The Chat Thread (Read OP)

[PikeStance]

From all I`ve heard Berlin had its best years in the 80s and 90s.... I didn`t like it when I was there in the 2008 and 2011, but it may be that I simply don`t like big Cities.

I don't know West Berin in the Cold war would be a "heyday" for Berlin. It definitely was not so for East Berlin. If there is a comparison it could be the cost of living. West Berlin was somewhat limited when it came to economic development, so the cost of living was not high. However, this was more advantageous immediately after the fall of the Berlin wall. So, when you said the 90's you are not too far off. However, this advantage is still there. Berlin, relative to other German cities, is still cheaper to live in (this is based on co-workers who lived in other parts of Germany). Since this was only a year ago, I would say this is still an advantage, so not just the 90s.

One of the things I found surprising was the number of people who did not know English. Maybe other parts of Germany is better, but Berlin I was taken back by how few people knew English. Plus Germany is more "socialist" than China. LOL

Mainland women and Hong Kong women have differences. It's easy to tell them apart from how they dress and talk, but I don't know what it is exactly, I just know.

I have a co-worker who is also married to a Chinese woman. We are both amazed by how similar our experiences are. We both thought it was just them... maybe all Chinese women are like this. They pack a real punch when they are mad. LOL

[Diamat]

Right, yeah exactly the same then, though I'm led to believe that in Korea the quantities consumed are quite a lot higher.

Usually when I see those groups, there's almost always one or two women, usually sat on opposite ends of the table, as part of the group. It then becomes an unspoken rule that their reason for being there is to pour drinks, smile, act surprised and embarrassed and indulge the men's lewd banter. Often the case at hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties, many of which have the companies set up tables much like a meeting room, with the boss at the head.

It's inhumanely higher in Korea. Whenever I meet with Koreans for a night of binge drinking, I refuse all soju. I only drink beer or makgeolli. I have no desire to get that wasted, even though I already drink a lot by American standards.

The women in Korea are changing. They have become quite resistant to this culture. And many bosses now have a more difficult time getting women to go. And they can no longer pressure them as much as before, given the metoo movement and social media. So many Korean men want to marry a Japanese woman, because they consider them unspoiled and traditional. One of my Korean friends constantly talks to me about Japanese women and how he is fed up with Korean women.

One of the things I found surprising was the number of people who did not know English. Maybe other parts of Germany is better, but Berlin I was taken back by how few people knew English. Plus Germany is more "socialist" than China. LOL

It's much worse in the East. When I grew up, I had never met a single person who could speak English (except my mom). Just imagine how shocked Koreans are when they realize that all their precious time studying English was wasted when they get to Germany and they can't communicate at all. It kinda ticks me off how Koreans always assume that we all speak English.

[Inkie]

@Inkie: Those Cherry Trees are simply awesome, I should plant one in my garden.
How can one sit comfortable that way, with the feet under the butt? I alway hated it when I had to do it during the Kendo training.

Yeah it's called 'seiza' and is deliberately meant to be uncomfortable. I couldn't do it at all when I did kendo at university, but by now I can do it alright for a while. You get 'dead legs' after a bit, which can be embarrassing when you have to get up during a tea ceremony. Anyway, fewer and fewer Japanese are able to sit that way, especially men, which some older people see as a sign that Japan is no longer Japan (lol).

It's inhumanely higher in Korea. Whenever I meet with Koreans for a night of binge drinking, I refuse all soju. I only drink beer or makgeolli. I have no desire to get that wasted, even though I already drink a lot by American standards.

The women in Korea are changing. They have become quite resistant to this culture. And many bosses now have a more difficult time getting women to go. And they can no longer pressure them as much as before, given the metoo movement and social media. So many Korean men want to marry a Japanese woman, because they consider them unspoiled and traditional. One of my Korean friends constantly talks to me about Japanese women and how he is fed up with Korean women.


It's much worse in the East. When I grew up, I had never met a single person who could speak English (except my mom). Just imagine how shocked Koreans are when they realize that all their precious time studying English was wasted when they get to Germany and they can't communicate at all. It kinda ticks me off how Koreans always assume that we all speak English.

Japanese women are also often opting out from social events like that nowadays, but a lot of them still go. I've read a bit about Korean guys apparently going more for Japanese women. One thing I've heard from all - Korean men or non-Koreans who have lived there - is that 'Korean women are crazy'.

Also funny how similar perceptions are here: "But I thought gaijin spoke English" is a common response I get. There's a big national complex/identity thing about how apparently Japanese are uniquely unable to learn English. One of my students actually said that because gaijin often historically lived under foreign rulership, it made foreigners more naturally suited to learning different languages, because they always had to learn the tongues of their new rulers!

[Sar1n]

Also funny how similar perceptions are here: "But I thought gaijin spoke English" is a common response I get. There's a big national complex/identity thing about how apparently Japanese are uniquely unable to learn English. One of my students actually said that because gaijin often historically lived under foreign rulership, it made foreigners more naturally suited to learning different languages, because they always had to learn the tongues of their new rulers!

Huh. I don't know more than couple words in Japanese, but I thought that gaijin is a derogatory term...is it really used that much?

[Inkie]

It's used a lot, mainly by working-class/rural people but almost everyone uses it at some point, although some immediately stop themselves and say "oh wait, I shouldn't say that, it's discrimination isn't it?". When I first showed up it didn't bother me, but now suffice to say that it and the mentality it represents get under my skin.

[Sar1n]

...and they call Czechs racist.

[Stone Cold Shogun Panther]

What's bringing you down @Panther?

A whole bunch of things to be honest.


I been thinking about taking a transatlantic cruise to Europe next year. What y'all think about that. That would be.... different. I heard you can take a cruise to Australia. Now that would be a LONG trek.


In regards to Berlin, I heard from some people if I visited Germany go take out other sites first, that Berlin was just a "regular looking city". Any truth to it being boring?

@Diamat, what type of German beer do you like?

[Sar1n]

I've been to Berlin, long time ago. From what I recall it was....well I remember Unter den Linden with its landmarks, and few other architecural attractions scattered around typical, blocky post-WWII city landscape.

At least in my eyes, Prague is much more beautiful. Yeah, I'm biased, but still...

[King Athelstan]

My mother has been in Berlin a few times, and she loved it. She said it was a really cultural and trendy town, with everything one could want in it. Haven't been there myself, though I am planning on going there one day

[Diamat]

Also funny how similar perceptions are here: "But I thought gaijin spoke English" is a common response I get. There's a big national complex/identity thing about how apparently Japanese are uniquely unable to learn English. One of my students actually said that because gaijin often historically lived under foreign rulership, it made foreigners more naturally suited to learning different languages, because they always had to learn the tongues of their new rulers!

That is one of the strangest things I've ever heard. Did it ever occur to that student that in the old days foreign rulers did not force their subjects to adopt a new language? I can't even come up with a single instance where this was the case. I can't quite imagine some medieval administrator going to the countryside to teach peasants a new language. Nevertheless, there may be a genetic component to the language-learning ability of Japanese, though this would have to be evidenced first.

In regards to Berlin, I heard from some people if I visited Germany go take out other sites first, that Berlin was just a "regular looking city". Any truth to it being boring?

@Diamat, what type of German beer do you like?

Like most Germans, I only drink Pilsner. And like most Germans, I stick to my local beer, which is Wernesgrüner. Foreigners coming to Germany might be a bit shocked about the beer selection in local restaurants. Usually we only serve one single beer, which is the local beer, because Germans are quite loyal to their local beer. Germans usually don't care about beer variety.

Also, Berlin doesn't really feel German anymore.

[Aexodus]

Germany is famous for its beer!

My friends went to berlin, they told me alllll about what it’s like lol

[Inkie]

...and they call Czechs racist.

To be fair, it's not an openly hostile word, and only slightly different than the milder 'gaikokujin' which is used by the media etc.

That is one of the strangest things I've ever heard. Did it ever occur to that student that in the old days foreign rulers did not force their subjects to adopt a new language? I can't even come up with a single instance where this was the case. I can't quite imagine some medieval administrator going to the countryside to teach peasants a new language. Nevertheless, there may be a genetic component to the language-learning ability of Japanese, though this would have to be evidenced first.



Like most Germans, I only drink Pilsner. And like most Germans, I stick to my local beer, which is Wernesgrüner. Foreigners coming to Germany might be a bit shocked about the beer selection in local restaurants. Usually we only serve one single beer, which is the local beer, because Germans are quite loyal to their local beer. Germans usually don't care about beer variety.

Also, Berlin doesn't really feel German anymore.

I've heard so many strange opinions like that throughout my time here. I think because people are taught from a young age not to create conflict or contradict others, poorly thought-out opinions like that don't get challenged, so their bearers have no reason to change them. Then there's also ignorance about the outside world (fed by the TV) and groupthink due to a lack of diversity. It's worse though that the woman in question knew a thing or two about European history, spoke English and was well-travelled.

Also, most Germans only drink pilsner? What a shame for all the brewers of other excellent kinds of German beer.

[PikeStance]

Germany is famous for its beer!

My friends went to berlin, they told me alllll about what it’s like lol

Personally, when I think of good beer, Belgium comes to mind. The US has the best variety though; a ton of microbreweries and beer pubs that will excite your taste buds. When I am in New Orleans, I buy Abita Beer. The blackened Voodoo is also a local favorite of mine (The Benson family is restoring an old New Orleans Brewery called, Dixie Beer). One thing I noticed in local stores is that they carry more and more regional brewed beer. When outside of New Orleans I usually buy Samuel Adams (if I do not buy international, like Chimay, Duvel, Guinness of course, etc...). In Germany, I did have one favorite, Schofferhofer beer

[Diamat]

Also, most Germans only drink pilsner? What a shame for all the brewers of other excellent kinds of German beer.

There may be regional variation here. In Saxony, Anhalt, and Thuringia, Pilsner is the standard. I have no idea what Germans do in the Rhineland, however.

[Morifea]

I have no idea what Germans do in the Rhineland, however.

Those are drinking wine.

As Diamat has pointed out rightly, in many German Restaurants you will only get two or three kinds of beer.... and that mostly standard, industrial not regional stuff like Krombacher, Bitburger or Licher.
In those cases I gladly abstain from Beer.

In Regions like Franconia of Southern/ South Eastern Bavaria it is completely different, there you`re able to find Cities with a couple of breweries, each with a distinct flavour.

My Advice for everybody travelling to Germany: avoid the big Cities like Berlin, Hamburg or Frankfurt and go to the smaller cities like Bamberg, Fulda, Paderborn, Ober-Ammergau etc, visit the Countryside. Thats what Germany looks like, not those boring replaceable metropoles.

[Derpy Hooves]

All this talk of food and beer is making me hungry. I’m going home this weekend for a Christmas party at my volunteer fire department. Last meeting I was at, guys brought down fresh roadkill, a deer; skinned it then separated the undamaged portions to be frozen for the dinner. Looking forward to it and the honey baked ham VFD members get every year

[Diamat]

I've never been a big fan of American baked ham. It tastes good for like 4 bites and then you get tired of it.

For Christmas I'll make some boiled Wieners with Potato Salad, which is traditional. Takes only 20 minutes to make. German efficiency.

[Derpy Hooves]

I've never been a big fan of American baked ham. It tastes good for like 4 bites and then you get tired of it.

For Christmas I'll make some boiled Wieners with Potato Salad, which is traditional. Takes only 20 minutes to make. German efficiency.

I didn’t like ham before I had it last year.
I cant imagine how many sandwiches I’ll get out of it

[Aexodus]

American ham is really sweet from what I know. I prefer thick-cut gammon, esp at Christmas.

Speaking of which, not long to go now!

[PikeStance]

Ham actually makes me sick to y stomach. I cannot even smell it. My family was different, we served Turkey for both Christmas and Thanksgiving. We hosted Christmas dinner for the extended family too, which meant we had leftover on the 26. Friends would come over we would play, Risk, Conquest of the Empire, Axis and Allies, Fortress USA, Shogun, a game called Dark Tower, etc.. Just good fun.


Being in China, I do not even feel like it is Christmas. All the overseas teachers have the 25th off though. New years, we just have 30, 31, and the 1st of Jan off, but Chinese new years is like 4 weeks.