When I ducked into the post office at Hauptbahnhof (the main train station) I was relieved to be getting out of the chilly, windy weather, the gray clouds, into this warm, yellow-walled, tidily German center of efficiency.
But the postal clerk raised his eyebrows at a letter addressed to my American bank, observing, "Oh! Trump! America!" He was smiling. Not frowning.
I said I hadn't voted for Trump. He shook his head, apparently wondering why. "Aber er hat so viel gemacht!" (But he's done so much!")
My eyes widened. Surely the clerk didn't mean this. But then he added, with obvious admiration, "Er hat alles aufgeräumt!" ("He's cleaned up everything.")
I said I didn't like Trump.
"Und er ist so lustig!" ("And he's so funny!") babbled the clerk.
In English, I blurted, "He's a gangster." But the only obvious effect (judging by the way the clerk giggled in glee), was that he found me even more amusing than Trump.
"I hate his guts," I added, also in English. The clerk clapped his hands in delight, almost choking with laughter.
It's back to telling folks I'm Canadian.
Thank you for sharing your scary exchange. USPS workers in the US do not usually engage in conversation with their customers, so I have been spared. It makes me glad I am old, and that my son has lived, worked and studied abroad in several countries while in his 20's, and could leave NYC on short notice.
ReplyDeleteI've never before had a conversation with a German postal worker about anything but the package I'm mailing--this was odd, to say the least. Thanks for commenting!
ReplyDelete"It's back to telling folks I'm Canadian."
ReplyDeleteOMG, I remember doing my best to hide that when I was an American when travelling as a backpacker in Europe in the 1970's. The Canadians all had small Canadian flags attached to their backpacks. Those of us from the US just laid low.
I learned at a youth hostel in Germany that Europeans were taught English English, and not American English, which came as a shock to my naive system. The students, all on school trips, still wanted to practice their English with me.
My three month Eurailpass, my Youth Hostel membership and my $1200. worth of American Express travellers checks got me through visiting 36 art museums in many countries in Europe. I sent postcards to my parents. Telephoning them was out of the question.
My eyes were opened, especially when visiting Germany. Amazing public transportation, clean streets and excellent department stores that had food shops in the basement. It was my first sense that what was going on in the US was not the best approach.
No country is perfect. I have enjoyed living in Manhattan for most of my life, and want to be carried out of my wonderful apartment feet first.
I also have health issues, and continuing to stay in NY State is best for me, as far as I can determine. You have asked, and I have answered. Staying in Germany is probably best for you for now, as is staying in your family home with your children.
Thanks--oh, you've conjured up the days of pre-internet life! How well I remember American Express travelers checks. Transportation is no longer quite so amazing; the days when you could set your watch by the German train are long gone. Those English lessons! My kids are still told they sound like chewing gum because they have, well, Mom's Manhattan accent! I tell them the teachers are brainwashed by colonial ideas, i.e. the British conquered India and most of Africa in the nineteenth century and established their own forms of English, which are not innately better. Wonder how Brexit will affect all this!
ReplyDeleteIs there such a thing as a Manhattan accent? I am curious about that. The DH was brought up in Manhattan but speaks differently than the rest of his family. He and I say certain words and phrases differently and laugh about it.
ReplyDeleteOur son loves putting on an accent from the boros, where many of his classmates in HS originated, even though he was brought up in Manhattan. He can also do Apu from the Simpsons, and after having travelled a great deal in India, can figure out how to get a discount at any shop in NYC run by Indians.
"Chewing gum," in reference to an accent?
Brexit is a total sh8t show which unfortunately fortold the election of Trump. Don't get me started.
Here's my favorite take on the various accents of New York City, but I think Manhattanites speak more quickly and use the phrase "standing online" instead of "standing in line." But see "The Five Boroughs" by Vigwig and I hope it pastes in here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hrA9-6o4tI
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, German teachers of English still claim that any American accent sounds like "chewing gum," and they still believe that any British accent is better. Classier, though they wouldn't admit that.
ReplyDeleteFinally got time to watch the video you mentioned on 6 March about NY accents.
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned before, It was a shock to my 18 YO system when I realized the children staying at the youth hostels in Germany who wanted to practice their English with me had been taught British English.
A recent NY Accent Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOBvvrpb8uI
I think a lot of them over-did it.
I grew up outside NYC and used to get teased unmercifilley by schoolmates in public school, as early as second grade, about my accent. Say "Grass", they said. My parents were highly educated, and I spoke English without what we have come to know as, " The Hudson Valley Twang." Having travelled a bit in upstate and central NY State, they all sound like they live in the midwest.
That NY accent link is great! Thanks
ReplyDelete