Hi All!! Finally got internet since moving to Germany

[Solly Mack]

Just wanted to say I've missed you guys very very much!!!!!!

I love Germany!....I ...well...I...I'm still not over the election.
Did I mention I love Germany? :)

Hope all of you are doing well. It's good to be back!

[MuseRider]

1. Hi Solly!

We miss you here in Kansas but I'll bet you don't miss Kansas too much. I am glad you are back, I have thought of you often.

[Solly Mack]

10. Hi Muse! I miss some things about Kansas :)

But I really really like it here!

[NewJeffCT]

2. tell us about Germany

How is it different than the US? What is better & what is worse?

Thanks

[Solly Mack]

20. Hello NewJeffCT

I've only been living here since Sept....I'll be better prepared to write an essay in a few months. :)

I'm joking with you.:toast:

What's better? No Bush. :)

What's worse? Just the exchange rate...my dollar..and I get paid in dollars...doesn't buy much

Different? Maybe it's just me but this country feels more free...less oppressive...

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. Look at you!!!! It's good to have you back!!!

I wondered where you had gone. :hi:

[Solly Mack]

11. Hiya MrsGrumpy!!!

Thanks!!!

I've missed this place and you guys bunches!!!

[auntAgonist]

4. Hi Solly!

I don't think we've 'met'. WELCOME back :)

[Solly Mack]

12. Thanks! and nice to "meet" you!

[NJCher]

5. hey I recognize that name!!

Welcome back. Lucky you. I would love to be living in Germany about now!

Do report the "street" news from time to time. That's one of things I enjoy most about DU--reports coming in from all over.


Cher

[Solly Mack]

13. Hi NJCher! Thank you!

The news is different...lol

seems more open ....the longer I'm here, the more American news seems like a game show.

More later.... :)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. I have SO wondered about you...glad you are back!

I've barely even ventured into the lounge lately...so glad I checked this AM...oh...and I get that you love Germany...would you be so kind as to adopt me?

(I'll be taking off soon and will probably be offline all day so if you write back, I'll write you later :hug: )

You've been missed, my friend.

[Solly Mack]

14. Hey Teena!!!!!!!!!!

:hug:


You bet your sweet bippy I'll adopt you!!...and we have extra space :)


Missed you!!!!!

[Aristus]

7. Welcome back, solly!

:hi:

God, how I envy you. Germany! I'd give just about anything to be able to go back there right now. What a beautiful country; and such wonderful, progressive people!

Enjoy! :party:

[Solly Mack]

15. Hi Aristus!

It IS beautiful here. I'm in Kafertal Wald. I'm learning more and more each day about my new home and loving every bit of it!...except the dollar exchange rate.

[RivetJoint]

23. Nice area; Hesse, right?

I lived in Stuttgart for 3 years. Are you or hubby in the military at Mannheim?

[Solly Mack]

24. In Mannheim, yes

[RivetJoint]

26. Cool. That COLA's gotta be

pretty damn high right about now. That was always a good deal.

[Solly Mack]

30. It goes up and down...up at the moment.

I bite the bullet regardless and shop on the economy.

[RivetJoint]

33. It would HAVE to be up

With the Euro to the dollar rate being what it is. Nice chunk of change, especially if you shop wisely.

[Solly Mack]

34. It's currently up, like I said

I bargain with the local vendors a great deal...especially since it's now allowed. Only major purchase so far has been a tapestry....which took 15 minutes of intense haggling with a Turkish vendor.

[RivetJoint]

36. Has it been down since you've been there?

I mean the Euro is kicking the dollar's butt...I know it will fluctuate as the exchange rate fluctuates, but it's still better than nothing. COLA is one of the good deals about being stationed overseas.

[Solly Mack]

39. It's gone steadily up since my arrival more or less

a dollar or two or "more" one month, a dollar or two less than the previous month the next pay period....you're right, of course...it does help greatly (COLA increase)... but the buying power (of the dollar) is still pitiful even with COLA...
:(

[Kellanved]

37. Bargaining and haggling is perfectly legal

A nice change, isn't it?
:hi:

[RivetJoint]

38. That's new in Germany

I'm still not sure if the can have "sales" and discounts though. Solly, have the changed the law on that as well?

[Kellanved]

40. yup, the whole package

The whole old Nazi law finally got thrown out of the window.

[Solly Mack]

41. Manz went out of business and had major sales and discounts

so it must be legal.

Manz has been in downtown Mannheim for over 50 years, I believe. They close their doors this month. I got some really nice pottery for cheap cheap....as well as WMF cookware for as much as 50% off.... 5 pieces for 55 euro!...I was thrilled!!! lol

[RivetJoint]

42. Solly did you know about the WMF outlet?

Let me know if you are interested.

[Solly Mack]

43. I know there is an outlet

Need to get there!

Everyone buys clocks and shranks...I want WMF! :)

[RivetJoint]

44. It's southeast of Stuttgart...about 45 minutes drive

Dropped a LOT of Marks there!

[commander bunnypants]

8. tell them not to hate us please

cb

[Solly Mack]

16. Oh, I do....Hiya CB!

:)

[cally]

9. Hi Solly

I've missed you. I thought you had abandoned us. Glad you love Germany.

[Solly Mack]

17. Hey Cally!!!

Missed you, too!!

Took forever to get connected....remodeled apartment needed a new line to connect (took over 8 weeks). Gave me time to get to know my new home....and to read.

Good to be back though!!

[Eurobabe]

31. oh I remember those first 6 wks. waiting for the furniture

to cross the ocean to munich. surviving with only a TV and a mattress while my hubby worked all day. i was very lonely.

once i got the internet, things changed! :)

sometimes i think i bailed too soon on germany, there were many plusses. like fast cars on the autobahn, and pork 1000 ways.

hey go to a christmas market and have a kartoffelpuffer mit knoblauch for me will you? And a mug of gluhwine. <sigh>

[Pacifist Patriot]

18. I don't know you, but I wanted to say hi and...

tell you how much I miss Germany. I lived there for four years and am aching to return for a visit. Congrats for getting back on the internet. I'd be going through serious withdrawal.

[Solly Mack]

21. Hi PP!

I was going through some major withdrawals. The computer labs were always full and the wait time wasn't an option for me.

Maybe you'll get to come back for a visit..I can understand missing this country. It's only been a couple of months and I would miss it if I had to leave.

[vinnievin777]

19. Go Solly

Hope you have lots of fun there.

Vinnie Vin
http://www.vinnievin.com

[Solly Mack]

22. Hi Vinnievin

Thank you!! I have so far...and here's to more good times!:toast:

[Dzimbowicz]

25. Hallo, ich kenne Dich nicht

aber ich möchte Dir alles Gute wünschen. Deutschland ist ein wunderbares Land. Ich wohnte drei Jahre in Halle (Saale) und ich möchte noch einmal in Deutschland wohnen. Viel Glück!

[Solly Mack]

28. I struggled through that!...but I got (most) of it.

:)

I'm still learning. lol

and Thank you!

[Eurobabe]

32. Ja wohl!

[ze_dscherman]

27. Welcome to Germany!

:hi:

Yes, Germany can actually be a very nice country! Hope you get some snow in winter. Be sure to travel around a lot. If you are fit, I recommend doing long distance bicycle tours, there's good infrastructure for this unique kind of travel in most parts of Germany.

Which part have you moved to?

ze_dscherman

[Solly Mack]

29. Mannheim. How about a bike ride around the park instead? :o)

I will be traveling...still getting settled.

Thanks!!

[ze_dscherman]

35. If spring comes ...

... be sure to visit the "Bergstraße" region close to you. It's full of fruit orchards, and it's sooo beautiful when in bloom. Lot's of nice old cities, some castles too.

You'll find very nice places near your region! I always liked it very much there, but live much further north in the Westfalia region.

Biking (yes, it's my favourite pasttime ...) should be very nice along the Neckar River or along the Main River. You may get some suggestions at www.rad-forum.de, they got an english speaking section, too.

[Donkeyboy75]

45. Hey Solly!

I moved abroad just about the same time you did! Glad to hear you like it.

By the way, did your dog end up being ok?

:hi:

[Solly Mack]

46. Hi Donkeyboy!!!

Yes, he got much better. Slight limp and weakness on his left side for the rest of his life but he can walk again.

He loves Germany as well. He greatly enjoys being allowed into most places.

How do you like your new home?

[Donkeyboy75]

48. I enjoy it here,

but importation of pets is restricted. To make a long story short, I have to wait until mid-January until my dog can meet me here. :cry:

He's a boxer, BTW, so I'm sure he'd love Germany.

[Kellanved]

47. Willkommen

Greetings from Berlin, I hope you'll enjoy living in the country.