Category Archives: laws

Person walking two dogs through a historic half-timbered village
Charlie and Noyzi, communication, customs, Hessen, laws, rants

AI teaches me about the German stare… Soziale Kontrolle…

Yeah… the AI picture is pretty much what it looked like.

Bill and I have now spent over half our marriage living in Germany. He spent three years here as a young lieutenant in the 1980s. Then, we moved here in 2007 for two more years. Then, we came back in 2014, and have been living in Germany ever since. We’ve also visited Germany on vacations, when we weren’t living here.

The one thing I don’t think I’ll ever get used to is the German “stare”. It’s a phenomenon I’ve experienced more times than I could ever count.

The German stare isn’t like your garden variety stare. It’s a certain look of disapproval. Sometimes it’s subtle, like a quiet side eye. Sometimes, it’s very obvious. Sometimes it’s silent. Sometimes it’s delivered with a stern dressing down.

It always amazes me that some people feel perfectly fine about conspicuously staring at what other people are doing, looking on in disdain, or even feeling like they have the right to “speak” to a perfect stranger who is just going about their business and wants to be left alone. But this this is a fact of life in Germany… which doesn’t mean I dislike living here. It’s just something I feel like writing about today, as I wait for the laundry to finish drying.

I’m prompted to write about the German stare this morning because of something that happened yesterday, as I was walking Noyzi and Charlie. If you follow my other blog, you might know that yesterday’s post was a song parody. And while the song parody is basically just an old pop song with new lyrics about Trump’s flatulence, it still took me awhile to create it and turn it into a video.

I make music videos for fun, and as a way to express myself creatively. Sometimes, I actually feel compelled to write song parodies. They help me cope. But they take a lot of work, and significant time, and because of that, yesterday, I was walking the dogs later in the morning.

The Dorfplatz was busier than usual, as the dogs and I walked down the hill from Am Rathaus. Several people were sitting there, enjoying our town’s central meeting spot. There was a woman with a small child, another woman with a baby in a pram, and an elderly lady with a cane. I walked past them on my normal 15 minute route.

Less than a minute after we passed the ladies in the Dorfplatz, Noyzi suddenly decided to crouch in “dump” position. He dropped a big pile of crap on the side of the street.

As Noyzi was pooping, a man in a black SUV was approaching in the opposite direction. He obviously noticed Noyzi’s activity and STOPPED his car to rubberneck. I glared at him as I pulled a bright red shit bag out of my pocket, so I could clean up the pile of excrement.

As I opened the bag and bent over to pick up Noyzi’s deposit, the man sped off. Meanwhile, the elderly lady who had been in the Dorfplatz started yelling something at me. I could tell she was talking about the dogs, and it sounded like she was asking a question.

Unfortunately for her, I was in no mood for chatter, and I suspected she was concerned about having to share the sidewalk with us. I quickly picked up the poop and scurried off ahead of her. I didn’t want to cross the street or hinder, or be hindered, by her.

On the way back through the Dorfplatz, I dropped the sack of crap into a public trashcan. The walk was soon completed, and I temporarily put the incident out of my mind.

While I was chatting with Bill after dinner last night, I decided to do a Google search to see if other people had posted about this phenomenon… the German stare… which I definitely received from the guy in the SUV. I typed the following search string:

“german stopped his car when my dog pooped”

Google now has AI in its search bar, and my query prompted AI to give me an answer. I have to admit, it was an amusing exchange:

Well… yeah, nobody likes to step in dog poop. But why would you automatically take it upon yourself to police a total stranger? Especially when you’re driving?

I was intrigued by this exchange with AI, so I responded again.

“he moved on when I pulled out a bag and gave him a dirty look”

Yeah… but why did he feel like it was right and proper to just stop in the middle of the street, perhaps inconveniencing other people? Was it really that earth shattering to make sure I cleaned up after Noyzi?

And what if I didn’t clean up the mess? Was he going to get out of the car and yell at me? Would he roll down the window and chastise me? Call the Polizei, maybe? Obviously, what I was doing was VERY important to this dude. But to me, his sudden attention was creepy, weird, and most unwelcome.

I responded again with this:

“It was silent.”

AI gratified me by reassuring me that I did the right thing…

He didn’t “force” me to do anything, though. It’s my habit to clean up my dogs’ messes. He prompted me to look at him with extreme irritation.

I gave AI another response:

“I live in Germany.”

AI made another response, full of assumptions about the conditions of my life here.

They aren’t “trying” to be rude, but it IS kind of rude to assume someone might not clean up after their dogs. On the other hand, I have seen plenty of evidence that a lot of people don’t clean up their dogs’ shit. 🤷‍♀️

I ended the “chat” with AI with this:

“it definitely wasn’t my first time being stared at.”

AI, once again, complimented and edified me, congratulating me on my “thick skin”. Yeah, my skin is thick with adipose, but I’ll always find the “German stare” impolite and annoying… and I will respond accordingly, because I’m childish that way…

Again, another assumption. I don’t think I’ll ever “get used to” the monitoring. I do find it irritating. But I understand that’s just how life is here, and I’ll never change it.

At that point, I decided I was bored with my exchange with Google AI about cleaning up dog shit. However, that exchange made me realize why some people see AI as a friend they’ve never had. It’s weird to be having that kind of an exchange with my computer, with it reassuring me and teaching me about a place I’ve lived in for years, now. AI could be your best friend or worst enemy, I suppose.

I often think back on my life and realize that when I was born, The Brady Bunch was still in its first prime time run on ABC. Now, in my 54th year of life, I’m having conversations with artificial intelligence on my iPad, and it’s telling me about German laws.

As the man in the 90s used to sing, “How Bizarre!”

I guess this dates me, too…

Also… Facebook memories tells me that this same thing happened on September 1 five years ago…

Yup. Maybe it’s a seasonal thing. I do remember, in this case, taking my time cleaning it up, so she’d be forced to linger longer. What can I say? Sometimes, I’m pretty petty. 😈

Ah well… maybe today’s walk will be less obnoxious. On the way back home, I had to wait for several cars to pass before I could cross the street. And this is in our little village, which has no stop lights. But at least no one showed me their penis. So that’s a plus…

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Close-up of a cannabis leaf surrounded by green foliage
crime, German lifestyle, laws

Can I legally have weed in Europe if I’m on SOFA status?

Every once in awhile, I like to write useful blog posts. Today is one of those days. This subject comes up as a result of a search I did yesterday, purely out of curiosity.

I had just watched a YouTube video by a lawyer named Hawk, who was explaining why Joe Rogan was pleading with Republicans in Texas to chill out, lest they turn the state blue in the midterms. Why? Because as of July 31, 2026, Texas has new draconian laws regarding possession marijuana and THC. Apparently, just having an illegal gummy in your possession can now send you to prison. 🤬

I don’t usually share political stuff on the travel blog, but this subject led me to read up on Germany’s laws on this… On another note, Texas is so FUCKED.

Since I happen to be a resident of Texas, at least technically, this topic is interesting to me. But I live in Germany, where, as of April 1, 2024, it is now legal to possess and use marijuana for recreational purposes. No, it’s not like going to Amsterdam and hitting up a coffee shop. Tourists are not allowed to buy marijuana here, and there are a lot of rules about how and where the pot can be purchased and consumed. But in spite of all of that, after years of arguing, Germany has finally legalized marijuana… or, at least it’s more legal than it was.

German citizens and legal residents, over the age of 18, are allowed to partake of weed. On July 1, 2024, Germany introduced Cannabis Social Clubs (CSCs), and this is how most people here can get their cannabis fix (they’ve got a club for EVERYTHING!). Folks are also allowed to grow marijuana plants for personal use. Check the above link for more specific information on this fairly new law.

Tourists and newcomers (arrived within six months) are not allowed to purchase cannabis in Germany. Edibles are also not legal in Germany, because the powers that be think edibles are more enticing to children and youth. In fact, marijuana is not permitted to be consumed in places where children are likely to be, like within proximity to schools or “kitas” (daycares). And… as I found out yesterday, people who live in Germany– or really, Europe as a whole– on SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) status, are forbidden from purchasing, possessing, or partaking of cannabis. 🥲

More info on this… for GERMANS. This is a pretty great video!

It does seem strange that I, as someone who has spent the last 12 years living in Germany, am not considered an ordinary resident… 🤭. Alas, those of us who live in Europe on SOFA status, don’t have ordinary resident status, and that means we aren’t allowed to enjoy cannabis as our German neighbors can.

Why not?

People who are affiliated with the US military, the Department of Defense, or other branches of the US government are strictly forbidden from using marijuana products or other recreational drugs. And since most of us are not considered ordinary residents by the German government, we might as well be living in the United States. There are a few exceptions– some Americans who work as contractors become residents and pay German taxes– however, they probably still would not be allowed to enjoy consuming weed due to policies set by their companies, which are employed by the US government.

What happens if you ignore the rules?

It depends on who you are, and where you work. If you are a member of the uniformed services, you will be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Federal and branch-specific military regulations explicitly forbid controlled substances like THC. Violations can result in disciplinary action, non-judicial punishment, courts-martial, or termination of employment and revocation of SOFA privileges.

If you are working as a government employee, you’re not allowed pot because of the federal Controlled Substances Act. While marijuana is legal in some states, cannabis is classified as a controlled substance on the federal level. Executive Order 12564 mandates a drug-free federal workplace. You can be fired, lose your security clearance, or otherwise disciplined.

If you work as a contractor, you are subject to the same rules as government employees are, as well as any policies set by your company. If you get caught using drugs, your company may be forced to terminate your employment or move you somewhere else. The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 requires that any company that receives a federal contract of $100,000 or more must enforce drug free workplace policies. That law would apply to just about any government contractor operating in Europe.

What if you’re just a spouse?

Spouses are held to the same rules employees are, as are any other “dependents”. Spouses and other family members who use marijuana may be sent home (early return of dependents) at their own expense. Or they may lose their SOFA status, and lose installation access. Remember, the sponsor is responsible for the conduct of any of their dependents (ick)– so, even if you are just a spouse who is getting baked, you can still get your other half in hot water.

What if I just light up at home?

While it’s not exactly clear how these policies would apply to people who consume their pot at home, even off base houses are considered “islands of prohibition.” So, if you are a US citizen on SOFA status, and you get caught with marijuana at home, you can still get in big trouble, even if your German neighbors are lighting up in their backyards every night and grow their own weed.

You can read a lot more about this conundrum on Stripes.com, which has a great article about marijuana rules. It was written by journalist Alexander Riedel.

Personally, I think this particular rule should be relaxed, especially given that drinking alcohol is still fine, and alcohol arguably does a lot more damage on every level. But, what I think and a nickel will get you nowhere. 😏 Remember, this is a place where we Americans can get in deep shit for ordering coffee through the APO. They’re certainly not gonna let us have weed. 🤬

As for my personal thoughts on cannabis… Well, I’ve only tried it a couple of times. I went to The Netherlands for my 43rd birthday, back in 2015, and I enjoyed an edible or three. That was my first and, to date, only experience with marijuana. I did enjoy it, and would partake again, but I can certainly live without it. On the other hand, I’ve used hemp and CBD products with great success on my dogs, when they had cancer. I think people should have more access to weed based products that truly are health promoting.

I wouldn’t mind having access to marijuana. In fact, I’d probably prefer it to drinking beer. But even if it was available to me, I probably couldn’t be arsed to seek it out… and given that marijuana can make a person lazy, it’s probably better that I continue to avoid such things. I’m clearly not all that industrious under the best of circumstances. 🤭

REMEMBER— it doesn’t matter where you are in Europe. Even if marijuana is totally legal where you are, technically, it’s against US federal law for US citizens to partake, if they are living in Europe under Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) regulations. So there’s your answer… and your warning. Now, how often this particular rule is actually enforced is another matter, altogether. 🤔

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Health, laws, Military, Rheinland-Pfalz

Optimizing the Ramstein optometry option…

Featured photo is the logo for the optometry clinic at Ramstein Air Force Base.

About a month ago, Bill and I visited Ramstein Air Force Base, so I could get an eye test done for my Texas driver’s license renewal. That visit happened on a day when the only staff member working was an American woman who was an ICU nurse in a prior life. I managed to pass the eye test, but it was a struggle. She really stressed me out, and when I was done with that ordeal, I felt like I needed a drink.

One thing that happened during that visit was that the lady set me up for an over 50 eye exam. Today, that exam happened. Bill and I got up early, ate breakfast, walked the dogs, and made our way back to Ramstein, which is about a 90 minute drive from our home in Wiesbaden. As freaked out as I felt last month, I owe that lady a debt of gratitude. She really did me a favor. She gave me an appointment two days before they opened up appointments. If she hadn’t, I might have been out of luck!

I was impressed when we went through the gate. A sharp looking young man, Bill said he was a senior airman, checked our IDs and smiled as he saluted Bill. I took it as a good sign when he welcomed up to Ramstein. It was nice to see a servicemember on gate duty, instead of a security guard. He was very professional, and actually seemed to enjoy the job.

When we parked the car, I realized I needed to pee. So we headed to the restrooms, only to find them blocked off for cleaning. We knew there were bathrooms near the optometry clinic, so we headed for those. Again, blocked. I was annoyed, because people have to pee, and we had an appointment to make. Luckily, Bill found a restroom for employees that was open and unguarded. I ducked in there and whizzed, and we went to the optometry clinic.

Oh, come on. Why clean all of the toilets at the same time? People have to PEE!

After a welcome, I was handed paperwork to fill out, and a nice lady with turquoise colored feather earrings invited me to get some initial screening done. I was a little nervous, because healthcare folks often tend to scold me, and that gets me upset. But this lady was really cool and friendly, so I was at ease. And then I met the optometrist, who is, unfortunately retiring at the end of the month.

The optometrist was quite nice, and I enjoyed talking to him. He’s an American from Ohio, married to a German woman, has German kids, and plans to stay here after he takes one last trip home. He gave my eyes a thorough look-see, and informed me that I don’t have macular degeneration or cataracts (yet).

Then, I got my eyes dilated, and he looked closer at the dark spot in the back of my eye. I had been told by an eye doctor in Texas that it was a freckle, but the eye doctor today said it was a CHRPE— (chirpie). He tried to get a picture of it, but their camera apparently couldn’t capture it because of its location. The doctor also said the camera isn’t very good, which doesn’t surprise me, since we were at AAFES.

The doc said he likes living in Germany and plans to retire here. We were both talking about how we enjoy living in Europe. I added that I despise Trump, and he concurred. I almost wore my “Is he dead yet?” t-shirt today, but decided it might not be a good idea, given the people who frequent Ramstein. The eye doc also said that in Germany, there are opticians and medical eye doctors/surgeons. They don’t seem to use optometrists, as we do in the United States.

I got new prescriptions for contact lenses and glasses. It turns out that for all the drama the lady last month stirred up, my prescription didn’t change that much. I opted for the multifocal lenses, because they allow me to read, even though my vision isn’t as sharp as it is when I wear toric lenses. The doc also said I didn’t have to get bifocals unless I want them, since I rarely wear my glasses. I’m not sure if I’ll get them, anyway.

The visit was $288, which wasn’t bad at all, given all they did. My eyes are finally about normal again, hours later. But when we went to lunch at Romano’s Macaroni Grill (an American Italian restaurant chain with a location on base), I couldn’t read the menu. Bill had to read it for me.

It was kind of weird eating at Macaroni Grill. It reminded me of being back home. But I settled on seafood ravioli, and Bill had Cacio e Pepe Pasta, which was basically Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and black pepper. My ravioli was stuffed with “seafood” and came with shrimp and tomatoes. It wasn’t the best Italian food I’ve ever had, but it tasted okay and filled us up for the drive home.

You can see where Bill got a mark on his head this week. He had a coughing fit that caused him to collapse for a second. He hit his head on the carpet and got a rug burn.
Meh. I’ve had worse. I’ve had better.

The waitress was okay, although I noticed she sat down with the two guys at the table ahead of ours while dealing with them. That’s behavior I’ve noticed in casual American restaurants. I enjoyed a glass of white wine and some San Pellegrino. We decided that was enough for us and came home. First, we stopped by that cool Italian store in the AAFES mall, and picked up some more Italian goodies.

More pasta, wine, and cheese! A different lady helped us today, but she was also Italian.

I’m really glad that’s over now, although the appointment went surprisingly well. I actually enjoyed the staff at the optometry clinic. I hope they find a new doctor, so the ladies working there won’t have to go work at the BX/PX, or wherever AAFES “needs” them. The lady I dealt with today was surprisingly knowledgeable. I heard her on the phone with someone who apparently got new contacts to correct astigmatism and needed some advice on getting used to them. She really handled that person professionally. Her talents shouldn’t be wasted straightening clothes or stocking personal hygiene items.

Aside from that, American people over here with the military need to be able to see a US licensed optometrist, so they can renew their driver’s licenses. The Trump regime has made it a lot more challenging than it once was, and now people have to go get their eyes checked, rather than just take a simple test.

It’s illegal for Americans to drive with expired US based driver’s licenses if they are here on SOFA status. A lot of people do it, but it’s technically unlawful, and can result in troubles. I remember back in 2015, German cops were busting Americans with expired licenses, and it caused a huge amount of ass pain for Americans. They eventually straightened everything out, but ever since that issue, I’ve not wanted to risk having an expired license.

My new license has since arrived, and is good until 2034. By then, who knows where we’ll be? It was actually lucky that mine needed replacement now, and I was able to get it done before the optometrist’s last day. Otherwise, we might have been shit out of luck. I’m also glad we did this today, instead of last week, when I was pretty sick with a cold.

Anyway, that’s done now. We are mostly over our colds, too, except for an annoying cough. Next week, we head off to Bern, Switzerland, for my birthday, and then onward to the Jung Institute in Küsnacht, so Bill can take his psychoanalysis classes. The travel blog will soon come to life with actual travel content, so watch this space!

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laws, trip planning

Firenze, Italy sends Bill New Year’s greetings…

Some of my regular travel blog readers might recall that Bill and I took a trip to Italy last spring. I blogged about the trip in sixteen parts, which also included stops in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. We visited Parma, Modena, Florence, Pisa, Viareggio, and several adorable towns in Tuscany, as we visited several Chianti Classico wineries. That was the most recent of our more epic European trips, and I’ve found myself looking back on it wistfully. I am REALLY in need of a trip somewhere. But other events are in the way, to include our dog Arran’s chemotherapy, which is still going surprisingly well.

I’ve even been giving some thought to visiting Italy again in 2023. I follow the Meet the Wengers YouTube channel, which is a family vlog run by an American woman named Katie, who married a German man. They have three adorable and apparently well-behaved children. Recently, she posted some videos about the family’s fall trip to Verona, a city I haven’t yet visited in Italy. Her videos make me want to go there and explore.

One of a few videos the Wengers have done about Verona… Now I want to go, too.

Well, yesterday, Bill got a reminder of our most recent trip to Italy. It came in the form of a traffic ticket. We drove to Florence, mainly because we wanted to bring some food and wines back to Germany, and because I didn’t want to deal with flying, due to the pandemic. Having a car makes travel in Europe a little bit more liberated, as it means not being dictated by timetables or established routes. However, car travel comes with its own hazards, which include traffic cameras that take photos of those who break the rules.

In our case, the infraction occurred on April 27, 2022, when Bill mistakenly drove our Volvo through a restricted area. It seems that many towns in certain Italian cities don’t allow non-residents to drive on certain streets. We had a bunch of bags, since we were on a long trip. The hotel we stayed in was on the third floor of a building and kind of hard to find. Bill was disoriented as to where we were supposed to go, although it turned out there was a very large parking garage near the hotel.

Long story short, the cameras caught Bill driving where he wasn’t supposed to go. Naturally, we were both completely oblivious to the infraction. Some Italian cities that have these rules against non-residents driving on restricted streets, will allow travelers to register their vehicles before their arrival. I think the city of Bologna is one of those places. Bologna is another city I haven’t yet seen. Maybe we’ll go there next time and avoid Florence! 😉

Yesterday, Bill had to sign for a letter at the post office on our local military installation. It was in a window envelope, and came from the city of Firenze. Inside the envelope was the notification of the driving infraction, written in both Italian and English, and a complete rundown of the law that was broken. There was also a schedule of the fines to be paid. It’s 68 euros if Bill pays within six days. If he delays payment between 6 and 60 days, it goes up to about 95 euros. If he doesn’t pay within 60 days, it goes up to 176 euros.

At first, Bill thought the ticket read that he would have had to have paid within six days of the infraction, but obviously he hadn’t been notified at that time. Upon closer examination, he read that he can still pay the reduced fine, since he just got notice. It’s done via bank transfer, as most things here are.

We’re just glad this didn’t happen in Switzerland, as the fines are probably a lot higher there… but they probably also come within a couple of weeks, rather than several months, routed through The Netherlands. I don’t know why the ticket went through The Netherlands. Maybe it’s because the ticketing agency is outsourced.

I just took down all the Christmas decorations. I’m glad to have that yearly chore done. It’s a lot easier to take the decorations down than put them up; and for that, I’m grateful. However, I always find it a little sad to see my living room in its normal state. I like the homey look created by the Christmas lights. On the other hand, it’s less to have to deal with, and I also look forward to more daylight and better weather. I’m definitely ready to have some fun! So now, on with making some travel plans for 2023! We’ll be more careful about where we drive and park, next time!

Edited to add: The day after I posted this, Bill got a second ticket from Firenze for the same offense. He drove through that historic area twice! I’m glad he moved to a different area after dropping me off. Both tickets, paid at the lowest rate, were about 60 euros each– so, 120 euros for driving in the wrong places in Italy. Expensive lesson learned.

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laws

I really like this about Germany…

It’s a chilly Saturday, here in Germany. It’s also a holiday weekend. We don’t have any special plans for today, other than to receive wine we ordered last weekend at the wine fest. So I thought maybe today, I’d write about something I’ve noticed and really appreciate about living in Germany. Below is a photo that was shared in a local Facebook group. Someone had seen this solution in a Swabian town– maybe down near Stuttgart– and wondered if it would be a good idea for up here in Hesse.

This keeps the pizza boxes out of the trash cans, so they don’t fill up so fast.

I noticed a few people were a little snarky. One person said this was not a good idea, since people shouldn’t be eating so much pizza. Another said they thought this was “stupid”, since it seemed like overkill for what shouldn’t be a problem. But a couple of people wrote that they thought this was a good idea, and even went as far to do some rudimentary research into how this could be accomplished. Below are their translated comments.

Hmm: The way it looks, this is made of weatherproof sieve pressure plates, only the cutting edges have to be sealed. I see stainless steel screws wouldn’t be a problem now either. If they sponsor the material, I can build a few for free.

Another person wrote: the pizzerias could also sponsor…

I was at Globus today and investigated the material costs: a box would cost around €100. So the idea is feasible As far as regulations, regulations, assessments, TÜV and other rules are concerned, of course I have no plan.

Someone else wrote that this is already a thing in the Allgau area, and it works well. Quite a few people were very positive in their remarks, and thanked the original poster for the suggestion. And, much to my amazement, people were actually coming together to see how they could make this idea come to fruition. Yes, there were a couple of American styled cynical comments that were sort of rude and dismissive, but for the most part, people seemed optimistic and wanting to make something nice for the community.

Last week, I shared the photos of the repurposed gumball machines that now sell “bee bombs”, so people can improve their gardens and give the bees something good to eat. That’s a good thing for everyone, and it keeps retired gumball machines out of the trash.

Nice idea!

I also like that here in Germany, people aren’t allowed to run amok with weapons. I feel a lot safer here, because fewer people are armed and dangerous, and it’s a lot less likely that some nut is going to shred my vital organs with ammunition fired from their “sexy” AR-15 rifles that they can buy with ease at any gun dealer. Here, to have a weapon for hunting and fishing, you have to prove you’re sane and know how to use the weapon safely. And you can’t just get whatever gun you want, either.

It’s true that some laws in Germany seem a little ridiculous… like the one that forbids people to flip off drivers on the Autobahn, or the laws that can make someone liable if, for instance, they illegally use pepper spray intended for an animal on a person who is attacking them. Bill recently told me about a guy who needed legal help because he got charged with hit and run for running into a guy who was trying to steal his car. I have also heard about people getting in legal trouble for hurting people who were committing crimes, though that could be anecdotal. And yes, I have also heard horror stories about people buying homes and not being able to evict the previous owners until they are ready to move. It seems that self-defense is less of a thing here. At least that’s how it seems, based on some of the anecdotes I’ve heard.

By and large, Germany is a very nice place to live. The more I see what’s going on at home, the more grateful I am that we live over here. And that gives me an interesting perspective, particularly when it comes to immigration issues in the United States. I am often impressed by the sense of community here. I wish there was more of it back home. I’m tired of seeing how polarized people are… and the collective, “I’ve got mine, so screw you” attitude so many people seem to have. On the other hand, although I understand why some people get frustrated and react with self-righteous indignation when they butt heads with someone on the other side of an issue, I don’t think self-righteous indignation is helpful in reaching compromises or inspiring cooperation.

Anyway… I like that they discuss things like making pizza box slots to help keep the trash cans from overflowing. It’s nicer to see those discussions, than contentious discussions about gun rights and abortion. It also helps that Germany is clean, safe, and beautiful, and has educated people who have basic decency and compassion for others. I admire the Germans. They’ve done a lot of growing. I wish more Americans would.

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laws

Word of advice… don’t call a German cop a “fascist”…

It’s another cold, grey, drizzly weekend in Germany. Christmas will arrive next weekend. I suppose I should be more into the spirit of celebrating the season, but I just can’t seem to find my mojo. I don’t really like going out in yucky weather even when there isn’t a pandemic. The spiking COVID numbers aren’t inspiring me to get out there and mingle with the masses.

But not everyone feels the way I do. My German friend, Susanne, shared with me some news out of Reutlingen. It seems there was a riot/protest there last night, consisting of Nazi sympathizers and COVID deniers, most of whom weren’t masked and ignored the rules against congregating. Things got pretty out of hand in some places, so the Stuttgart police showed up to maintain order.

Germans are usually pretty tolerant of peaceful protests and strikes. They’re usually scheduled ahead of time and announced, so people can choose not to be involved… or, if they’re into it, they can participate or observe. I believe one has to get a permit to protest legally. I have no idea if this group followed the rules. The protests I’ve seen are usually pretty chill… afterwards, everybody breaks up and has a beer or something. But every once in awhile, people do get their hackles up. Such was the case last night.

This video was shared on Facebook by Matthias Kipfer in the public group, 99,99 % (Filder) vs. R.E.S.T.. I’m not sure where this particular incident involving the man screaming about fascists took place. It might not have happened in Reutlingen, although I can see by the photos and videos in the group, there was plenty of action there last night. I see the guy screaming about fascists was originally posted on Twitter by Stadtrand Aktion. As you can see, the cops weren’t amused. This guy was promptly arrested. I suspect he will get a nice big fine, as outlined in the trusty 2022 Bussgeldkatalog. Edited to add: Susanne thinks the fascist cop incident might have happened in Berlin, since the cop has a B on his uniform.

More than once, I have written about how insulting people is illegal in Germany. It’s especially true that insulting the cops is a big no no. All I can think is that this guy took complete leave of his senses, forgot to whom he was speaking, and lost total control of himself. I know how that feels. It happened to me a time or two when I was a teenager. This fellow looks to be well beyond the teen years.

I think it’s funny that there’s a catalog of fines people can consult to find out about laws and fines. I especially get a kick out of the section on the fines for insulting people in traffic. When they are translated into English, they are both hilarious and nonsensical. Below is the list of fines as of 2022.

Some of these insults seem to have lost a little in their translations.

In all seriousness, these protests were pretty bad. Apparently, some people were using children as human shields against the water cannons cops tried to use to disperse the agitated crowds. I was impressed by how the cops managed to keep their cool. German police officers don’t seem to be as violent as American police officers often are. But then, they probably pay better and offer more training.

My German still sucks, but I do find myself picking up words and understanding more, especially when my friend shares interesting German articles with me that include juicy tidbits about current events. If I have gained anything from the past seven years, besides a massive beer gut, it’s a rudimentary understanding of basic German. My Armenian is still better, though. That isn’t saying much.

The above photo basically translates to “People who think vaccinations change their DNA should consider it an opportunity.” Who says Germans aren’t sharp witted? Not I!

In other news… I hope the new blog design is welcomed by the few regular readers who have been keeping up with me during these COVID times. I decided to play around with it a few days ago, and when I went to change it back to the theme I was using, I discovered that the “wandering” theme was retired. So now I have a new but similar theme, and a new color scheme. I think it’s easier to read.

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Negligent actions have consequences…

This post is also appearing on my regular blog. I’m cross posting it here, because it’s about travel, and my travel blog can always use extra content during a pandemic and “lite lockdown”.

Yesterday on my travel blog, I posted an article about SeaDream Yacht Club’s unfortunate COVID-19 situation. SeaDream, for those who don’t know, is a fantastic all inclusive luxury cruise line. It has two identical “super yachts” and it’s known for being an awesome cruise experience for couples. Bill and I have sailed with them three times. Our last voyage with them was in May 2013, when we sailed from Rome to Athens with a trip through the Corinth Canal.

Bill and I love SeaDream, but circumstances have not lined up for us to sail with them again since Bill left the Army. I still follow their message board on Cruise Critic. Ever since the COVID-19 crisis hit, I’ve been anxiously wondering if this line will survive the pandemic. Things were looking hopeful over the summer, when SeaDream managed to complete several Norway centric cruises without anyone getting sick from the virus.

After their success in Europe, SeaDream came back across the Atlantic and, last Saturday, attempted their first round trip Barbados cruise. In order to pull this off, SeaDream had to change a lot of its standard operating procedures. Prospective passengers had to get a negative COVID-19 PCR test at their own expense 72 hours before flying to Barbados. They had to take another COVID-19 test before getting on the ship, as well as have an interview with the ship’s doctor. Their luggage and shoes were cleaned with ultrasonic technology. Halfway through the voyage, they would have had to have another routine COVID-19 test to satisfy the rules for returning to Barbados. And, while they were cruising, they visited empty beaches, took catamaran cruises, and engaged in activities that did not allow them to be in contact with any host country nationals.

Having been on a SeaDream cruise, I can tell you that I’m sure it was just fine even without the freedom to engage with locals, shop on the economy, or go exploring. I’m not sure if the piano bar was open, but that was my favorite part of a SeaDream cruise anyway, besides the many cocktails and endless champagne.

Unfortunately, someone DID get sick with COVID-19. As of Wednesday morning, the 53 passengers have been stuck in their staterooms, which I can attest to being really nice, but not very large. The windows don’t open and there are no balconies. It’s a nice cage, but it’s still a cage.

A video done by a couple of Geordie lads who have been blogging about SeaDream’s voyages. They are on the ship as I write this.

The person who got sent to a Bajan hospital with COVID-19 was part of a group of six who evidently decided to overnight in Miami on the way to Barbados. From what I’ve read, other passengers heard the afflicted one talking about partying in the south Florida city for a night. Four others in that group also had positive COVID-19 tests, but evidently aren’t showing symptoms. The fifth person’s test was inconclusive.

Now… in thinking about this, it occurs to me just how many people have been affected by this group’s decision to overnight in Miami…

  1. 47 people have had a very expensive and luxurious vacation ruined.
  2. 66 crew members have had their livelihoods directly threatened.
  3. 113 people have had their health threatened.
  4. The entire cruising industry has had another blot on it regarding health and safety standards.
  5. Hundreds of future passengers will be affected because SeaDream will be cancelling upcoming cruises.
  6. All of the businesspeople depending on support revenue for the cancelled cruises will lose money– ie; pet boarding, taxi services, airlines, etc.
  7. People watching SeaDream to see if cruising during a pandemic could be done safely will be affected.
  8. A whole lot of people have been affected by this… I hope that night out in Miami was worth it.

It really is a shame that this happened. As I wrote in my travel blog, I won’t consider cruising again until there’s an effective vaccine against COVID-19. I don’t think cruising while fretting about a virus on a luxury ship is a lot of fun. Hopefully, we’ll get this virus under control before too long. On the other hand… I’m not holding my breath.

Hopefully, those who got sick won’t get too sick… and the passengers will be able to get off the ship and go home without too much trouble. We’ll see what happens. Actions have consequences. But, on the bright side, by undertaking this experiment, SeaDream has provided some valuable data for others. Perhaps that will help some smart people figure out the best way to get back to a life approaching normal at some point.

ETA: the count is now up to seven COVID positive.

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The high price of giving someone the finger in Germany… part two

In May 2015, I wrote a piece on this blog called “The high price of giving someone the finger in Germany”.  That particular post has proven to be somewhat “evergreen”.  I still get a lot of hits on it, even though it’s over two years old.  I suspect people find it when they hear about Germany’s rules about not insulting people when driving and not cussing out the cops.

Lately, the weather over here has been pretty depressing.  I think it’s starting to get to people.  Over the weekend, there was a very long thread in one of our local Facebook groups about how “rude” Germans are, especially in the Stuttgart area.  A lot of Americans chimed in, agreeing with the original poster that people here can be cold, insulting, and unpleasant.  Quite a few Germans from other parts of the country have also written that this part of the country isn’t like the rest of Germany.  Some have even said that people here… well… they can be assholes.

While I have been yelled at more than a couple of times by locals, I personally don’t agree that people here are any more unpleasant than in other parts of the world.  What I have found is that Germans, as a whole, can seem uncommonly blunt and/or assertive about some things.  The Stuttgart area is part of Swabia, which is apparently considered “different” somehow than other parts of Germany.  Indeed, there is a dialect here that even native German speakers say can be hard to understand.  Swabians, as a whole, have a reputation for being very tight with their money and uptight in general.  However, reputations are really just stereotypes and not everyone lives up to stereotypes.

Trixi demonstrates how different German dialects can sound, even to native speakers.

When Bill and I moved back here in August 2014, I befriended a local on Facebook.  I still haven’t met her in person, but she follows my blog and often gives me useful tips.  One very helpful piece of advice she gave me was to read Your Swabian Neighbors.  Written by American Bob Larson, who once served as a military liaison between German government officials and American military officials, this handy book is all about the idiosyncrasies of life in Baden-Württemberg for those who aren’t actually from this area.  Larson, who married a Swabian woman and lived in Germany for many years, published his book in the early 80s.  Though some parts of the book are dated, a lot of the information still holds true today.  I’m thinking it may even be time to re-read that book as, after three years, I am starting to miss my homeland a little.  At this point, there’s no telling how much longer we’ll be here.

Sometimes Americans in Germany advise others to “flip the bird” to people who piss them off in some way.  I know this is not a good idea when driving or dealing with police officers.  Nowadays, most everyone has a camera on their phones and if it can be proven that you used an obscene gesture, you can be fined up to 4000 euros (although my local friend says this isn’t the usual fine).  It’s probably not a good idea to flip people off even if you’re not driving, though.  Germans like their fines.

I see the original list of insults I included in my first post about this has been updated.  Here’s the translated list for your amusement.  Some of the insults are pretty funny.

I know it’s tempting to fire back at people who yell at you, but you might want to hold back from using obscene gestures or engaging in namecalling… 

 

It’s not always easy living in another country, even when it’s Germany, which has some things in common with the United States.  I know people get frustrated.  I get frustrated, too.  And I will even agree that sometimes dealing with locals can be infuriating.

On the other hand, there have been times when I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by the kindness of locals.  In fact, on Saturday, Bill and I went to a grocery store and picked up just one item.  The lady ahead of us saw that we had a small order and enthusiastically invited us to go ahead of her.  In my neighborhood, my neighbors threw a block party and invited Bill and me to attend.  Every morning when I walk my dogs, I am sure to hear at least one “Guten Morgen” from other dog walkers or my neighbors.  They usually sound like they mean it, too.  Sometimes they even smile!

Even the vet where we take our dogs has taken a shine to us.  I’ve been having some problems wearing my contact lenses lately.  I’ll wear them for a few days with no problem, then one or both of my eyes will suddenly get really irritated.  Last week, I took Zane in to his vet for an allergy shot and she asked me if I was okay.  It was probably because I was wearing my glasses and hating it.  But she noticed I wasn’t myself and genuinely wanted to know if I was alright.  That’s a far cry from the usual “How you doin'” you get in the States where the person doesn’t actually care how you are and doesn’t expect a truthful response.

So… the moral of this post is, assholes are everywhere.  I don’t think there are any more assholes in Swabia than there are in other parts of the world.  It may just seem that way, especially to Americans, due to cultural differences, the occasionally harsh sounds of the German language, and, maybe, even the gloomy weather we’ve had lately.

If you ever feel tempted to flip someone off or call them names, take a minute to consider all of the awesome vacation destinations in and around Germany.  Wouldn’t you rather spend 4000 euros on a cruise somewhere or a first class flight?  I know I would.

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