F-Body Europe

Well, Linda and I put Nick on the airplane today. It was pretty sad for both of us, but Nick was both sad and excited. Sad to be leaving Germany and his friends, but excited to be getting his car back and going to Vegas. It will definitely be different around here. Oh well, I guess that is what happens when you have a son in the military. Guess we will have to take some leave and go to Vegas for a while.

Sorry to hear about that. You are right and I don't just think that it is because he is in the military. All of us that have kids either look forward or regret the time when they leave the nest. Look at it this was now you have a really good reason to go to Nevada(not to just gamble and look at half naked girls).

I can feel ya, Jerry. I'm in Germany since over 4 years and saw my parents only twice for a couple of days...

Well, I've been in Germany for 11 years, so you can just imagine how my parents feel. Oh well, 5 more months! Woohoo!

17 Years in Germany. I like being here, it has become home to me.
2slow

Right behind you out the door Jack. Be in the states in June BABY!

Stef, where are you from originally?

I grew up near Cape Town in South Africa. My father's side is from Holland and my mother's side from France, but I have a South African passport. During the "apartheit" years traveling on a SA passport used to be a bit of a problem, but since all that b.s. stopped everything seems to be ok.
2slow

I was wondering why your English seemed extremely good. Now I know.

And I thought you were a limey Brit

















Naa, I knew

Getting smart again Jason?
I really disliked living in England. Don't need to go there again.

I disliked my visit there. I don't know what the majority of the Londoners I ran into had against my being American.

Don't worry, most Brits dislike foreigners (including foreigners from the next county). It never fails to amaze me how the average uneducated British peasant can think that he/she is better than the rest just because of their British nationality.
Fortunately they are not all like that, but I am done with the UK.

Is the majority of any country in Europe particularly 'fond' of Americans??? If so, I have yet to see it. I consider myself a fairly well-behaved American, and the kind of service I receive upsets me when I try to ask a question or order something. I'm sorry if I can't memorize 10 languages.

I don't think the average European dislikes Americans on principle. Admittedly things have been a bit strained since George W. started using "force" and you are possibly seen as representing that "force". I think it will all blow over in a while.
Also, never think that bad service means that the Europeans don't like you. It is known that Europe is a bit of a "service desert". I suffer the same even though I can speak several of their languages.

Were not forceful People , I mean we did discontinue B17 flyovers aftter the end of the war.

Well, my expierence in Germany has been great! No one has treated me badly, except for a few guys with beer bottles.

I've been rude and crude to people before and they were still nice and friendly. I later had to apologize.

No, France on the other hand. The next time I go to Paris is to burn it to the ground!! I f*ckin hated that place!

Last time we went to Paris my wife drank water out of the tap. Spent the rest of the weekend on the "white porcelain" and lost about 5 pounds. I told her that we need to go there more often, will keep her nicely in shape. I found out that women also know rude words.
Still like France though, just cannot handle those dodgy cheeses they eat.

Well, being a German, here are my experiences:

German speaking countries appear often unfriendly, they let you wait quiet a bit and if you want some you better don't wait for the offer but ask yourself: please may I have such and such and sure enough the answer will be yes.
Maybe this has to do with a certain lazyness, they get the salaries and not too much tipped, so if they earn the same with doing less...

France: Even though there is supposed to be a French-German friendship... it must be at political level only. I live 11 km from the french border, but do not speak any french (a shame since I have enough french blood somewhere in my venes), I just can't get along with them speaking german or worse: english/american. They expect everybody to speak french. My sister does, and she never had any problems.

UK: I was surprised, expected reserved people there, but I must say the service whereever I went was excellent (I was not in London, but countryside). Everybody was very helpful and polite, asked me where I was from, what I was doing, and if they can help. For Europe the best I found. I only stayed a few days though.
BTW: I took a brit with me to direct me to the gas station and I apologized for my insecure first day left side driving; he said it was ok to run over french people...

Denmark: I have been in Denmark quiet often, but it is difficult to find danish people on the street: most are tourists. Service was at a neutral level, not outstanding good, not bad.

Netherlands: When I did work related travelling with US plates and speaking american it was ok. Then I went on vacation with my then 3 year old daughter and my own vehicle, it was a horror trip. Very bad to no service, not even when I asked, at many places mean comments (is she registered as pure bred blonde/blue eyes, does she have a cross-tatoo etc.) so I left on the third day of a two week vacation. Later on I went back to Drachten - no problems, all ok.
But I found out this year that our Dutch friends thought I was American...

Italy: they all want to be lovers... service is excellent no problems there.

Spain: all the blondes of my family are married there... so it must be ok (no my daughter is still too young)

As to drinking tab water: As far as I know Germany (maybe austria, switzerland) is the ONLY country where you can drink tab water almost any where.
At many places inluding the US I ask for my soda without ice,
since they may use frozen tab water.

People say that about the tap water in Germany, but it must NOT apply in housing. That crap is nasty.