German military performances

If we have right to say which nationalities we like, I hope we also have right to say, which we are not so happy about.

My favorite nationalities are (in random order): Englishmen, Germans, Poles, Russians, Italians

My less favorite nationalities (in random order): Danes, Latvians, Americans, Chinese, Turks.

Every choice is thought through and I will not comment on why is that. I had my, rather prolonged, exposures to each of these nationalities and why not tell about it? I am just telling about my personal response to different mentalities, very generally.
In each and every nation there are wonderful persons.

 

Been a while since you were here?

Crossing at a red light is becoming more and more common since more people seem to think being in a hurry is a reason to break the rules, or that "they will see me" is a justification not to see them. And when the streets are empty, you can be sure that people are crossing. If not they're afraid there's a cop nearby, who will fine you for it in the Netherlands.

Since smoking has been banned from office buildings, workplaces and train platforms as well as from normal public places, smoking has become far less common here in the Netherlands. I can't see the downside of it actually.

 

The trend towards breaking the rules, even in the Nederlands, seems to me to be yet another manifestation of egoism of the young generation. (No offence intended).

 

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Generally, I like every country I went so far, some more, some less, but all have their own charm and interest.

And I'm happy to say that so far, I never made really bad experiences while travelling, wherever I went, I have always been welcome, never noticed any form of xenophobia against me.

Sadly, that isn't the case for everyone, last summer, I talked to a girl from Germany, who actually made quite terrible experiences of racism/xenophobia against her in both France and Britain.
I think that generally that the EU, the mass media, and the fact of travelling has done much for the different peoples understanding themselves much bether, but under the surface of normality, the old stereotypes/mistrust is still around.

 

Of course, there is, Castelot. These are some very basic human reaction dti "differentness".

Btw: One thing is to travel around with your camera on your breast and enjoy places and peoples. The other is actually living next door to some "aborigines" or competing with them at work or studies. That is where my "less favorites" come from....

 

Yes, understood.

Most countries I visited, I did so as a tourist, so no I don't really know them.

The only countries I think to know some bit are Spain, Germany and Belgium.
Spain and Belgium because I lived there for some time and have good contacts, and Germany mostly out of interest and frequent visits.

 

I have been here since 2003 and the no smoking ban came in january 2004, I remember one of the floats during carnaval was a couple who had made smoking booths on wheels adn walked around smoking all the time. Yes it is on the invrease with the younger ones, but the older ones still do it, with a look of distain for the law breakers.

 

Yeah, well, Geleen is the south, and the south is backward.

 

Should hear what they say about you... :lol:

By the way I live in Heerlen, only one letter out and a bit of a juggle.
Ik ben in heerlen gewonen niet Geleen. Weet je wat de mensen van het zuid om de mensen van het nord. :lol:

or something like that.

 

Having said that my wife was seriously thinking about moving to North Holland when we visited the Keukenhof.

 

Linked to the continued rise of individualism, which is only a good thing up to a certain point... but that's a whole new discussion.

 

Individualism is in 99% of its content a nice name for egoism, as I see it.

 

Yup!

 

Sorry, I misremembered. Please tell me what they say of us Hollanders!

"Ik woon in Heerlen, niet in Geleen. Weet je wat de mensen van het zuiden denken over de mensen van het noorden?"

 

Which means?

 

If I'm not totally wrong it means like:

I live in Heerlen, not in Geleen.
Do you know what the people in the south think about the people in the north?

 

Thanks Roel as you can tell my nederlands is not very good. At least you understood me.

 

What about my Dutch:

"I live in Heerlen, not in Geleen. Do you know what people who live in the South think of people who live in the North?" HA!

Let´s try a little Danish, then:
" Roed groed med floede er mit foretrukne maaltid seadvanligvis". HA! And what does THIS mean, you Hollandsk heroes? :lol:

 

I haven't a clue. Usually, saying it out loud helps me get the general idea, but I'm stumped.

Maaltid is probably "meal".
Roel is probably some kind of vegetable.

 

:lol:
You said it...
(joking, Roel, all in jest!)