Trip to Germany

Hi!

Cathy L wrote:

In Munich, as we walked down Landsburgerstrass, When someone
approached, we would smile. Only younger people would smile back.
Older people would not. It was morning, so Bill would say, " Guten
Morgen".

It might be OK in Hamburg or Berlin.

Try to accept the local differences!

brgds

--
Gunter "lived and worked in both Berlin and Munich" Herrmann
currently in Orlando, Florida, USA

On Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:38:02 -0700, Iceman
wrote:

On Oct 4, 2:57 pm, Cathy L wrote:
On Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:19:42 -0700, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)"



wrote:

S Viemeister wrote:

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:

"Plenty" of citizens in almost ANY European country speak some English
- But it's strange how easily they forget it, when accosted by
arrogant Ameircan tourists who address them in English without even
bothering to learn the basic pleasantries in the "official" language
of the country!

But we don't know whether they actually said 'good morning' or 'guten
morgen'.

True, but having read their posts for some time, now, I
think it's safe to assume no word of a "foreign" language
would ever sully their lips!

Yes, we carried a translation book and always tried to use it whenever
possible. We found, in most countries, if you make an attempt, people
help you more.

In Munich, as we walked down Landsburgerstrass, When someone
approached, we would smile. Only younger people would smile back.
Older people would not. It was morning, so Bill would say, " Guten
Morgen".


What would happen if you approached people on the New York subway and
said "Good Morning"?

I grew up in the City. You would at least get a response.

Cathy

On Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:13:08 -0700, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)"
wrote:




Dunno about the subway (I always either walk or take cabs,
when in NYC), but I've never found New Yorkers particularly
unresponsive to a smile, a "good morning", or a casual
comment about whatever's going on in our mutual vicinity!
(Unless, of course, everyone I encountered was also from out
of state.) ;-)


Thank you ! That is my frame of reference. New Yorkers are the most
friendly people I have ever met, (unless you count the Irish).

Cathy

On Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:19:29 -0700, Iceman
wrote:




My point is that if you say hello randomly to people on the street in
almost any place, most would be confused, or assume you want something
from them.

Such a shame. That is certainly not the case in New York, (or
Ireland).

Cathy

On Thu, 4 Oct 2007 21:48:50 +0100, (David Horne,
_the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:



Depends on the context. If you're walking along a country path in the
UK, it's customary to say hello to the people passing you.

What, even if you don't speak English ??

Cathy

Cathy L wrote:

On Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:19:29 -0700, Iceman
wrote:




My point is that if you say hello randomly to people on the street in
almost any place, most would be confused, or assume you want something
from them.

Such a shame. That is certainly not the case in New York, (or
Ireland).

New Yorkers are extremely unfriendly. Last year, I asked one how I could
get to Carnegie Hall, and he replied "Practice, man, practice!" How
rude, I thought.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"He can't be as stupid as he looks, but nevertheless he probably
is quite a stupid man." Richard Dawkins on Pres. Bush"

Cathy L wrote:

On Thu, 4 Oct 2007 21:48:50 +0100, (David Horne,
_the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:



Depends on the context. If you're walking along a country path in the
UK, it's customary to say hello to the people passing you.

What, even if you don't speak English ??

Of course.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"He can't be as stupid as he looks, but nevertheless he probably
is quite a stupid man." Richard Dawkins on Pres. Bush"

On 4 Oct 2007 21:22:34 GMT, Jens Arne Maennig
wrote:

Cathy L wrote:
In Munich, as we walked down Landsburgerstrass, When someone
approached, we would smile. Only younger people would smile back.
Older people would not. It was morning, so Bill would say, " Guten
Morgen".

Okay, now I understand:

1. No local would ever *walk* down Landsbergerstrasse. Why should you?
It's long, ugly and mostly pretty weired people hanging out there.

2. Somebody looking at you and greeting this way is really arousing
suspicion.

3. If I would have to walk on Landsbergerstrasse for some unfortunate
reason ("didn't find a spot in front of the door") and somebody would
approach me with an unusual smile greeting "Guten Morgen", I would be
sure that they would offer me a Watchtower or Awake! magazine next.
For that reason, I would have tried to look straight in front of me
with a fixed stare and I wouzld have tried hard to not even ignore
them.

4. When in Rome ...

Jens, spoiled by 20 years residing in Munich

Thank you ! That is my frame of reference. New Yorkers are the most
friendly people I have ever met, (unless you count the Irish).

Boy, I'm glad I was raised on New York. It appears living in Munich
has made you quite cynical.

The reason we had to walk a mile down Landsbergerstrass was that it
was Sunday, (Sept 16th), and we had to go from our hotel at 463
Landsbergerstrass to the Hertz rental car place. We were told by the
girl at the hotel that we could take the bus. After buying tickets
from the machine, we waited a half hour with no bus coming. We asked
two girls that were walking by. They explained that the buses do run
on Sunday, but not THAT bus. It was a beautiful morning and we had
plenty of time, so we walked.

Cathy

Martin wrote:

On Fri, 5 Oct 2007 12:52:00 +0100, (David Horne, _the_
chancellor (*)) wrote:

Cathy L wrote:

On Thu, 4 Oct 2007 21:48:50 +0100, (David Horne,
_the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:



Depends on the context. If you're walking along a country path in the
UK, it's customary to say hello to the people passing you.

What, even if you don't speak English ??

Of course.

'Allo will do.

Or Hi, or even just a grunt.

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"He can't be as stupid as he looks, but nevertheless he probably
is quite a stupid man." Richard Dawkins on Pres. Bush"

Martin wrote:

On Fri, 5 Oct 2007 12:51:18 +0100, (David Horne, _the_
chancellor (*)) wrote:

Cathy L wrote:

On Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:19:29 -0700, Iceman
wrote:




My point is that if you say hello randomly to people on the street in
almost any place, most would be confused, or assume you want something
from them.

Such a shame. That is certainly not the case in New York, (or
Ireland).

New Yorkers are extremely unfriendly. Last year, I asked one how I could
get to Carnegie Hall, and he replied "Practice, man, practice!" How
rude, I thought.

Did he recognise that you were a musician?

woosh

I know where Carnegie Hall is, and it's an _old_ joke...

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"He can't be as stupid as he looks, but nevertheless he probably
is quite a stupid man." Richard Dawkins on Pres. Bush"