Comments on: Germany http://dcortesi.com/2008/02/29/germany-2/ Coding, Security, and maybe a little bit about Damon Cortesi Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:04:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Jen http://dcortesi.com/2008/02/29/germany-2/#comment-67549 Jen Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:15:24 +0000 http://dcortesi.com/2008/02/29/germany-2/#comment-67549 Coming back to the US, I can't stand when servers interrupt every ten minutes to see how we are doing. It seems to be a measure to ensure that the customer does not complain ever, because the server has been checking in. This evening I took a big group of international students (including a good contingent of Germans) to a restaurant, and we received the slowest service ever and all we got back were excuses. The international students were more surprised about the response than they were the slow service, whereas I think it was the opposite for the Americans; we expected a poor response and were more upset with the slow service than their excuses. Please blog more! I must live vicariously through those who are abroad now... I'd go back to Europe in a heartbeat! Coming back to the US, I can’t stand when servers interrupt every ten minutes to see how we are doing. It seems to be a measure to ensure that the customer does not complain ever, because the server has been checking in. This evening I took a big group of international students (including a good contingent of Germans) to a restaurant, and we received the slowest service ever and all we got back were excuses. The international students were more surprised about the response than they were the slow service, whereas I think it was the opposite for the Americans; we expected a poor response and were more upset with the slow service than their excuses.

Please blog more! I must live vicariously through those who are abroad now… I’d go back to Europe in a heartbeat!

]]> By: sfo http://dcortesi.com/2008/02/29/germany-2/#comment-64206 sfo Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:27:22 +0000 http://dcortesi.com/2008/02/29/germany-2/#comment-64206 Damon, that is wonderful! What a great story with a typical ending. Also, when ordering you can always say "vier bitte" for politeness. I didn't know some of the things you mentioned, like when paying the bill. p.s. Jacob is right about the "er kauft heute", but I recommend only pointing to someone you think you can take in a street fight. Damon, that is wonderful! What a great story with a typical ending. Also, when ordering you can always say “vier bitte” for politeness.

I didn’t know some of the things you mentioned, like when paying the bill.

p.s. Jacob is right about the “er kauft heute”, but I recommend only pointing to someone you think you can take in a street fight.

]]> By: Jacob http://dcortesi.com/2008/02/29/germany-2/#comment-64158 Jacob Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:45:53 +0000 http://dcortesi.com/2008/02/29/germany-2/#comment-64158 Some German language advice for you. Naturally, you've figured out, "Ein bier bitte," or the like. When you're done, however, point to the largest guy in the bar, say, "Er kauft heute," and walk out. Let me know how it goes. Some German language advice for you. Naturally, you’ve figured out, “Ein bier bitte,” or the like. When you’re done, however, point to the largest guy in the bar, say, “Er kauft heute,” and walk out. Let me know how it goes.

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