride into Frankfurt. So there's plenty of opportunities if you suddenly get stuck for a couple of extra hours.
Fourth, both terminal one and two have ample parking. In fact, your biggest worry is writing down your parking spot and remembering it as you come back later.
Fifth, crime. Yes, there are people walking around the entire airport on a daily basis, and waiting for you to put down a bag....then walk off with it. So pay attention to your environment.
Sixth, progression through the counter line, then the passport check, then the various security checks? You need to be at the airport at least three hours prior to the flight, if leaving from Frankfurt. If you arrive forty-five minutes before the flight, you can just about forget on catching that flight.
Seventh, the odds of the customs guys checking your luggage as you exit the baggage point? One out of hundred trips. In all these years and trips.....I've only had them check my bags once.
Eighth, these little currency exchange spots in the airport....are total rip-offs. If you want Euro....just find an ATM machine for some bank and buy your Euro there.
Ninth, if you've never been to Germany and your intention is to drive a rental car out of the airport.....have your map and game-plan already thought out. The minute you leave the parking garage, there will be a sign or two....indicating four significant directions. You'd best be ready to know precisely what direction you are traveling. And yes, a GPS would be nice to have at this point.
Tenth, stuck overnight? Well....there's a fancy hotel at the airport, which runs in the 200 Euro range ($250 a night). You can get a taxi to take you down a mile to a second hotel.....which is in the 160-200 Euro range ($180 minimum). After that, there's a hotel or two that run in the 140 Euro range. This is probably not the airport that you want to be stuck overnight. Yes, you can take the subway into Frankfurt, and find a number of 2-star hotels in the 100 Euro range.....all within walking distance of the train station. It's best not to plan for an event like this.
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