Posted: 3/31/2004 10:46:47 AM EDT
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God I hate living here. This is not meant as a flame, its a beautiful country I just dont like living here. ~Everything closes at 5 pm on the weekends ~Nothing is open 24 hours a day ~I cant plug my George Foremann grill in without unplugging my XBox and dragging the 20 pound transformer into the kitchen ~This country makes some of the best guns in the world but I cant buy any of them ~VAT ~The water sucks ~TV sucks, ok AFN isnt bad but those commercials have to go, Sylvester Stalone doing OPSEC commercials during the SuperBowl was retarded On the plus side: ~Women are easy as hell to pick up ~Frankfurt is a huge international city so alot of people speak English ~The Euro is worth more then the dollar ~Its beautfiful ~Its centrally located which means easy travel to anywhere in Europe I guess its not that bad Im just pissed I cant get a decent shower. The damn water keeps going from hot to cold no matter what I put it on. As cliche as it sounds its nice here to visit but I dont like living here. |
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Quoted: Sounds like the ringing bell of a 24/7 QuickieMart opportunity.... It's against the law to operate 24 hour stores in Germany. AGAINST THE LAW! FellintoOblivion, I had the same impression about Europe. I really like like the place, I like visiting there, maybe I'd like to live a few months or a year, but I wouldn't want to live there. |
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Yeah, German TV is sh*t! For a better option if you can do it, and have access to a satellite setup, get a 'SKY TV' subscription. Mostly UK programmes (which have many US imports) plus US News Channels, Nat Geographic, Discovery etc. Beers good though! Warsteiner hits the spot. Andy |
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Quoted: Quoted: Sounds like the ringing bell of a 24/7 QuickieMart opportunity.... It's against the law to operate 24 hour stores in Germany. AGAINST THE LAW! FellintoOblivion, I had the same impression about Europe. I really like like the place, I like visiting there, maybe I'd like to live a few months or a year, but I wouldn't want to live there. Its also against the law to wash your car in the street, or mow the lawn on sundays! You also need a Government licence to play GOLF!!! Got to love them, those nutty Germans [;D] Andy |
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Yup, 24/7 stores are illegal. Are you staying in Frankfurt? I'm from Giessen. It's pretty close to Frankfurt. Another plus about europe: EVERYTHING IS SO DAMN CLOSE! You're talking about a 4 hour drive to Paris (i hate the french too but paris is very pretty), and approx 5hrs to Rome. Go travel! I really regret not seeing more of europe while living there. 5hrs sounds like a long drive there, but I routinely make 6 hour drives in the USA. Small continent... |
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I had no idea... Let me get this straight. One of the most industrialized western nations in the world who has been suffering from a depressed economy and high unemployment, clearly has a market demand for expanded hours of retail services which would create additional commerce and jobs, but it's illegal? Fuck Germany. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Sounds like the ringing bell of a 24/7 QuickieMart opportunity.... It's against the law to operate 24 hour stores in Germany. AGAINST THE LAW! FellintoOblivion, I had the same impression about Europe. I really like like the place, I like visiting there, maybe I'd like to live a few months or a year, but I wouldn't want to live there. Its also against the law to wash your car in the street, or mow the lawn on sundays! You also need a Government licence to play GOLF!!! Got to love them, those nutty Germans [;D] Andy I personally loved the RULES signs on practically every playground. Rules included No loud noises and featured VERBOTEN in just about every sentence. It was a long sign... They've got rules for EVERYTHING! |
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They don't have a monopoly on the stupid. Behold this Virginia State Law: Citation: § 18.2-344. Fornication. Any person, not being married, who voluntarily shall have sexual intercourse with any other person, shall be guilty of fornication, punishable as a Class 4 misdemeanor. |
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Quoted: They don't have a monopoly on the stupid. Behold this Virginia State Law: Citation: § 18.2-344. Fornication. Any person, not being married, who voluntarily shall have sexual intercourse with any other person, shall be guilty of fornication, punishable as a Class 4 misdemeanor. So does that mean its ok to have sex with anyone you want as long as youre married? |
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Quoted: They don't have a monopoly on the stupid. Behold this Virginia State Law: Citation: § 18.2-344. Fornication. Any person, not being married, who voluntarily shall have sexual intercourse with any other person, shall be guilty of fornication, punishable as a Class 4 misdemeanor. And some others… http://www.theaprils.com/tim/stupidlaws.html http://www.md.lp.org/weird_laws.html |
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Quoted: God I hate living here. This is not meant as a flame, its a beautiful country I just dont like living here. Why do you think I'm living here, and not there? ~Everything closes at 5 pm on the weekends That's actually an improvement. When I lived there, store hours were 9.30am to 6pm during the week, and 10.30 to 2pm on Saturday. Office hourse were 2 hours less each day. All barbers and bakers are closed on Mondays. You need an appointment 2 weeks in advance to get your car inspected for your new safety stickers. Everything is closed on Sundays, except churches, gas stations and restaurants/bars. ~VAT 16 or 17% sales tax on everything, except food and "cultural items", which are taxed at 7%. But at least the tax is already included in all pricing. ~The water sucks That depends on the area. In big cities or near industrial centers, I might as well have bathed in raw sewage, for all the effect it had on my skin. In rural areas around Munich for instance, or in the hills of Thuringia, it's fine. ~TV sucks Absolutely. As cliche as it sounds its nice here to visit but I dont like living here. Oi! Have we met? Those are the exact words I'm saying when somebody asks me about it. More on the downside: Nothing is convenient, everything has to be an ordeal. Getting plates for a car you bought takes about a day of hanging around in various offices. There's almost no inner city parking, and if there is, it's like 15 minutes maximum, for $2.50. Books, videos, newspapers etc. in English are hard to get by, and they'll charge you an arm and a leg. Store clerks and government workers are almost as rude and condescending as in Soviet Russia. "Well, excuse the fuck out of me for bothering you, comrade, but may I disturb your solace for a few of your precious seconds and if it's not too much to ask for, could you possibly consider accepting my application for a parking permit in front of my own fucking house?" Random roadblocks, i.e. fishing without probable cause, are the norm there. Expect to encounter about 5 each month. More if you're going out Saturday nights. On the plus side: you can indeed get beer at McDonald's, and there are no open container laws ;) |
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Lmao, comrade. Being in the military we cant get a VAT form to get reimbursed so thats not bad. The water is Frankfurt is terrible. I swear I can smell the metal from the water on my skin when I get out of the shower. Youre right about nothing being convenient. No online bill paying. Or on the phone for that matter. It took 2 weeks after I paid the bill to get my internet turned back on after my roommate forgot to pay it on time. |
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Quoted: Let me get this straight. One of the most industrialized western nations in the world who has been suffering from a depressed economy and high unemployment, clearly has a market demand for expanded hours of retail services which would create additional commerce and jobs, but it's illegal? Except for gas stations, yup, that's about the size of it. Fuck Germany. Fuck unionism and social-democrats would be more accurate though. |
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oh, one more thing that sucks: The SECOND you buy it, it's YOURS. No exceptions, no returns, nor exchanges. It was like that everywhere before I left. The word "customer service" does not exist in the german dictionary. Cashiers can be as rude as possible, and they won't get fired. Fireing someone is a hassle in Germany. Also, you have to bring your own plastic/fabric bag, (or buy one there) and you must bag your own grocheries. Customer Service does not exist... I'd visit anytime in the "summer". I'd never live there again though. |
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Quoted: oh, one more thing that sucks: The SECOND you buy it, it's YOURS. That's right, I forgot about that. Unless you sneakily break it and bring it back in (acted) rage, it's yours. No "Oh well, I didn't really need it after all" or "Sorry, I bought the wrong kind." The word "customer service" does not exist in the german dictionary. Customer service numbers are 1-900 numbers! They charge you like $2/minute if you're calling the helpline for your product! If there /is/ a helpline in first place. Cashiers can be as rude as possible, and they won't get fired. LOL, we went over that topic elsewhere just the other day. Some German cashier wanted to get an English translation for some snippy lines he's using on his customers, and since they are now also getting international customers...I chewed him a new one for that. Customer Service does not exist... Can't be repeated often enough. I'd visit anytime in the "summer". I'd never live there again though. |
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I loved the four years I spent in Germany from 1987 - 1991. Things radically changed after the country merged back together in 1990. While nothing is open on the economy, the bases are still open if your military. Most of the people are great and I never had any problems where I was (Ramstein) but the big cities are different especially with the huge immigrant population there now. Never had any proplems at the tourist type places..they love Dollars.. |
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Frankfurt is a bit grim, but the best thing about being based in Frankfurt is you are ideally positioned on the Autobahn network to visit the best bits of Europe! For a Party Weekend head north west to Amsterdam, nobody parties like the Dutch… and they all speak English! For a bit of scenery, head about 5 hours due south and your in Switzerland, absolutely stunning, don't miss the chance, and yet again, just about everybody speaks English. And if its guns you want Switzerland is the place! Want to shoot a SIG Assault Rifle, no problem! Many ranges will hire you one, Gun shops everywere. Andy |
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Quoted: Frankfurt is a bit grim, but the best thing about being based in Frankfurt is you are ideally positioned on the Autobahn network to visit the best bits of Europe! For a Party Weekend head north east to Amsterdam, nobody parties like the Dutch… and they all speak English! For a bit of scenery, head about 5 hours due south and your in Switzerland, absolutely stunning, don't miss the chance, and yet again, just about everybody speaks English. Andy I second that! VISIT Switzerland! I wouldn't want to fight any wars either if I lived in that country. It's beyond beautiful... |
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I looooved living in Germany! It was more than the easy travel to many unique locations that made it special (I was an Alp-a-holic traveller). It was the roads! High speed wonderful roads with not a pothole or loose gravel in sight. Curvy backroads everywhere that you can take as fast as you dare. It was motorcycle heaven! I miss it. A rice rocket in Germany is pure heaven. I was east of you in Schweinfurt. The water there had nitrates that would mess with the oxygen in your blood and drop your PT score if you drank too much, but it looked and smelled clean. I never had a problem with it myself. I thought AFN was cool. They got all the best shows from all the networks and showed them back to back. The only downside was they were a year behind. Of all the places to spend a few years, Germany is one of the best on the planet. |
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I spend two weeks in Germany and Italy every fall for business. I love [b]visiting[/b] Europe, but after those two weeks I can't wait to get home to my; - American toilet! one that you can actually sit on. - American shower! one that you can turn around in without changing the water tempurature. _ American bed!, large enough not to fall out of. |
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I travel to Germany on business very frequently. It is a beautiful place but I wouldn't want to live there. If you have a chance, visit the Auto-Tecknik Meuseum in Sinsheim. It is not very far from Frankfurt. [url]http://www.technik-museum.de[/url] If the weather is nice, rent a motorcycle and take a ride through the Black Forest. There is a ton of history to explore. One question...what's with the "shelf" inside the toilets? All those engineers and you would think that they would realize that the shit should drop under the water so it doesn't stink! If you ever find a good place for steak, let me know. I have had some great food in Germany, but their beef reminds me of the sole of a shoe. |
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I spent two weeks (for work) near Stuttgart, and would go back in a flash for an extended visit. A lot that is stated about the Germans is true, some can be 100% *sshole. On the other hand, many proved to be wonderful to be with, proud of their country, and helpful, wanting to show things off. We were taken to and/or directed to many neat places, restaurants, sites etc.and provided with the co . car on the weekends to tour. Day trips to France and the Swiss Alps. We did a lot of work, but also played hard and like I said, I'd spend an extended time there given the chance. No way I'd stay for a long time though, for many of the things already noted. |
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Quoted: One question...what's with the "shelf" inside the toilets? All those engineers and you would think that they would realize that the shit should drop under the water so it doesn't stink! [url]http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=219625&w=searchPop[/url] |
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Second the switzerland remark. Nice place to visit. Stunning. Expensive as hell! I was very ready to go home after two years in Germany. Kar, I always wondered about that damn shelf. Now I know. Those Germans sure do love David Hasselhof. At least you have internet now. No such thing, back in the day. |
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Quoted: Quoted: One question...what's with the "shelf" inside the toilets? All those engineers and you would think that they would realize that the shit should drop under the water so it doesn't stink! [url]http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=219625&w=searchPop[/url] I am in tears after reading that thread! I must have missed it the first time! I will never be able to take a leak in Germany again without being reminded of the Sitzpinkel Rule! Great Info! |
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Oh I'd forgotten about the 'German' toilets [LOL] First time I took my wife on holiday to Germany I forget to tell her to ask for the 'Englische' toilets. When she came out of that standard German Crapper her face was a picture of pure horror! [shock] That's one German phrase she can remember now…"haben Sie englische Toiletten?" Andy |