Munich
Rakkity sent me this link . It’s one friendly American’s view of Germany, or more specifically, the Germans. Insightful and amusing, and if you read only one of the four pages he’s written, I’d start with the last : Tuesday, September 21, 2004.
“…Germans (or maybe Europeans, I’m not sure everyone here is a German) are not the most outgoing people in the world. In the village, no one looks you in the eyes as you pass on the narrow path. There are no quick smiles from young girls on bicycles that stir an older man’s imagination. There are no cheerful ìGuten Morgens!î among strangers waiting at a bus stop. To have a conversation you almost have to be in a business transaction with someone. “
My wife and I stayed in Munich three days this month (September 2004) and, unlike the previous observer at this website, found the people there friendly. We have been to Munich several times over the last 40 years.
Comment by Igor Golovcsenko — September 26, 2004 @ 7:10 am
Diane and I went to Germany in 1980 and I’ve been racking my brain trying to remember whether we felt welcome or not. I do remember how friendly we thought the French were, which led me to believe you get back what you give.
Comment by michael — September 26, 2004 @ 7:51 am
I’ve been to Germany several times, but most every time I was visiting a German friend, so never encountered the lack of eye contact that David Fanning refers to, because I was talking to the friend all the time.
But check out David’s very next blog entry, in which he finds the Germans to be pretty friendly after all, and where he validates Mike’s “you get back what you give”.
Comment by rakkity — September 27, 2004 @ 9:28 am