Driving in Germany and the US

From our Schnitzelbahn guest blogger, BB:

Recently I was in the United States and after almost 7 years of foreign duty the differences in traffic rules and etiquette between Americans and citizens of the Fatherland began to really take hold. With few exceptions I find that Germans, true to tradition are ardent rule followers in the traffic/auto arena.

Examples:

• After leaving my favorite Berlin Bar (Newton) very late, uh actually it was very early morning, a stranger and I approached a crossing and the pedestrian light changed to red. Not a vehicle was stirring, not even a taxi. I continued on (looking both ways, Mom) but impressively, the German waited for the light to change. Americans would generally dodge cars regardless of signal!
• Waiting at a traffic signal, I realized I was in the wrong lane. I turned on my blinker and the second car on my right just courteously allowed  me to change lanes. Recently in Dallas, with blinker, rolled down window and hand and voice pleadings, I was totally ignored except for the one single finger salute.  And the guy behind me had to have burned out his horn. So I entered the freeway into a colossal traffic jam!

The priority right of way in Germany is pedestrian, bicycle, bus, and auto. I think just the opposite in the US. Of course there are no bicycles except for the greenbelt paths where affluent folks get to show off their kids, flashy gear and expensive foreign made bikes, which is of course accretive to the bike theft industry.

There is one exception and that is taxi drivers who apparently buy off the police and are allowed to break every conceivable traffic rule with impunity.  Illegal U turns, double parking, indiscriminate lane changing, driving on pedestrian malls, speeding, illegal turns, etc. It begs the question if these guys were trained in the US.  But one point in their defense; I can communicate with English and simple German or pidgin German and do just fine with the mix of German and foreign taxi drivers here. Recently in Dallas, the airport cabbie had to call his daughter because he did not understand downtown, tall buildings, courthouse, street names, etc.

In Germany, the caution light is a signal to begin slowing and braking in anticipation of the red light.  In the US it is a signal to beat the clock which contributes to an inordinate rate of serious accidents. (I lost two friends to this ignorant attitude!)  And I like the German caution light on the green change as well. It just adds a modicum of attention, civility and order to this dangerous environment.

Germans are generally intolerant of mistakes and disregard for the rules, but it is because they generally follow them!  Ironically, my observance of the German traffic rules and laws, have served to make me a worse driver in the States.  I guess it is the fact that I cannot expect 90% of other drivers to be observant and careful.

Another incalculable benefit of the German system is safety inspections. I now drive a 12 year old Mazda that sounds like a singer sewing machine and drives like well, a 12 year old well-maintained Mazda. The point is-- one rarely sees a clunker. They just are not tolerated.

Driving in Germany is a privilege and an expensive one at that. Generally it is +- €1200 to obtain a license at the age of 18. In the US it is a rite of passage at age 16. A recent statistic was that 65% of high school juniors and seniors drive cars to school in the US vs. less than 2% in Germany.  I know, I know it’s all about public transportation.  No it’s not damnit. It’s about cost, responsibility, privilege, affluence, expectations, values and OK, parking!!

Alright, I also realize I am a pre boomer ’43, and all four of my kids had cars in HS, and I had one at 15. Would I do it all over again? I’m not so sure knowing what I know now.  I am not becoming a socialist, perhaps just more of a realist.  If I survive another 20 years, I will be interested in rockers and walkers and perhaps wear a bib. I just want most of the world to get to that point.

Living in Deutschland

From our Schnitzelbahn guest-blogger, BB:

I arrived for the first time March 8th 2004. Ops, take that back, Jan 6^th1966 was the first arrival. And that should explain this short preamble. After an 11 day adventure across the North Atlantic in a major winter storm on a WWII vintage rust bucket troop transport we (860 soldiers and a few families including my 4 month pregnant wife) docked. Bremerhaven was cold and dreary and we boarded a bus to catch a train to Schweinfurt. Bench seats and no heat. 10 hours later a Lieutenant met us at the train station in a jeep and took us to the BOQ. I met my commanding office the next day and was told to report to my unit and the next morning we left for a two week training exercise at Hoenfels. He said the officer wives would take care of her. (My wife). Nevertheless she was hysterical. Bless her heart; the hysteria lasted well into my son’s first year.

Truth be known, I loved Germany, the US Army, the beer, camaraderie, my shiny new Beetle, Tanks, and playing war games, assuming command of a tank company and generally feeling like I was 24 year old hot stuff!

So when the business opportunity arose, I was excited about returning to live and in the intervening years, I had traveled back several times on holidays and Army reunions. I was no stranger! So I have a different perspective about the Fatherland than some of my colleagues. I saw the development miracle over a period of 44 years.  Most of my colleagues are not yet 40!

I saw this country for the first time exactly 20 years after the end of WWII. They were climbing back but it was a slow climb. Restoration was complete or in progress for many partially destroyed buildings and there was a housing boom for multifamily houses in the cities that lacked any attempt at architectural creativity. It was simply a provide shelter exercise.  There were many, many vacant spaces that were evidence of once rubble piles.

This country went from a scientific and industrial power to a destroyed nation in a few years.  There were few young men, many widows and orphans, virtually no infrastructure, services, jobs, an unsympathetic foreign government and military occupation. Add in humiliation, shame, poverty and low morale.

Ok the US and the Allies did provide some leadership and lots of cash--- but what you see today in modern Germany is a testament to the human spirit coupled with an economic miracle! And three generations hence, the guilt is waning. Perhaps the seniors have learned from history, and the young—well they are the young.

We Americans can argue about high taxes, socialism, big brother, rules, holidays, business culture, high costs and more. I will now return to a country that I love above all after God and Family. But I will also be wary of crime, drugs, drunk drivers, the criminal tort system, unusually bad politics, huge disconnect with minorities, a dysfunctional health care system and economic malaise.

Yes, I will miss the calm, safe, ordered society and of course its beauty and its autobahns! I am not embarrassed or sad to return to my beloved America but I wonder sometimes if the answer between our two very diverse systems lies somewhere in the middle.

A Gentleman's Guide to Ties

From our Schnitzelbahn guest-blogger, BB:

Necks are for more than just necking and serving as a swivel base for the head.

They are one of the foundations for a properly fitted shirt and essential for the proper tying of the cravat. Thus, some reflections on the art:  Newscasters, celebrities and some politicians are poor examples, although the Europeans are the winners, uh losers in that arena!

1. Shirts have neck sizes. The purpose is not to find the biggest size but a comfortable no gap FIT.

2. There are 3 main knots: Four in Hand, Windsor and Half Windsor. Simple diagramed instructions are available at any tie shop.  Use them Gentlemen.  The square knot is for the Boy Scouts.

3. A knot is not a loosely folded loop. It is a KNOT.

4. The open collar, sagging knot is for the after hours bar where it can look cool. Not in the office please.

5. A knot the size of a medium potato is not a universally recognized knot.  And... is not pleasing.

6. There is a reason for the huge variety of patterns and colors. There are many colors in Germany other than orange and purple. 

6a. Purple and orange stripes are not the answer.  

7. Length. Ties are long for a reason the will comfortably fit a variety of heights. The broad end should be approximately at mid belt buckle length. The narrow end is not to be peeping beneath the fat end!

8. Tomato sauce is not allowed on a tie worn in public.

9. Tie your tie in front of a mirror.

10. Or burn them for God's sake!! 

Unfortunately the selection in German stores usually is dominated by diagonal stripes, solids, and more diagonal stripes.

Sex in die Stadt

 From our Schnitzelbahn guest-blogger, BB:

   

IS MODESTY DEAD?

Perhaps it is only dying. Nevertheless, our European cousins have a different take on this matter which is pervasive throughout human history. Where is the line between flirtatious, provocative, art, practical, decadent? Greek and Roman baths, well, chronicles and poems suggest that maybe a little more than bathing was going on! And the Victorians? They didn’t bathe at all but some of the best bodice-rippers were written in the era. Sex appears to always have been a subject for scandalous behavior among royalty and our leaders and politicians and the chic of today have honed the art.

So a lighthearted seasonal firsthand look at modesty – (literally)

While reading on a quiet shaded bench in Munich’s English Garden beside one of the Isar’s meandering canals, a group of 20 something back packers  stopped their trek and disrobed and jumped in the water, soaped up, splashed a little and squealed a bit for the cold water and proceeded to lay out au natural in the rays. My college days were missing this experience.  But I have to say, it seemed quite normal to them, oblivious to each other‘s bodies and me and other park strollers. Ok, I enjoyed the show.

Skimpy Ladies’ fashion season. De rigueur is the short skirt or shorts topped off by a clingy stretch fabric Tee, two sizes too small over a push up pink or purple bra! Is it Britney, Miley, Lady Gaga influence? (Pardon the pun but my male American colleagues are Gaga). So is the fashion inspired by the desire to be “cool” or just cool? The biggest tip off of the American tourist are the gawkers, puberty to geezer. Europeans stroll by looking at maps, buildings and always on their cell phones.

Let’s not forget the clothes optional\nude beaches. These are not girls gone wild beaches. They are a mix of sun worshipers who mostly should be wearing clothes.  Particularly the guys and will someone explain how Speedo remains profitable?? To each his own, it’s a nice idea but thank God for mirrors.

I happened to be a guest at a world famous Spa in Baden Baden. It’s nestled in the hills deep in the Black Forest in a convenient location to the Germans, French and Swiss not known for their prudishness.  Well there were a few American rich there too. The scene is a gorgeous indoor\outdoor infinity edge pool. Incredibly elegant tropical motif inside and a stunning view outside of a seasonal color fest fringed with the first dusting of snow. I counted 32 people in chaises and a few at the pool dangling their toes. All are chatting, reading newspapers, magazines, kindles or laptops. So in walks real life Barbie herself from an adjacent massage cubicle clad in a short terry cloth robe and Sarah Jessica spikes.  She walks to a chaise, drops the robe, slips out of the heels and proceeds to wade into the pool from the infinity edge wearing nothing but a thong that would make a Brazilian blush. Newspapers fold up, magazines close, a Kindle is dropped, and a laptop closes. Interestingly it is the Americans who so act as the Europeans seemingly have no reaction. In the spirit of honesty and transparency, I closed my magazine.

Ah winter! Skiing, hot tubs, saunas and après ski.  I am with several couples in various stages of relationship at the Austrian resort, Zell am See and the plan is to meet at the hot tub after skiing. The ladies are clad in rather conservative bikinis and the men, thank God, in normal trunks. After a few beers (plastic cups) and the usual lies the suggestion is made that we do the sauna. We enter a room where a small sign reminds us that one must disrobe and there is a fresh stack of clean towels. No one but me is in any way concerned. Two ladies wrap a towel around their waist. The rest of the guys and gals just throw one over their shoulder. Uuh, except me, I’m wrapped and holding it with two hands! So I diligently tried to follow the rule about eye contact. But I peeked. My towel was sort of loosely in my lap as I wanted to look uninhibited.  Actually to my delight the showers were separate but back to the same unisex dressing room!

So on to après ski. I had to bring it up, "Are you guys comfortable with the sauna scene?" The looks I got were as if I had asked if Mother Theresa dated Hugh Hefner. One gal unleashed on me, “That’s the trouble with you Americans; you can’t separate the body and nudity from sex!”

So in the end, I’m confused, mystified. She has a point. Nude art is all over the Vatican. It’s even in American museums. Even Mary had breasts and Jesus had a penis. So what exactly is it. Is it just cultural; are we guilt ridden due to religious teaching? Do we make too much of a big deal about it? I guess I’m in the middle. I’m comfortable around handsome and pretty nudes…. As long as my clothes are on or I can control my towel!