Kay said the good things in my post were spot on, I did not get the impression she was being entirely negative about Germany. Some people have trouble adjusting to new places, I certainly had trouble adjusting to Germany, it took me 3 years until I really felt happy here. If you are one of those people able to instantly find happiness in a new place, congratulations.

And Frank, perhaps your negative view of the south is the exact same thing you were accusing Kay of feeling about Germany. I grew up a southerner as well. It is no different than anyplace else, in that there are positive aspects and negative aspects. For someone who had previously complained about aggressiveness, your whole comment to Kay seems pretty hypocritical.

Look, I value all my readers, and I think it’s very easy to forget that there is a real human being behind each and every one of these comments. I find it a good philosophy, before hitting submit on a comment, to think about whether I would say the same thing to a person if we were having a conversation face to face. Something to think about, perhaps?

As far as missing my home: yes I do to some extent but I don’t want to go back except for a visit now and again. My life is here now and I AM trying to adapt/integrate.

As far as the comments on the south: every place you go there will negative as well as positive. I’m sorry your experience was bad. I am currently dealing with racism here, but I WILL get through it. There are assholes everywhere.
As far as the architecture and the history Frank, I’m an archaeologist. It’s my life. And I am loving what I see here.

As far as Germany in general Frank. I love it here, I just have to adapt. And I THOUGHT I was allowed to post MY thoughts on it as a way to vent or to get some understanding or help with some of the issues…. Sorry… I did not realize I would be verbally attacked… wont happen again.

To that SUBSET I apologize for my angry accusations.

I have lived in Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana and Georgia and I am sure that there exits and finer subculture in these places.

I am however certain that you know exactly why and how these attitudes towards the South come from.They are not invented out of hate, but a reaction due to bad experiences by those that complain about it.
Just look at their voting habits.
Deutschland ist ein sehr Kulturelles Land, nicht war?
My degree is also in German ( UCLA)
Cheers
Frank

I have travelled to Germany twelve times. Unfortunately, my wife does not share this desire. Sure, there are things about the customs of Germany which annoy me, just as there are things about the American culture which annoy me. Overall, though, I would love to live in Germany someday. I find the people there very friendly and engaging. There are some subtle differences which one must accept which should not really be viewed as negative, just different from what one might be used to. I always have fun kidding my wife and telling her that it doesn’t really matter that her soft drink contains no ice. I often find myself asking that my drink contain no ice now when I am eating at a restaurant in my home state, Tennessee.
I must say, that there is at least a subset of Americans who could point Germany out on the map and could name all of the Bundeslaender. Some of us also enjoy the finer things and enjoy a diet consisting of more than just hamburger and cola. Last night, for example, I prepared Jaegerschnitzel (mit Kalbfliesch) and Pommes frites for our Thanksgiving dinner. Dazu Blaukraut und Schwarzbrot.
I was so taken by the country after my first visit in 1997 that I returned to the university at age 39 to earn a degree in German and continued through last year, finishing with a MA degree in German. I can’t wait until January when I plan to visit Germany and Ukraine again.

Remember, Europe is not a theme park to bitch about when its residents don’t speak English. Real people live here and enjoy a very high standard of living all of which Americans like you are seemingly incapable of taking on board since you seem to see the world only in strictly functional terms..ie cheap electronics, bigger and better burgers strip malls, etc.
As far as service goes,Germany is not as good as the USA but there are loads of very favorable comparisons on many other things, such as a better selection of yogurt and cheeses, and a well traveled and informed public who know much more about the USA than Americans know about them.
People in Bavaria are much less formal and friendlier than other parts of the country, so check out this fact as well. If you walk up to people and start speaking English with no attempt at even the slightest word or phrase of German, then you will indeed annoy people, and I am certain that this has been one of your problems.
Frank

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Comments on your list:

The good things are spot on!

I could love this place if everyone wasn’t so rude to me. I’m from Kentucky and considered southern.

I miss the friendly life – genuine people smiling and saying hi. Therefore, I am the town loon here because people DO in fact treat me that way when I smile and try to be polite.

One thing I would add to that list is manners. They are very different here. One example is that I am constantly being knocked around on the street by people who either look at me like I did it or just ignore it. And I have been injured but no one seems to care.

Ok for the other list:

1. AMEN!

We’ve waited over an hour to pay for our food at restaurants.

When getting my internet and phone installed the technician cursed me out, called me stupid, etc. because I didn’t speak Deutch. I had a friend of mine there with me who is fluent. Needless to say, I threw him out and called the company to report him. They, however, were very nice and said that they would not be using his services anymore.

Customer service in OBI has always been good, but in grocery stores I have had to jump out of the way of oncoming stockers. They WILL hit you!

I guess I’m just too polite. This country has really shocked me and I’m an Anthropologist! However, my studies were mostly of latin cultures, which is extremely different.

2. Yep, constantly dodging the doo.

3. Public urination: Here in Cologne, the men mostly just pee on the churches. Dom is safe though.

4. Doctors: My husband is in the medical field and is always complaining at the lack of education required to be a doctor here. The scars left on people are extreme and avoidable and a lot of the methods used are from 100 yrs ago. He comes home almost everyday infuriated at something he’s had to try to correct that could have been avoided if the doctor had just knew what to look for. They seem to think Cortisone is a ‘cure all’. Maybe this seems to be a result of the insurance and doctors not getting paid much. We know one that has to go outside the country on weekends and work in the UK just to make ends meet.

5. Making friends: I mostly agree with you on that.
I can easily make friends. Everyone likes to be around me, but, they seem so superficial. I have had occasions were they have been super sweet to me in English and then, thinking I didn’t understand, talked about me to someone at the table. Therefore, I think I am the one who is more picky with whom I choose to be friends with. I have lots of aquaintances, but only one friend here.

6. Junk Food: Pringles are good, but don’t order the nachos! The salsa here is mostly ketchup.

7. American Food: I have found that most places that advertise ‘American food’ are not American at all. They sell what they ‘think’ is American, the German idea of American. The only American food I’ve found here is at the Hard Rock, McDonalds, Burger King and Subway. I am, however, finding German foods I like and I am adjusting to that. Otherwise, if I want American food, I make it. We have a store here called The English Store where you can get A1 steaksauce, Bisquick, etc. I have also ordered some seeds from the UK to start growing the spices I cannot get here.

8. Work environment. My husband works 16 hour days. And, when he gets home, he makes business calls. I miss him. On another note, on my husband’s birthday, he called me from work all distraught saying “Run out and buy a cake as soon as possible!” It seems that here they expect you to provide food and cake on your birthday. Just another cultural difference I thought I’d add.

9. House full of bugs: I found the screens!

10. Overpriced electronics: I haven’t had a problem with this.

I would like to add that I have been taught all my life to have southern manners, to be very polite and gentlewomanly. This does not work here! People see me as weak and as a pushover and treat me with disrespect. So, now when I go out, I have to put on the armor and try my best not to be so polite, which is extremely hard for me.

As far as the comment that ark507 made: this is the attitude I run into everyday. I am only here because my husband’s job is here and I am trying my best to fit in. Adjusting is very difficult because of the differences and talking to others who are either going through this adjustment, or have been through it, helps.

I don’t want to live in the US anymore. I am trying my best to make things work here. However, if given the chance to elsewhere in the EU, I would jump at it. I feel a little repressed here.