Going to Germany

[Stapel]

Hey, I'm going to Germany today too!

Things to avoid?
Don't sing Prussian marching songs in crowded trains.

 

[REDY]

Why?
May I at least sing Hussitian song "Who are god warriors"?

 

[anarres]

Another here on his way to Germany today!

I've been informed Germans like to talk about history - especially the 1940's.

I'll have to test this out later today...

 

[kronic]

Well, you certainly know this "Don't mention the war" thingie. So I wouldn't advice a foreigner to start a WW2 discussion. On the other hand if a German starts it...

As for the "Sie" and "du"...you should use "sie" all the time you talk to adults unless they want you to say "du". When talking to people under 18 and students, say "du". Never say "sie" to a child!

The exception to KaeptnOvi's rule is the so called "Hamburger Sie" (or "Hamburger Du"). I doubt that you'll come into a situation in which you could use it.

 

[Blasphemous]

Thanks for the advice and everything everyone. I'm currently in Übersiggingen, in Deggenhausertal, nearby Überlingen, which is nearby Friedrichshafen, which is on lake Constance, which is on the border between Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. (Hey, you gotta go from the tiny landmark to the huge one with this size of place I think.)
Just out of curiosity kronic, what is thing so-called "Hamburger Sie" thing? I knew the general rule of course, I've been in Germany before and all... Still freakin' terrified of accidentally slipping the wrong pronoun. ><
Anyways, thanks again for everything, make sure to drop me an email if you happen to be coming to IDEC or if you wanna meet up somewhere here.

 

[Rhye]

So, any chance of 1-day trip to Italy? You're pretty close to Milan from there.

 

[smalltalk]

I've been informed Germans like to talk about history - especially the 1940's.

I'll have to test this out later today...

Unfortunately, anarres will not be able to report the result of his testings for quite a while.
But to give you a vague idea of how it turned out:

 

[Blasphemous]

Rhye, I highly doubt it regrettably, but I'll ask my hosts some time.
smalltalk: ROFL xD

 

[kronic]

Just out of curiosity kronic, what is thing so-called "Hamburger Sie" thing? I knew the general rule of course, I've been in Germany before and all... Still freakin' terrified of accidentally slipping the wrong pronoun. ><

Hamburger Sie means, you call someone by his first name but then adress him or her with "Sie" instead of "Du". It is rarely used, mostly at work. Other than that, you can hear it quite often in the German versions of movies from the English speaking world.