F-Body Europe

Just got this from Jörg Flickinger by mail ... maybe some folks are interested ...

Meeting begins at 1400 ...

I will try to be there. Would be nice to meet some more folks in the area who like American Cars. Speak almost no German, but should be fun anyway.

Stopped by today. There were about 8-10 cars and some really unsociable folks. Felt very unwelcome. I got out, walked around and looked at the cars. Spoke to a few folks. No one would even speak. The same thing happened at Waldorf last summer up by Frankfurt. I find this very frustrating. If the Germans would rather not have Americans there, I wish that they would just say so. I definitely don't want to intrude. I really don't understand though. We all like American cars so why not be sociable. Then we could have some regular get-togethers. Oh well, I probably won't try again unless I know that there will be some Americans around. Hate to be that way because I really like Germany and the German people. I just don't want to be somewhere if I am not welcome. Just venting a little.

Dont let it get to you! Next time you plan on doing something, drop me a note!

You know the people are not all the same, there is such here and such there.
However, you are welcome at my house at any time, which you propably drove by today and did not bother to stop...

I planned on going there, but ... I lost my keys somewhere in the house. And I still have not found them. Reminds me... got to start searching again, got sidetracked.

Very often I am under the impression that some Americans do not like Germans or Germany - and some honest people admit.

But, of course, if you do not like other folks, you should not invide them.

I must say that on more than one occassion I have encountered exactly the same response that Jerry received. In contrast, for some reason, in Holland people are more than happy to talk with you. Heck, just walk around at Bitburg sometime and see the differences in responses.

It seems that most Germans are a little distant until you get to know them (catch-22 right?), but once you have cracked that hard external shell you can find some really great friends.

One thought I use to help keep things in perspective: Your at an event in the US and someone comes up to you and starts talking in a language other than English (or Spanish). What would be the typical American response? (World travelers and military have an unfair advantage here.)

I understand that Germans are a little reserved, but have also found most of them will speak if you speak to them, even if there is no common interest between you. Like I said, Germany and the German people are my favorite in all of Europe. This instance will not change my positive opinion of the German people. It does make me leery of going to other small car events though if I don't know anyone. I just really don't understand it.

As far as how they would be treated in the States, I can't speak for everywhere, but where I come from, I feel confident that the people would at least be friendly, even if the communication was very limited. I didn't intend for this to sound like I was mad, just frustrated.

Silke, I thought you lived in Pirmasens? If so, I didn't come by your house. I only live about 20 minutes from Zweibrucken in a small village.

hm... I thought you live in Ramstein area?

No I do not live IN Pirmasens, I live in Höheischweiler, which is
half way from Zweibrücken (15 min) to Ramstein on the A8/A62.

Some germans (like me in the past) also simply don´t trust their own english skills (mainly from school days long long loooooong ago ) and prefer it then not to talk at all

Just go with a couple people you know next time. When everyone gets drunk, that's when everyone starts communicating, regardless of the language which they speak.