Stuck here on BH Monday

**Tingles** · 25 August 2008, 07:33

We are going to Bullring today, in Brum.....

Want to get a portable DAB - no radio at the weekday B&B.

T

**chef** · 25 August 2008, 09:03

well im here in sunny stuttgart, actually rainy stuttgart, surrounded by germans and i've realised my german really isnt up to scratch.. not a problem on the work front as it's all in english, bit of a problem for EVERYTHING else though..

**The Lone Gunman** · 25 August 2008, 09:09

Originally posted by chef View Post

well im here in sunny stuttgart, actually rainy stuttgart, surrounded by germans and i've realised my german really isnt up to scratch.. not a problem on the work front as it's all in english, bit of a problem for EVERYTHING else though..

Welcome to Germany Chef. Just do what the rest of us do. Speak slower and louder if they dont understand.

FWIW I quite like Stuttgart and have never had a problem with language there.

Reasonably bright and sunny down here on lake Constance. Weather forecast is improving over the week.

**NotAllThere** · 25 August 2008, 09:56

Originally posted by chef View Post

well im here in sunny stuttgart, actually rainy stuttgart, surrounded by germans and i've realised my german really isnt up to scratch.. not a problem on the work front as it's all in english, bit of a problem for EVERYTHING else though..

Working in sunny Basel. 22°C today - but will warm up and remain sunny over the rest of the week, as LG says.

My German is sufficiently up to scratch for most everyday transactions, though a succession of English speaking projects has slowed down my acquisition of the language. But to help you out, here's a couple of phrases I learned 25 years ago that cover most of the situations you're likely to encounter.

"Noch ein grosses Bier, bitte."
"Noch zwei grosse Bier, bitte."

**ThomasSoerensen** · 25 August 2008, 10:04

I have leant - after a year in Frankfurt - to not be polite and first ask if they speak english. If you do that they will respond with a no and try to end the conversation there.

Now I just speak to them in a slow simplyfied english and then everything is usually fine.

Don't be polite to Germans, they don't know of the concept and only get confused.

btw. NotAllThere: are oyu in one of the two big pharmas in Basel?

**The Lone Gunman** · 25 August 2008, 10:09

Since we have a few in the vacinity:
Anybody fancy a weekend at the Stuttgart Bier fest? I am trying to organise a couple of guys from here to go. You would be welcome if you turned up but we would need to arrange somewhere to meet.

**bobhope** · 25 August 2008, 10:10

Here (in CH) you have the choice

Sprechen Sie lieber Englisch oder Hochdeutsch?

Given the choice, they normally go for English rather than German.

**Diver** · 25 August 2008, 10:14

Dry here, just sent the Granddaughters home. Time for some paperwork now.

**ThomasSoerensen** · 25 August 2008, 10:22

Originally posted by The Lone Gunman View Post

Since we have a few in the vacinity:
Anybody fancy a weekend at the Stuttgart Bier fest? I am trying to organise a couple of guys from here to go. You would be welcome if you turned up but we would need to arrange somewhere to meet.

Thanks for the offer.
But I think I will pass as it is not really my type of thing.
And I already spend too much time away from the family.

But sometimes it is nice to talk to people in same circomstances.

If you guys pm me your email adresses I could open a private forum-thingy and we could discuss matters only relevant to us.

Stuck here on BH Monday