I lived with a German family in Giebelstadt in the mid 80s! That was after a year in Schweinfurt. It was a very friendly town (and very very small) at that time. I worked on the airfield. In the mid 80s older Germans were not outwardly friendly though, true. They were extremely friendly and generous once they knew you, but their standoffishness was a carryover from the Hitler days and trying to avoid trouble.


>>>>>>I know how Quebec people think. You should be see Quebec as "standard deviation" of this statistic... :)
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>>>>>hehe :) We are not a distinct society for nothing! ;)
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>>>>I like different people. I know Canada likes differences... I knew USA too. But I learned that is a lie...
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>>>You're right. We Americans hate people, especially foreigners. That's why they keep coming here. <s>
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>>You're so right, you have no idea.
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>Ok. I'm probbaly not nearly the grobe-trotter as you, but I have been to a few European countries when my brother was stationed in Giebelstadt Germany. I had a great time, but I came away feeling that many Europeans want nothing to do with you. Ask for help, they treat you like... well.... an outsider. Many usually don't smile at you or even respond to you when you smile at them.
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>Am I painting with a too broad of a brush?