I haven't had much to say of relevance in to the blog world recently, but saw an interesting article today on the BBC:
Why are Americans giving up their citizenship?
On the expat forums I read in the UK, this seems to becoming more prevalent, especially the longer that people are here. So it's not so much the newly christianed UK citizens but more those who have been UK citizens for many years.
I don't think I'd even remotely consider to give up my US citizenship (which would be an option at some stage, once I get UK citizenship). Would you consider it?
Showing posts with label us. Show all posts
Showing posts with label us. Show all posts
Friday, September 27, 2013
Friday, March 08, 2013
Parking the German mentality in an American parking spot
I am in the US for work for two weeks, along with many of my colleagues from around the globe, whom I've known for many years. I went out with the German contingent last night, and we ended up downtown for dinner. It's been snowy here in the midwest where Benevolent Company J is located, and while the streets have been plowed, it's remained chilly and the snow hasn't budged much, making parallel parking quite an adventure.
When we saw a decent parking spot near our destination, German Colleague 2 hops out to be able to inform Colleague 1 how far away he is from the other cars. Colleague 3 and I stayed in the car.
Colleague 1 probably isn't so great at parallel parking in the best of times, and it was a difficult situation: a small spot with a big American car, leftover snow/slush, and a relatively busy road, so time pressures to get out of the way. And therefore he botched it, requiring a second and third attempt, and finally, the back and forth to squeeze into the spot due to turning too quick.
As I stood with Colleage 2 at the curb, Colleague 2 remarked, 'he turned in too hard.'
I answered, 'Yes, I knew each time he was off, but didn't want to pressure him.'
Colleague 1: 'Ah, but H, you must instruct him! Else how will he ever learn or improve?'
In that moment I was reminded of living in Germany, and how different it was, and how out of place it seemed in that very moment on a US street.
When we saw a decent parking spot near our destination, German Colleague 2 hops out to be able to inform Colleague 1 how far away he is from the other cars. Colleague 3 and I stayed in the car.
Colleague 1 probably isn't so great at parallel parking in the best of times, and it was a difficult situation: a small spot with a big American car, leftover snow/slush, and a relatively busy road, so time pressures to get out of the way. And therefore he botched it, requiring a second and third attempt, and finally, the back and forth to squeeze into the spot due to turning too quick.
As I stood with Colleage 2 at the curb, Colleague 2 remarked, 'he turned in too hard.'
I answered, 'Yes, I knew each time he was off, but didn't want to pressure him.'
Colleague 1: 'Ah, but H, you must instruct him! Else how will he ever learn or improve?'
In that moment I was reminded of living in Germany, and how different it was, and how out of place it seemed in that very moment on a US street.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
My renewed passport
Like any other expat, I have a myriad of dates in my head and papers to keep and regulations to review. I mentioned previously that my first UK work permit is soon up for renewal. I need to get a new passport before renewing my work permit, else my work permit will then be limited by the passport expiration date in 2013.
To do for November: get a new passport (done)
As a UK resident, I was hoping to renew my US passport when I went home for the holidays or on one of my longer work trips to the US. However, the guidance says that one must renew a passport from one's residence, even if that is overseas. For me, that meant sending my documents to London, where they were then forwarded to the US.
I had been wondering about the new 'place of issue' in the passport. I was suspecting it would be Philly as a major passport processing hub and convenient for the shipment of documents from London. I guessed wrong, however:
How odd. I'll be curious to see if my pass now gets a second glance from US passport controls. My previous pass was issued in San Fran and prior to that, Philly.
To do for November: get a new passport (done)
As a UK resident, I was hoping to renew my US passport when I went home for the holidays or on one of my longer work trips to the US. However, the guidance says that one must renew a passport from one's residence, even if that is overseas. For me, that meant sending my documents to London, where they were then forwarded to the US.
I had been wondering about the new 'place of issue' in the passport. I was suspecting it would be Philly as a major passport processing hub and convenient for the shipment of documents from London. I guessed wrong, however:
How odd. I'll be curious to see if my pass now gets a second glance from US passport controls. My previous pass was issued in San Fran and prior to that, Philly.
Next up: Assembling the UK work permit paperwork for January.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
From inside the expat suitcase - my US Goodwill frugal imports
On the recent US trip home, I mentioned about doing some shopping. First, for the expat food...
Here in the UK, we are not able to get so many options when it comes to Brownies or chocolate chip cookies. Even at the large Tesco supermarkets, there will usually only be one brownie mix (Betty Crocker, standard), and one type of chocolate chip for cookies in my corner of Essex.
If you've read me for a long while, you know that deserts are not my strong point; I don't really like sweets so I have a difficult time to put together something from scratch as I don't know how it's supposed to take at the end. I do know that my tolerance of sweet things is lower than most others, so something that I would enjoy at the end probably wouldn't generally be enjoyable to most. ;-)
New Friend Ian and I started a trend to take desert when we are invited to dinner. It's made even more special when the recipient finds out that the mix has been imported and is not available in the UK. As a result, we have the following from the supermarket:
I'm not much of a fan of eating our concoctions in the end, although I'll usually try them to have an idea of the taste. Therefore, I'm usually purchasing based on the photo on the box. Especially interesting to me are Betty's Supreme bars on the bottom right, sort of a combination of a chocolate chip cookie with a brownie.
On the top right are my Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Almond and Cashew bars. When I was in Dubai I tried these as I have never seen them before and found them to be quite pleasant. When I came back to the UK they were no where to be found. When I was last in the US I spotted them, however, and each time I bring back a few boxes. I find them useful to have in my backpack in the event that work unexpectedly goes late or I'm out and about.
And what caused all the weight in the suitcases?
--17 canning jars from Goodwill!
Those suckers are quite heavy. Last year, when I went to pickle my peppers, I was suprised by the lack of larger jars here in the UK. Then I figured out that the market is heavily geared toward smaller items like jams and chutneys. I had a few options such as importing them from France, but even used ones on ebay were pricey. Then I stumbled across the motherload at .49 and .99 US cents each, in America's heartland. Wrapped carefully in newspaper and clothing, every last one of them survived the journey. I also found lids at the Goodwill as well, but I'll need to get a few more of those next year. Now at least I'll have a good start for next year.
I also found this vintage American scale at Goodwill for a princely sum of 3.99. Slocombe insists on getting into most of my photos, here she is checking it out, along with some of the canning jars:
PS - to all the Germany bloggers enjoying the meetup in Cologne, hope it was a good trip.
Here in the UK, we are not able to get so many options when it comes to Brownies or chocolate chip cookies. Even at the large Tesco supermarkets, there will usually only be one brownie mix (Betty Crocker, standard), and one type of chocolate chip for cookies in my corner of Essex.
If you've read me for a long while, you know that deserts are not my strong point; I don't really like sweets so I have a difficult time to put together something from scratch as I don't know how it's supposed to take at the end. I do know that my tolerance of sweet things is lower than most others, so something that I would enjoy at the end probably wouldn't generally be enjoyable to most. ;-)
New Friend Ian and I started a trend to take desert when we are invited to dinner. It's made even more special when the recipient finds out that the mix has been imported and is not available in the UK. As a result, we have the following from the supermarket:
I'm not much of a fan of eating our concoctions in the end, although I'll usually try them to have an idea of the taste. Therefore, I'm usually purchasing based on the photo on the box. Especially interesting to me are Betty's Supreme bars on the bottom right, sort of a combination of a chocolate chip cookie with a brownie.
On the top right are my Nature Valley Sweet and Salty Almond and Cashew bars. When I was in Dubai I tried these as I have never seen them before and found them to be quite pleasant. When I came back to the UK they were no where to be found. When I was last in the US I spotted them, however, and each time I bring back a few boxes. I find them useful to have in my backpack in the event that work unexpectedly goes late or I'm out and about.
And what caused all the weight in the suitcases?
--17 canning jars from Goodwill!
Those suckers are quite heavy. Last year, when I went to pickle my peppers, I was suprised by the lack of larger jars here in the UK. Then I figured out that the market is heavily geared toward smaller items like jams and chutneys. I had a few options such as importing them from France, but even used ones on ebay were pricey. Then I stumbled across the motherload at .49 and .99 US cents each, in America's heartland. Wrapped carefully in newspaper and clothing, every last one of them survived the journey. I also found lids at the Goodwill as well, but I'll need to get a few more of those next year. Now at least I'll have a good start for next year.
I also found this vintage American scale at Goodwill for a princely sum of 3.99. Slocombe insists on getting into most of my photos, here she is checking it out, along with some of the canning jars:
PS - to all the Germany bloggers enjoying the meetup in Cologne, hope it was a good trip.
Monday, October 10, 2011
More from the apple winery
As mentioned yesterday, we went to an apple winery here in the Midwest. It was a great weekend to visit as the harvest was at its peak. At this particular small farm, we were able to walk amongst the trees to see it:
We were a diverse cultural group, one Canadian, one German, me from the US and one work colleague from Asia. The Asia colleague was taking an extensive number of close up photos of the apples on the trees, as opposed to the rest of us who were taking more landscape shots of all of the trees like above. He explained, in his highly urbanized 'concrete jungle' country, he's never seen an apple growing on a tree before:
We were a diverse cultural group, one Canadian, one German, me from the US and one work colleague from Asia. The Asia colleague was taking an extensive number of close up photos of the apples on the trees, as opposed to the rest of us who were taking more landscape shots of all of the trees like above. He explained, in his highly urbanized 'concrete jungle' country, he's never seen an apple growing on a tree before:
Sunday, October 09, 2011
The weekend in America's Heartland
Being from the East Coast and having lived on the West Coast, I'm now supplementing that geographic knowledge with occasional work trips to the Midwest (home of benevolent company J's headquarters). There is a large group of us in town for two weeks for a work project, which required us to be here for a weekend. Many groups are doing many different things; some are heading to the shopping malls, others are taking flights to cities such as New York City, but our small group of colleagues decided to stay local.
Our 'local' colleague (a Canadian who is based here full-time) put together an itinerary for us that included an 'art walk', a local diner, and apple picking. However, we quickly discovered that 80 degree temps on a weekend here brought out the entire state for apple picking, so we went off the beaten path. We looked for 'local attractions' in the GPS and found a winery 30 minutes away and off we went. It was the best decision as it was small and absolutely delightful:
Our 'local' colleague (a Canadian who is based here full-time) put together an itinerary for us that included an 'art walk', a local diner, and apple picking. However, we quickly discovered that 80 degree temps on a weekend here brought out the entire state for apple picking, so we went off the beaten path. We looked for 'local attractions' in the GPS and found a winery 30 minutes away and off we went. It was the best decision as it was small and absolutely delightful:
It was a tiny place that specializes in apples, but they also had pumpkins for sale, along with plenty of apples. As we don't really have pumpkins in the UK (even though Halloween seems to be imported more heavily each year), I was most pleased to be able to take this photo.
As it was a working winery, they offered 5 free tastes of their wares, then it was possible to buy there the various local items then. They had all sorts of apple wines, liquers and ciders as well as different varieties of non-alcoholic apple juices for tasting. All in all a most pleasant Saturday.
Monday, October 03, 2011
Yep, back in the US
Behind this road (where I'm on the sidewalk), there are two highways in the background. Then again, I should be grateful for sidewalks, as much of middle America doesn't have them.
Because it's America though, there are plenty of Halloween decorations already out as well as for sale. I am pleased to give you an advance preview of Slocombe's Halloween costume this year:
I imagine she'll be as unimpressed with this one as she was with last year's. Currently, she's enjoying her vacation at the House of Treats in the UK where she gets freshly roasted chicken every night, while missing me immensely, of course.
I did get some odd looks this AM when I went out of the hotel at 07.15. I knew there were stores, restaurants and such around a mile away, so I waited until it was clearly light outside and off I went. On the entire trip (with sidewalks), 1.1 mile out and then 1.1 back, I passed one other person on the sidewalk, and he was on a bicycle but avoiding the busy roads.
Because it's America though, there are plenty of Halloween decorations already out as well as for sale. I am pleased to give you an advance preview of Slocombe's Halloween costume this year:
I imagine she'll be as unimpressed with this one as she was with last year's. Currently, she's enjoying her vacation at the House of Treats in the UK where she gets freshly roasted chicken every night, while missing me immensely, of course.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
More from America - rules
While seeing a free 'summer concert in the park' Friday night event, I noticed the children enjoying the fountains in the hot and humid summer night. I later noticed the 'FOUNTAIN RULES':
It cautions against anyone with a communicable disease, or 4 wheeled recreational vehicles, or diaper changing.
A few interesting things to note:
-It's not a fountain that includes a pool, it's only shooting spurts of water from the concrete.
-It's a tiny park tucked inside an upscale shopping area. Any 4 wheeled recreational vehicles would not be welcome well before arriving here.
-Diaper changing in the water area defeats the idea of dryness.
I have not yet noticed any 'fountain signs' in Europe, so I have no comparison points to America.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The frugal trip home for the December holidays
One of the things that really bites about working in Europe is that the airlines know you want to come home to America for the holidays and price their flights accordingly. For a few years I was very lucky as the company paid for me to go home as an expat. When I transferred my employment contract to Europe I lost that benefit, but gained extra vacation, so it all comes out in the wash.
Recapping the past few years of holiday travel:
We cancelled the DUS to FRA leg. (yes, it was a German agent!)
(Sigh) Give me a supervisor please.
The trip was further riddled with incompetence, including the return leg when USAir's International counter wouldn't check me in because the trip was on miles and Domestic wouldn't check me in because it was an International flight. This is why I go to the airport 3 hours early, because USAir is the most incompetent airline and I needed to wait in various lines for 2.5 hours with everyone passing me off elsewhere, unable or unwilling to do anything. There is no customer service desk in Philly, only a 1.800 number. P*sspoor, and never again on USAir, or even a codeshare which is flying on USAir flights.
Moving on...
The only issue with this one was that the route obviously wasn't making enough cash, so they started to cut back from 7 days a week, then 5, then 4...my outgoing was cancelled and the Continental people worked with me to find a decent replacement as I was rather set on my outgoing day. They re-routed me from CGN-EWR to CGN-Paris-PHL on AirFrance. It was the closest I ever came to missing an international flight, because Paris on December 18 was chaotic and we were late incoming. I was the second to last person to walk on the flight, having gone through the last security, and taking off on a run in stocking feet.
***
I was looking forward to moving to the UK because the increased competition on the London to New York market ensured that I'd be paying less than I did from Germany where Lufthansa runs the show. In addition, Open Skies has ruffled the market up a little.
I've been hemming and hawing on booking a flight over the past few months watching the prices go up and down. I was expecting to have to pay over 400 GBP for decent dates. Prices were reaching into the high 500's.
The negotiable items:
-Return date is flexible. Usually I try for Dec 31 because it's hella cheaper than the days around it, and I'm not so big on New Year's partying.
-Philly or Newark or Allentown airports are all possible.
-I can do any London area airport.
-I don't terribly mind connections.
The constraints:
-Dec 17th is the earliest I can leave.
-If I'm coming into Philly or Newark and getting someone to pick me up, I need aim for socialable times (non-rush hour, not post 10 PM, etc.)
-I need to keep in mind the Septa (Philly train) and Amtrak (Newark train) times. A 6 AM departure from Newark can't really be accomodated.
Recapping the past few years of holiday travel:
- 2008 - DUS to EWR with Lufthansa (Newark baby!)
- 2007 - DUS - FRA - PHL, PHL - FRA - CGN -with USAir on miles.
I was extremely displeased with USAir's lack on service on this one. The best was when I went to confirm 72 hours in advance and they told me--we cancelled the DUS to FRA leg.
Funny, you didn't call to tell me this. So how to I get to my Frankfurt flight?We cancelled the DUS to FRA leg. (yes, it was a German agent!)
(Sigh) Give me a supervisor please.
The trip was further riddled with incompetence, including the return leg when USAir's International counter wouldn't check me in because the trip was on miles and Domestic wouldn't check me in because it was an International flight. This is why I go to the airport 3 hours early, because USAir is the most incompetent airline and I needed to wait in various lines for 2.5 hours with everyone passing me off elsewhere, unable or unwilling to do anything. There is no customer service desk in Philly, only a 1.800 number. P*sspoor, and never again on USAir, or even a codeshare which is flying on USAir flights.
Moving on...
- 2006 Cologne to Newark with miles (direct!) back in the day when they were running this route.
The only issue with this one was that the route obviously wasn't making enough cash, so they started to cut back from 7 days a week, then 5, then 4...my outgoing was cancelled and the Continental people worked with me to find a decent replacement as I was rather set on my outgoing day. They re-routed me from CGN-EWR to CGN-Paris-PHL on AirFrance. It was the closest I ever came to missing an international flight, because Paris on December 18 was chaotic and we were late incoming. I was the second to last person to walk on the flight, having gone through the last security, and taking off on a run in stocking feet.
***
I was looking forward to moving to the UK because the increased competition on the London to New York market ensured that I'd be paying less than I did from Germany where Lufthansa runs the show. In addition, Open Skies has ruffled the market up a little.
I've been hemming and hawing on booking a flight over the past few months watching the prices go up and down. I was expecting to have to pay over 400 GBP for decent dates. Prices were reaching into the high 500's.
The negotiable items:
-Return date is flexible. Usually I try for Dec 31 because it's hella cheaper than the days around it, and I'm not so big on New Year's partying.
-Philly or Newark or Allentown airports are all possible.
-I can do any London area airport.
-I don't terribly mind connections.
The constraints:
-Dec 17th is the earliest I can leave.
-If I'm coming into Philly or Newark and getting someone to pick me up, I need aim for socialable times (non-rush hour, not post 10 PM, etc.)
-I need to keep in mind the Septa (Philly train) and Amtrak (Newark train) times. A 6 AM departure from Newark can't really be accomodated.
- The best option was looking to be AirFrance for 388 GBP, with a 1 hour 5 minute connection. (ho-ho-ho, I had 0% faith of making that connection.)
- Our neighbors to the North, AirCanada, had a nice selection for 398 GBP, with plenty of flights out of London to Toronto, and then multiples from Toronto to Newark. It became a little pricier for Philly, but I actually like to clear US Customs in Canada. Queues aren't too bad.
- BMI offered as direct to Philly, but it was USAir planes. No thanks.
- United had plenty of options that would ship me halfway across the US in the process. Chicago, Washington Dulles. I got sidetracked here, trying to see what the worst connection was that I could make for a limited cost. (London-Dulles-White Plains, New York-Philly or London-Chicago-Dulles-Newark for 434 GBP seemed to be the winners on that front)
- I checked Air India, for the London-Newark option
What was the final outcome?
I happened to catch a really cheap option on TAP Portugal, which goes London to Lisbon to Newark with superb connections and a nice return time from Newark, on the absolute perfect days. The only negative--it leaves Heathrow at 06.00. OK, for 313 GBP (including all taxes and everything), I cannot complain.
Monday, April 06, 2009
The American influence in Guildford
The writing may be difficult to read here. It says:
Inkwell & Ivy The OFFICIAL apparel of the IVY LEAGUE
Rare and cult American imported brands
I haven't been to one of these in at least 10 years. Curious about the local menu?
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Somebody needs to go on a diet
In case you cannot read the little numbers, it says 13.5 pounds. Before you start suggesting that she's big-boned, keep in mind:
-2 different vets at 2 different points in one year have said she needs to lose 3 lbs
-her pregnancy weight from 18 months ago (with 5 kittens) was 12 lbs.
-as there is a price per pound to fly her to the UK, now is a great time to lose the excess.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Back from the US
J asked what I brought from the US. Instead I'll start with what I didn't bring:
She's going to go directly to the UK instead, hopefully in 6 months or so, after the US in-country quarantine is done. So she gets another 6 months of being spoiled in Philly. :-)
And for the record, I am now of the opinion that it is easier to get work permission for a person for the UK than it is to bring over a cat to the UK. Feel free to quote me on this one.
I'm off to the UK tomorrow for new year's, but I'm leaving you a few postings in advance. I'll still pick up emails over the next few days so I'll see any comments. :-)
She's going to go directly to the UK instead, hopefully in 6 months or so, after the US in-country quarantine is done. So she gets another 6 months of being spoiled in Philly. :-)
And for the record, I am now of the opinion that it is easier to get work permission for a person for the UK than it is to bring over a cat to the UK. Feel free to quote me on this one.
I'm off to the UK tomorrow for new year's, but I'm leaving you a few postings in advance. I'll still pick up emails over the next few days so I'll see any comments. :-)
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Tonight's agenda
Bags are already packed, boarding pass printed, dinner made and eaten.
Next up, trips to:
Target
Walgreens
Godmother
Great-aunt 1
etc.
to fill in the remaining space in the suitcase.
Will be back online once I'm back in DE.
Next up, trips to:
Target
Walgreens
Godmother
Great-aunt 1
etc.
to fill in the remaining space in the suitcase.
Will be back online once I'm back in DE.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Hell may be freezing over
Philly's been stuck in a code blue with overnight lows in the teens and daytime temps in the low 20's.
And Heather bought a purse.
I'm more of a 'wallet in the back pocket of the jeans' kinda gal and haven't owned a purse in at least 10 years. But I have a few upcoming activities in the new year which don't involve jeans and I need somewhere to put my keys and cash.
Once I'm back in Germany I may take a photo of the little fellow. I picked him up on one of my recent vintage/secondhand jaunts here, along with a few other things.
And Heather bought a purse.
I'm more of a 'wallet in the back pocket of the jeans' kinda gal and haven't owned a purse in at least 10 years. But I have a few upcoming activities in the new year which don't involve jeans and I need somewhere to put my keys and cash.
Once I'm back in Germany I may take a photo of the little fellow. I picked him up on one of my recent vintage/secondhand jaunts here, along with a few other things.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Less than 24 hours...
Was how long it took before I spoke German in the US. I arrived early this year so was able to go on the Christmas tree hunting trip, something I've never been able to do because it's always a week before I've always been home, due to the tradition of doing it on my aunt's birthday. While we were there, I could hear an older woman complaining about something, in German, to her son. I quickly headed down a different tree aisle.
After choosing the tree and getting all of that sorted, we needed to pick up some of the free greenery, as I was in charge of making the cemetary arrangements this year. (I've been in charge of lots of random things this year, because I'm home so early, with a very small agenda outside of drinking coffee and cooking.)
My aunts and I were picking up some of the free tree branches, and there is that German woman again, yet again complaining, now both in English and German, that her son does not know how to properly pick branchs (she had the same purpose as me). My one aunt and I are like cheese and chalk. My aunt, seeking to make things better says, 'you must not be around here, if the cold is bothering you?' The woman answers 'no, no, I am from Germany.' My ever so helpful aunt says, 'oh really--she lives in Germany!' and the woman looks at me with a questioning eye.
Of course I had to ask her then, in German, where she is from. Essen. No wonder I so easily understood her, that is barely 40 minutes from where I live. And then she got on a roll. 'Robert, come over here, she speaks German!' (Robert was her tall, dark and handsome son who was shuttling her chosen branches too the car, as he was deemed unskilled for choosing them.) Robert got in a cursory 'that's nice' before continuing on his pack mule banch hauling way.
She explained to me that they had to leave Germany after the war, and she's never been back. Her children all speak and understand German, because that is all that she and her husband spoke in the house. Her children had some friends in an equivalent position, but their parents 'were lazy', the children could understand her but not speak German properly. She then tells me, that there are very few German speakers in this area. True, true.
She then goes on (out of the corner of my eye, her son is done hauling and is now speaking with my aunts), to call her son over. 'Robert, look at her, how schlank!' and points to my waist. (My black wool coat is indeed quite slimming.) Gotta love the German directness. Some things never die. She then proceeds to rail on him, about how he gets in the car in the garage, drives to where he wants to go, and then gets back into the car, and how all Americans are like this and that's the problem. She asks me, how do you stay so thin? Um, I walk a lot daily and go walking in the woods on Sundays in Germany, and sometimes the pool. (Because nothing else is open I wanted to add, but didn't.) 'Precisely! You walk in Germany!'
I get the feeling Robert has heard this argument before as he scurried away. He was talking with my aunt about her car. The old woman gives them the razor eye...do they speak German too? No only me. She's been talking almost non-stop for 15 minutes, and I think I barely escaped getting invited home and married off. At this point I was saved by the bell.
The tree place, it's run by the local fire company. The tree lot is located next door to the fire company. The ancient fire siren sounded, loud as all get out, three long wails, before switching to a lower constant clanging. The old woman grabs my arm and shouts over it. "I remember this sound very well." Thankfully, it gave us our exit to leave.
After choosing the tree and getting all of that sorted, we needed to pick up some of the free greenery, as I was in charge of making the cemetary arrangements this year. (I've been in charge of lots of random things this year, because I'm home so early, with a very small agenda outside of drinking coffee and cooking.)
My aunts and I were picking up some of the free tree branches, and there is that German woman again, yet again complaining, now both in English and German, that her son does not know how to properly pick branchs (she had the same purpose as me). My one aunt and I are like cheese and chalk. My aunt, seeking to make things better says, 'you must not be around here, if the cold is bothering you?' The woman answers 'no, no, I am from Germany.' My ever so helpful aunt says, 'oh really--she lives in Germany!' and the woman looks at me with a questioning eye.
Of course I had to ask her then, in German, where she is from. Essen. No wonder I so easily understood her, that is barely 40 minutes from where I live. And then she got on a roll. 'Robert, come over here, she speaks German!' (Robert was her tall, dark and handsome son who was shuttling her chosen branches too the car, as he was deemed unskilled for choosing them.) Robert got in a cursory 'that's nice' before continuing on his pack mule banch hauling way.
She explained to me that they had to leave Germany after the war, and she's never been back. Her children all speak and understand German, because that is all that she and her husband spoke in the house. Her children had some friends in an equivalent position, but their parents 'were lazy', the children could understand her but not speak German properly. She then tells me, that there are very few German speakers in this area. True, true.
She then goes on (out of the corner of my eye, her son is done hauling and is now speaking with my aunts), to call her son over. 'Robert, look at her, how schlank!' and points to my waist. (My black wool coat is indeed quite slimming.) Gotta love the German directness. Some things never die. She then proceeds to rail on him, about how he gets in the car in the garage, drives to where he wants to go, and then gets back into the car, and how all Americans are like this and that's the problem. She asks me, how do you stay so thin? Um, I walk a lot daily and go walking in the woods on Sundays in Germany, and sometimes the pool. (Because nothing else is open I wanted to add, but didn't.) 'Precisely! You walk in Germany!'
I get the feeling Robert has heard this argument before as he scurried away. He was talking with my aunt about her car. The old woman gives them the razor eye...do they speak German too? No only me. She's been talking almost non-stop for 15 minutes, and I think I barely escaped getting invited home and married off. At this point I was saved by the bell.
The tree place, it's run by the local fire company. The tree lot is located next door to the fire company. The ancient fire siren sounded, loud as all get out, three long wails, before switching to a lower constant clanging. The old woman grabs my arm and shouts over it. "I remember this sound very well." Thankfully, it gave us our exit to leave.
Friday, December 19, 2008
What gave it away?
My grandmother's house is typical for the Phillyland area, neat little row homes, block parties in the summer, everyone knows everone else. Many people have been on this street since before I was born, so they knew me way back when. The area is pretty close, so people have known when I would be in town more or less, because Grandma told them.
Neighbor from up the street (who was a US soldier in Germany in the 1960's and who married a German woman and they have lived here ever since): Yo H.
H: Hi.
N: So I knew you were in town.
H: The old lady gossip network told you?
N: No. In the awful rainy weather the other day, when I was driving up the street, guess what I saw? I saw someone dressed in dark colors, out walking. I knew it was either a Kraut* or someone who lives in Krautland*, so therefore odds would be that it was you, because the fat Americans all drive when it's raining H.
H: Yep, that was me.
N: Welcome back.
* his words, not mine
Neighbor from up the street (who was a US soldier in Germany in the 1960's and who married a German woman and they have lived here ever since): Yo H.
H: Hi.
N: So I knew you were in town.
H: The old lady gossip network told you?
N: No. In the awful rainy weather the other day, when I was driving up the street, guess what I saw? I saw someone dressed in dark colors, out walking. I knew it was either a Kraut* or someone who lives in Krautland*, so therefore odds would be that it was you, because the fat Americans all drive when it's raining H.
H: Yep, that was me.
N: Welcome back.
* his words, not mine
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
on the way
If you happen to be in the D'dorf area Saturday, be sure to squint upward at around 11.45ish, looking for a shiny Lufthansa plane, direction Newark. I am already online checked in and I have a window seat. I'll keep an eye out for you waving from below. ;-)
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