Archive-name: german-faq/part6
Last-modified: 1996/09/13
Posting-Frequency: monthly
URL: http://www.physics.purdue.edu/~vogelges/faq.html
Version: 1996/10




http://www.physics.purdue.edu/~vogelges/faq.html (The original !-)
==================================================================

     This is part 6 of the ASCII version of the FAQ list
     for soc.culture.german. Find the WWW version at

     <http://www.physics.purdue.edu/~vogelges/faq.html>


	Table of Contents - Part 6
	==========================


  22 Tourism
    22.1 Tourism Hot Line
    22.2 On-Line -- German Cities Info
    22.3 Monuments to Visit

  23 Money Talk
    23.1 Currency Names and Nicknames
    23.2 Sending Money
    23.3 Exchange Rates?
    23.4 Tax...

  24 Moving!
    24.1 European Resources
    24.2 Taking a Computer along to Germany?
    24.3 Taking Foreign Electronic Equipment to Germany?
    24.4 Shipping Your Household US Europe/Germany
    24.5 Things to take to Germany?
    24.6 Postdoc Experiences at a German University

  25 Urban Legends
    25.1 "I am a jelly doughnut"
    25.2 German Did Not Become the US's Official Language by 1 Vote.
    25.3 Once I heard that "Mein Kampf" is forbidden in Germany

  26 Traditions and Cultural Oddities
    26.1 German Holidays and Festivals
    26.2 Walpurgisnight
    26.3 Wedding Traditions?
    26.4 Tongue Twisters
    26.5 Skat -- Rules, Software?
    26.6 Gluehwein Recipe

  27 Genealogy
    27.1 Where is Famous ... Buried?
    27.2 How do I Find Out About my Family Name?

  28 Humor
    28.1 It's True...
    28.2 Some Humorists

  29 Questions and Answers
    29.1 Where do I Keep Up with German Soccer Results?
    29.2 Ich lebe zur Zeit nicht in Deutschland. Wie kann ich...
    29.3 Mail Ordering Other Stuff?
    29.4 How can I Find Out about that Famous ...


		*  *  *


Subject: 22 Tourism
===================

   Contents: 
    => 22.1 Tourism Hot Line 
    => 22.2 On-Line -- German Cities Info 
    => 22.3 Monuments to Visit 



Subject: 22.1 Tourism Hot Line
------------------------------

   The Deutsche Fremdenverkehrsverband (DFV) has created a network of
   information hot lines to connect to local touristic bureaus, using
   always the same telephone number.  In most cities you can now get
   information by calling (possibly the area code and then)
   **19433**.[1/96] 


Subject: 22.2 On-Line -- German Cities Info
-------------------------------------------

   An excellent overview of the following cities gives the CityNet: 
     <http://www.city.net/countries/germany/>
   Aachen, Berlin, Bielefeld, Bonn, Bremen, Chemnitz, Cologne,
   Duesseldorf, Darmstadt, Dresden, Erlangen, Frankfurt/M., Freiburg,
   Goettingen, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Leipzig, Muenster, Mainz,
   Mittweida, Munich, Oldenburg, Paderborn, Passau, Regensburg,
   Rostock, Schwalmstadt, Schwandorf, Stuttgart, Trier, Ulm,
   Wiesbaden, Worms, Wuppertal, Zwickau [5/95] 

   Additionally you find at the tourist guide of leo.org: 
     <http://www.leo.org/infosys/tourist/guide.html>
   Bayreuth, Kaiserslautern, Kiel [5/95] 

   And you may try the Kulturbox.  [10/95] 
     <http://www.kulturbox.de/>



Subject: 22.3 Monuments to Visit
--------------------------------

   For a rather conventional description see Scharf, Helmut: "Kleine
   Kunstgeschichte des Deutschen Denkmals." Darmstadt:
   Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft (1984) ISBN 3-534-09548-0.  
     : It's a short history of monument-building and -art in
     : Germany, covering early middle ages to almost present.  
   [end quote]


     o The "Voelkerschlachtdenkmal" in Leipzig, or Monument to the
       Battle of Nations, commemorating the victory over Napoleon in
       1813 by the Russians and their German allies.  
     o "Niederwalddenkmal" near Ruedesheim; Emperor Wilhelm I 1871 -
       1888 
     o "Kyffhaeuserdenkmal" east of the Harz-mountains 
     o "Bismarckdenkmal" in Hamburg 
     o "Denkmal am Deutschen Eck" in Koblenz/Rhine 
     o "Kaiser-Wilhelm-Monument" at the Porta Westfalica, Westphalia;
       on the slope of the Wiehengebirge, overlooking the river Weser
       valley.  
     o "Hermanns-Denkmal", South of Detmold; built in the last century
       to commemorate the victory of the germanic chieftain Arminius
       (aka Hermann) over 3 roman legions in the year 9 A.C.  
     o "Walhalla" near Regensburg; resembles an ancient greek temple
       overlooking the river Danube; it contains busts of a number of
       famous Germans.  

   [1/96] 


Subject: 23 Money Talk
======================

   Contents: 
    => 23.1 Currency Names and Nicknames 
    => 23.2 Sending Money 
    => 23.3 Exchange Rates?  
    => 23.4 Tax...  



Subject: 23.1 Currency Names and Nicknames
------------------------------------------

   **"Mark"**, 
   Supposedly "Mark" was a term coined in Cologne.  People there used
   to put marks in equal distances on silver bars, and cut them at
   these marks if they needed smaller amounts of silver to pay
   someone.  So the smallest fraction of one silverbar was one "Mark". 

   The Mark has gone through quite some changes with history: 
    => Before 1871 
       Germany was comprised of some 40 single kingdoms, each of whom
       had their own currency with their own name.  
    => 1871 
       United Germany comes into existance, and so does the Mark.  
    => 1871 - 1923 
       **Mark** (abbreviated M) 
    => 1923 
       Hyper inflation after WW1 causes the value of the Mark to drop
       by a factor 1,000 each month.  At the end of the year, prices
       like 1,000 billion Mark for everyday items are common.  A new
       currency was introduced, rendering old money worthless.  
    => 1923 - 1924 
       **Rentenmark** 
    => 1924 - 1948 
       **Reichsmark** (RM) 
    => After WW2 
       The four allied forces (U.S.A., Great Brittain, France on the
       one hand and USSR on the other) introduce new currencies in
       their respective zones.  The former three agree to use the same
       kind, whereas the latter choose a different one.  (Soon after
       this the two post-war States of Germany were established.)  

        Period     West       East       
        1948 -     **Deutsche **Deutsche 
        1964       Mark**     Mark**     
                   (DM)       (DM) (same 
                              name but   
                              different! 
                              )          
        1964 -     (same)     **Mark der 
        1967                  Deutschen  
                              Notenbank* 
                              * (MDN)    
        1967 -     (same)     **Mark der 
        1990                  DDR** (M)  
           1990    (same)     adoption   
                              of West    
                              German     
                              currency   
        1990 -                Deutsche   
        today                 Mark       

   **"Groschen"** (10 Pfennigs) 
   The Groschen was an official currency unit in Prussia until 1871. 
   The Prussian currency was the Taler (pronounced D-O-L-L-A-R).  1
   Taler = 30 Groschen = 300 Pfennig (originally, 360 Pfennig, but
   this changed in the 1850s).  The Taler currency was also in use in
   smaller states in northern Germany.  

   **"Taler"** (3 Mark) 
   remained a common term for 3 Mark coins until they were
   discontinued a few years before WW I.  

   **"Sechser"** (6 Pfennig) 
   The term dates back to the mid-19th century.  Until the 1850s, a
   Groschen had 12 Pfennige, which was later changed to 10.  The new 5
   Pfennig coins were still, colloquially, called "Sechser", which
   persisted until today.  

   **"Heiermann"** (5 Mark) 
   It probably refers to the heavy weight of the 5 DM coin.  

   **"Zwickel"** (2 Mark) 
   Casual name for the 2 Mark coin; some loved/hated politicians'
   portraits have appeared on its backside recently.  (Strauss, Brandt
   etc.)  [06/96] 

   **"Pfund"** (20 Mark) 
   A less common term is Pfund ("pound") for 20 DM.  This might date
   back to times when a British pound "was still a pound" and worth
   about 20 DM.  [04/96] 


Subject: 23.2 Sending Money
---------------------------

   Contents: 
    => 23.2.1 To Germany 
    => 23.2.2 From Germany 

   Getting money across international borders can be tricky.  The
   following hints are mostly based on experiences of posters on s.c.g
   who needed to send money to mail order places in Germany / to
   transfer their funds when working abroad / for their own or their
   relatives' traveling needs / etc.  



Subject: 23.2.1 To Germany
--------------------------

   "Ruesch International Financial Services" will issue a draft in DM
   (and other currencies) at the current rate of exchange, plus a
   service charge of only US$2 per transaction.  telephone the U.S. 
   headquarters (in Washington, DC) at +1(800)424-2923 to set up an
   account.  

   Regional offices: 
   Atlanta (+1-404-222-9300), Boston (+1-617-482-8600), Chicago
   (+1-312-332-6900), Los Angeles (+1-310-277-7800), New York
   (+1-212-977-2700), Washington, DC (+1-202-408-1200) 

   Switzerland: Ruesch Devisenhandel, Schipfe 7, CH-8023 Zuerich, tel
   01-212-5300, fax 01-212-5406, (They charge 5 sfr for a check.)  

   Other ways to get US$ across the ocean are: 

   **To Others** 

    => **Sending an (e.g.  American) personal check** 
       may or may not work for paying bills...if you like to gamble
       then this is your way ;-) 
    => **sending your own Eurochecque** 
       Send one of your own "Eurochecques"; possibly you can get them
       from a German bank's branch.  Catch: Need to have a German bank
       account.  
    => **deposit with foreign branches of German banks** 
       if you are lucky enough to find a major German bank's branch in
       your city you might be able to direct deposit money.  
    => **international postal money orders** 
       International money orders are issued by American post offices,
       indeed; but the process is very bureaucratic (surprise!)  You
       pay at the local P.O.  in US $$ (you have to guess the
       conversion), mail your receipt to St.  Louis, which office in
       turn issues the M.O.  in foreign currency direct to the party
       you name.  The service fee is supposedly US$7.50.  [10/94] 
    => **travelers checks** 
       Go to a local (e.g.)  American Express office and purchase DM
       travelers checks.  You can get single checks, 20's and above. 
       No service fee, but a few points off the bank exchange rate. 
       Make sure to fill out the "Pay to the order of:" field for
       security!  Problem: You may not get the exact amount you need
       (DM 57.89) when paying, say, a mail order bill.  
    => **American Express money orders** 
       Are well accepted by German banks.  For long term you might
       consider opening a German bank account and depositing a regular
       payment with American Express money orders.  Then you can pay
       German bills off of that account.  

   **To Yourself**, 
    => **American account -> German Account** 
       People have been able to transfer money from their American
       accounts to their German ones (notably a "Postgirokonto" and
       "Raiffeisenbank".)  It's possible to cash a personal check from
       a U.S.  to a German account Postgiro charges a fee of only DM 3
       for one check, Raiffeisen takes out DM15.  No other hidden
       costs, but, alas, you probably need to have an account with the
       respective institute for using this service.  US checks must be
       made payable to the bank that cashes them.  [11/94] 
    => **American ATM's** 
       if there is some US military close by, they might even have
       American ATM's, so that your Cirrus or whatever card should
       work there properly.  [11/94] 



Subject: 23.2.2 From Germany
----------------------------

    => **international postal money orders** 
       Available at every post office.  Charge is about DM30 for the
       first DM500, then DM10 for every next DM500 started.  [07/96] 
    => **German account -> credit card -> pay** 
       have a credit card withdrawing from your German account.  Try
       to avoid cash advances (extra fee) but buy things with your
       card (note: not only the currency exchange rate is applied, but
       also an extra fee of typically 1%.)  [4/95] 
    => **German account -> Eurocheque -> American account** 
       At times the most convenient way for transfering ones own money
       from Germany to the US is by depositing a "Eurocheque" into
       one's checking account.  Exact procedures vary from bank to
       bank, but you probably need to insist that that is possible as
       most tellers have never handled personal cheques drawn on a
       European bank.  [11/95] 



Subject: 23.3 Exchange Rates?
-----------------------------

   On the web: 

     o gnn server (weekly updated US$<->others) 
         <http://gnn.com/cgi-bin/gnn/currency/>
     o currency overview [02/96] 
         <http://www.wiso.gwdg.de/ifbg/currency.html>
     o Olson's currency converter [02/96] 
         <http://www.olsen.ch/cgi-bin/exmenu>
     o Exchange rates in Amsterdam (daily Hfl<->others) [6/95] 
         <http://www.win.tue.nl/cgi/tt2www/nos/tpage/569>
     o Daily exchange rates from the federal reserve bank, New York
       (US$<->others) 
         <gopher://una.hh.lib.umich.edu/00/ebb/monetary/tenfx.frb>
     o Exchange rates of the last four weeks (federal reserve bank,
       New York; US$<->others) [Ok 6/95] 
         <gopher://una.hh.lib.umich.edu:70/00/ebb/monetary/exchange.frb>

   telnet sources: 

     o A gateway through TU Graz offers a handy Valuten calculator
       (login: kurse) [6/95] 
         <telnet://kurse@kurse@fiicmds06.tu-graz.ac.at:23>



Subject: 23.4 Tax...
--------------------

   Contents: 
    => 23.4.1 VAT in Germany?  
    => 23.4.2 Tax Treaty?  



Subject: 23.4.1 VAT in Germany?
-------------------------------

   In Germany every retail price includes **15% (1993 value)** Value
   Added Tax (VAT) (in German: "Mehrwehrtsteuer, MwSt").  If you buy
   goods in Germany and plan to take them with you to a foreign
   country it is possible to get a refund for the VAT.  In some places
   you even get a discount in the shop.  To get the VAT refunded you
   usually need some proof that you do not life in Germany (Passport
   ...)  and a special receipt from the store.  It is possible for
   Germans to get a refund if their Passport shows a foreign address. 
   Then ask for your refund at the border or airport (if the store did
   not deduct the tax already).  Please ask the customs people for
   details.  This refund might be not available for residents of
   European Community member states.  


Subject: 23.4.2 Tax Treaty?
---------------------------

   The US and Germany have a tax treaty.  This means that, as a US
   citizen, you only pay taxes to the IRS if your US taxes would be
   higher than your German taxes.  So if your US taxes under your
   income would have been US$1000, and you paid US$900 to the
   Finanzamt, then you'd owe US$100 to the US government.  On basis of
   this tax treaty German students, studying and working in the US,
   might be able to claim tax exemption for a portion of their US
   income (up to US$5000 per year, I believe.)  However, if you stay
   longer than four years, you might have to pay those taxes afterall! 
   Just remember that taxes were not meant to be comprehensible and... 
   keep smiling !-) [3/95] 


Subject: 24 Moving!
===================

   Contents: 
    => 24.1 European Resources 
    => 24.2 Taking a Computer along to Germany?  
    => 24.3 Taking Foreign Electronic Equipment to Germany?  
    => 24.4 Shipping Your Household US<->Europe/Germany 
    => 24.5 Things to take to Germany?  
    => 24.6 Postdoc Experiences at a German University 



Subject: 24.1 European Resources
--------------------------------

   European Resources is a collection of pointers by David Johnson
   that cover a variety of issues when moving to or visiting the
   European continent.  Among others, there are: relocation kits,
   eurailpasses, international travel news, intercultural press,
   foreign newspapers and magazines, international employment gazette,
   the european (newspaper).  [06/96] 
     <ftp://bohr.physics.purdue.edu/pub/scg/EUROPEAN.RESOURCES>


Subject: 24.2 Taking a Computer along to Germany?
-------------------------------------------------

   Will it work in Germany - different voltage, outlets?  Is there a
   way to use an adapter?  I know that works for hairdryers, but
   computers seem a bit more sensitive.  

     o Do not (NOT) use the simple "converters" used for hairdryers,
       they sometimes are nothing but a diode that blocks every other
       half-period of the incoming ac.  Great for heating coils, but a
       disaster for a computer.  Either your computer accepts 230 V
       directly, in which case you only need a new power cable, or you
       need a decent transformer.  It can be a so-called
       auto-transformer (without galvanic separation of primary and
       secondary,) which is half the weight and should be half the
       cost, but the thing must be rated for the power of your
       computer (especially the display, if you take that also with
       you).  The transformer should be bigger than two fists, and
       remember: too big does no harm, except to your pocketbook.  
     o Of course you know about the differences in keyboard layout,
       and umlauts in the German language...  
     o Check the back of your computer about the voltage and frequency
       accepted.  If it does accept 240 V and 50 Hz.  No problem, all
       you need is an adapter for the outlet (BTW, they are easier to
       buy in Germany).  If it does accept 50 Hz but only 110 V, you
       need a transformer.  I've heard that the cheap ones from travel
       suppliers sometimes screw up.  I bought myself a couple, but
       didn't try them yet.  If it only accepts 110V and 60 Hz, you
       should consider getting a new power supply and exchange it in
       your computer.  It should run well below DM100 to do that.  

   [06/96] 


Subject: 24.3 Taking Foreign Electronic Equipment to Germany?
-------------------------------------------------------------

   If you wish to use domestic American electronics in Germany you
   will encounter difficulties such as: 

     o The medium wave (AM) frequencies sometimes have different
       spacings (e.g.  9 kHz vs.  10 kHz).  This will cause problems
       with digital receivers.  
     o The voltage / frequency in Germany is 220-240 V / 50 Hz and not
       110 V / 60 Hz as in the US.  Improper voltage / frequency could
       result in serious damage.  
     o German plugs have a different shape.  While people from
       European Union countries might not have the line voltage
       problems, they are faced with differently shaped plugs, just
       the same!  
     o TV uses the PAL norm.  American TV uses the NTSC norm.  French
       and British systems are different, yet.  These norms are
       incompatible.  Therefore foreign television will generally not
       work in Germany and vice-versa, although multi-norm
       ("multi-system") TV's are available in Europe.  (See Audio /
       Video Tapes for more.)  

   [1/96] 


Subject: 24.4 Shipping Your Household US Europe/Germany
-------------------------------------------------------

   Contents: 
    => 24.4.1 General Remarks 
    => 24.4.2 Cars 
    => 24.4.3 Specific Shipping Companies 

   [Summary of a thread from Winter 1995.] 


Subject: 24.4.1 General Remarks
-------------------------------

   There are different shipping methods (**besides** airmail): 
    => **Regular Shipping** 
       The regular shipping companies charge about 80c per pound for
       shipping from NY to Frankfurt.  The more you have to send, the
       cheaper the rate gets.  For shipment of less than 500 lbs, they
       usually use flat rates.  For example, "International Sea &amp;
       Air shipping Co." (+1-212-766-1616) charges 
         1-100 lbs      101-200 lbs       201-300 lbs        401-500 lbs
         US$247         273               352                445

         501-1000 lbs   1001-2000 lbs     2001 lbs &amp; over
         89c/lb         77c/lb            73c/lb
       If you live far from NY, you have to pay more.  If I ship my
       stuff from North Carolina, the rate is much higher than the
       above rates.  For example, "DeHavens" (+1-919-220-5441) in NC
       charges US$1.48/lb for 500-700 lbs, and US$1.35/lb for 701-1000
       lbs.  Several other local places have the same or higher rates. 
       The good thing about these places is that their rates include
       door-to-door service.  

    => **Discount Shipping** 
       (Hey, let's gather more information on this!)  There are some
       outrageously cheap shipping options for those who live in NY or
       other big cities.  (See below.)  

    => **US Post Office** 
       The regular shipping service by the **US-post** is much more
       expensive Than the above mentioned shipping service, but their
       book shipping option, known as M-Bag, is the cheapest way
       (under any ordinary circumstances) to ship books from anywhere
       in the US to anywhere overseas.  They charge only 72c per
       pound.  Each bag has the minimum weight of 15lbs and the
       maximum weight of 66lbs.  You can put books and periodicals in
       these bags.  The regular printed matter is excluded from this
       service, although its rate is still lower than those for other
       materials.  Time to Germany varies from 2-6 weeks, so plan
       ahead.  But for the price, you can't beat it.  It is especially
       good for shipments of books and notes.  Supposedly the bags get
       emptied in Bremen and the little boxes are sent individually;
       but s.c.g readers also have received the whole bag
       instead...Reportedly these bags take quite a beating, so tape
       the little boxes well!  
       [4/95] 

   **Other experiences:** 

   [several quotes from readers of s.c.g] 
     : I had about 800lbs of stuff to ship.  I called several
     : hauling companies and they would charge me between
     : US$1000-1500.  Almost as expensive as by mail.  A friend
     : gave me a number to call, where they charge only about
     : US$250 per cubic meter (it's in a container on a ship).  I
     : called them and they confirmed the price.  I think you
     : should get something similar from the east coast.  
   [end quote]

     : Don't know about NC, but if you can get your stuff to NYC,
     : there is a guy called K.D.  Marreck who does shipments to
     : Germany for an outrageously cheap price (I shipped my 5
     : large boxes with books, printer, PC etc for US$100).  He
     : cooperates with the German mover's company
     : "Kuehne&amp;Nagel"; I think what he does is he includes
     : your handful of boxes in large containers paid for by
     : companies doing large int'l shipments.  First I was sort
     : of suspicious since the warehouse, to which I had to take
     : my boxes, was in one of the worst neighborhoods in NYC and
     : looked rather run-down.  But everything arrived complete
     : and intact.  Besides, I had gotten the address from the
     : German consulate in NYC, so I guess this guy is not known
     : as a crook.  
     : The address: KD Marreck Intl and Domestic Moving Services,
     : PO Box 43, Manhasset NY 11030, tel +1(516)627-0845, fax
     : 627-6143 
   [end quote]

     : I am an air freight forwarder and I am most familiar with
     : what you are saying.  It is true that the warehouses
     : (including mine) of freight forwarders are in the worst
     : areas of town (for me Buffalo, NY).  [It is] good advice
     : to check with various shipping agents.  If you are not in
     : a hurry, tell the forwarder you wish to "consolidate" your
     : freight with other oceanbound freight going to Germany. 
     : This means your freight leaves with other large shipments
     : at a rate much less than usually charged.  You can
     : negotiate with forwarders.[1/96] 
   [end quote]

     : Contact "Panalpina" in Washington DC.  But make a
     : conscientious decision what you want to send.  Basically
     : the bulkier an item, the more expensive it is per pound.  
   [end quote]

     : My advice is to send as much stuff as you can through the
     : mail, with the "US postal service" your local branch about
     : book rates, and rates for sending things through surface
     : mail.  It may take a little longer to get your stuff once
     : you are in Germany, but the savings are worth it.  
   [end quote]

   [3/95] 


Subject: 24.4.2 Cars
--------------------

   Be aware of possible difficulties with finding parts or even just
   service stations for "rare" cars; "rare" being defined by the
   German market...  

   Of all US car manufacturers, only Ford is presently in the German
   market to a sizable share.  To get parts for a chevy or pontiac
   could prove **very** expensive.  
   Japanese and Korean cars should meet fewer problems in Germany.  
   Of course, practically all European car manufacturers also sell to
   the German market.  [06/96] 

   The following are quotes from readers of s.c.g 

     : To ship your car over, in very broad terms, there are two
     : ways of going: 

     :   o shipping your car door-to-door with your furniture 
     :   o shipping it separately.  

     : I chose the latter because it is much less expensive. 
     : When they ship your car with your furniture, you need a
     : big container and in my case that would have meant wasting
     : a lot of space.  
     : Another thing I did to save money is to drop off my car at
     : the port and pick it up at the port in Germany.  Finally,
     : I learned there are potentially two middle men on the
     : sending side - the moving company and the freight
     : forwarder.  I decided to eliminate the moving company and
     : go directly to the freight forwarder.  
     : The freight forwarder does things like store your car
     : until the next shipment and fill out paper work.  The one
     : I used is called "Sea Bridge" in Baltimore.  
     : No matter which way you go you'll need three copies of
     : your title notarized front and back.  [Note that some
     : readers report they didn't need this.] In my case, the
     : freight forwarder is going to make those notarized copies
     : for me.  
     : In my case the charge for sending my 1992 VW Jetta GL from
     : Baltimore to Bremerhafen is US$744 plus the insurance. 
     : The insurance costs 1.5 % the estimated value of your car. 
     : If I'd gone through the moving company, the insurance
     : would have been 2.5% the value.  
     : I understand that when I go to pick up my car in Germany
     : I'll need to pay some German port taxes.  The agent at Sea
     : Bridge advised me not to get an agent on the German side. 
     : He says that I could do the paper work myself in about 2
     : hours.  
   [end quote]

     : I shipped a car to Paris.  There are three ways to do it. 
     : First, you can have the car sent on a car-carrier.  This
     : is the most expensive way.  Would have cost me about
     : US$2000 to have the car delivered to Le Havre, France.  
     : Second choice, have the car shipped as if it were
     : household goods - ie, in a 40 foot container.  This way
     : they deliver it to your city, and maybe even to your home. 
     : Cost runs about US$1000.  
     : Final way, and the way I did it - I had the car shipped in
     : the 40 foot container WITH my household goods.  Ran me an
     : extra US$600 and I simply picked the car up at the
     : shipper's warehouse in Paris.  
     : Call any major moving company for details.  In Washington,
     : try "Security Storage", "Victory Van", or "Colonial
     : Storage".  
   [end quote]

     : For shipping cars US -> Europe you can try "Sunship
     : International" Harry Zaki (?)  1-800-344-9428 Aug '92:
     : US$900 
   [end quote]

     : [in 1992] I selected pick-up at home (in the US) and
     : delivery to the harbor in Antwerp; it did cost around US$
     : 1000.  I had it organized by "Rainier Movers(?)"
     : (somewhere in Washington state); can recommend them.  
   [end quote]

     : Last year I shipped my Mazda from Portland, Oregon to
     : Bremen, with the following costs: 

     :   o Truck to San Francisco US$250 
     :   o Ship from SFO to Bremen (via Panama) US$800 
     :   o Handling in Bremen DM300 
     :   o Customs and Tax ("Umzugsgut"!)  zilch 
     :   o remodeling for Tuev DM600 

     : Transport: "Bossi &amp; CO.  Inc.", 80 Park Avenue, P.O. 
     : Box 69, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, tel +1(201)659-4471,
     : fax 659-4325.  Customs: Since I had owned the car for more
     : than 6 months, and my residence was in the US, I was
     : exempted.  Otherwise it would have been 15% tax, 10%
     : customs (22% for pickups) based on the value of the car.  

     : Insurance: my German insurance insured the car temporarily
     : for remodeling.  

     : Remodeling: the car is a Mazda Miata, 1990.  It's sold
     : just the same in Germany.  I had to change: bright lights
     : to H4, turn signals separate from parking lights, brake
     : lights need individual fuses.  [3/95] 
   [end quote]

     : British vehicles need to change headlights ...  and still
     : have the steering wheel on the other side.  But can't do
     : the TUeV without having the headlights converted to
     : continental type.  Before also strict emissions testing
     : ...[1/96] 
   [end quote]



Subject: 24.4.3 Specific Shipping Companies
-------------------------------------------

   Abaco International Shippers in Chicago, Il offer special shipping
   rates to students moving over seas.  Can also be contacted by
   e-mail or tel +1(800)621-4504 
     <http://www.abaco1.com>
     <mailto:ABACOINTL@msn.com>


Subject: 24.5 Things to take to Germany?
----------------------------------------

   Contents: 
    => 24.5.1 Some Presents might be Lucrative Paraphernalia ;-) 
    => 24.5.2 Little Things Easily Forgotten 



Subject: 24.5.1 Some Presents might be Lucrative Paraphernalia ;-)
------------------------------------------------------------------


     o **Jeans**: A pair of l...'.  is about US$30 in the U.S., while
       you pay around DM 150 in Germany...  
     o **T-Shirts**, sweat-shirts, baseball-caps, mementos from such
       places as the Monterey Sea-Aquarium or the Museum of Modern
       Arts or the Air&amp;Space or Smithsonian museum (or whatever is
       in your neighborhood) 
     o **Computer**: software and paperback books about software and
       hardware.  publications by your favorite computer users group
       (BMUG, BCS, whatever) 
     o **Books**: paperbacks (non-fictional mostly), cartoons,
       cooking, travel guides, historical, biographies, etc...  
     o **Music**: CD's are much cheaper in the US, especially if you
       do one of those mail-order "buy 8, pay for 1/2" (and what do
       you mean I forgot to tell you about shipping&amp;handling?),
       and some cannot be easily found overseas.  Support your local
       starving-musicians and buy some of their stuff (CD's, T-shirts)
       at the next gig you in your favorite music hang-out...  
     o **Posters**: from museums, art boutiques, Natl.  Geo,
       Smithsonian, 
     o **Magazines**: Sunday NYT, last years Natl.  Geo.,
       Air&amp;Space, Smithsonian, Architectural Digest, Texas (or
       whatever is published monthly with your state's name on it -
       with lots of pictures and local lore...)  
     o **Rags**: CACM, IEEE, Foreign Affairs,...  specialty rags
       (Private Pilot, Sailing, Woodworking, Beer and Wine Making,...) 
     o **Deli**: Hunt's Spaghetti Sauce, KY Jelly, Tortillas, Tortilla
       Chips, Lemon&amp;Lime Chips, Guacamole, Mole, Bagels 
     o and if you are a photographer, why not make a couple of 8x10
       prints of some of your best (sign them and put them in a frame)
       ?!?  



Subject: 24.5.2 Little Things Easily Forgotten
----------------------------------------------

   If you need **a Foreign-German dictionary**, bring one.  You can
   find German-Foreign dictionaries, but they are not as good since
   they are oriented more towards people who know German.  The
   difference is subtle, the ones from your original country would
   probably be a lot more useful.  

   Remember that the **stores in Germany** are closed most of the
   time.  They close around six on weekdays, very early on Saturday,
   and all day Sundays.  There are almost no exceptions, so if you'll
   need something "right away", remember to bring it.  

   You can purchase better **Foreign-language tourist books** in your
   home country than in German bookstores.  (Maybe with the notable
   exception of English guides to metropolitan areas.)  

   You might want to consider purchasing a **calling card** in your
   home country for calling "home".  Chances are calls to your card
   are still cheaper than telekom-originated calls; <sigh> 

   Bring **important telephone numbers**, of course.  You don't want
   to pay for overseas directory assistance.  

   If you want **to rent an auto, do it in advance**, before you
   arrive in Europe.  It is hard to believe how expensive auto rentals
   are in Europe (3-4 times higher than in the US, e.g.!)  

   You'll have to figure out **how to pay your credit card**.  They
   probably won't let you slide for 3 months.  

   **Some ATM cards might work in Germany**.  This is probably the
   easiest and cheapest way to change currency.  But don't 100% depend
   on it.  

   **Bring some German currency**.  It's not always easy to change
   dollars, and there are often high fees.  Some banks charge for
   travelers checks others don't.  Best to be able to survive till you
   find one of the latter ones ;-) 

   Make sure that you have **a place to stay for the first few
   nights**.  During major events (industrial fair in Hannover;
   Octoberfest in Munich...)  all the hotels fill up for miles around. 
   [10/95] 


Subject: 24.6 Postdoc Experiences at a German University
--------------------------------------------------------

   All those "wunderbar" surprises that may or may not hit you, when
   you spend some time as a postdoc at a German university...  
     : **appartment**: 
     : I am paying DM440 (+DM150 "Nebenkosten") = DM590 for 35
     : m^2 in somebody's house.  They have converted the top
     : floor of their building into 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom and 1
     : room which serves as kitchen and "sitting room".  My
     : understanding is that I am getting a reasonably good deal. 
     : I imagine that comparable space in an apartment building
     : probably costs more.  Btw, don't forget to ask about the
     : "Nebenkosten".  The price quoted to me was just the DM450
     : and then I found out later they were going to add DM150
     : (supposedly to cover heating and water.)  "Oh, we always
     : do this in germany", she said.  I also pay electricity
     : extra but it's not much (~DM30 per month).  

     : **tax**: 
     : There are so many deductions that change every other month
     : that I have no idea what I'm supposed to be paying. 
     : however, everybody else seems to be having similar amounts
     : taken out of their pay.  I estimate that all deductions
     : *INCLUDING HEALTH AND OTHER INSURANCES* amount to about
     : 1/3 of my paycheck.  Initially it was about 1/2 until my
     : tax status stabilized.  I got the difference back the
     : following month.  

     : **insurance**: 
     : This depends on your income.  if it's low enough you are
     : obliged to have the government version; this is deducted
     : from the paycheck.  If your income is high enough you have
     : the choice of taking private insurance of which the
     : government will pay 1/2.  your contribution is also taken
     : out of your paycheck.  I have private insurance at DM690
     : per month (ouch!)  but it does cover visits to the
     : dentist.  

     : As regards insurance (personnel not health), one is
     : **very** strongly advised to get
     : **Haftpflichtversicherung** (3rd party or liability
     : insurance).  It's the one personal insurance one is most
     : strongly advised to get.  Although house contents
     : insurance etc is also a good idea.  Cause any damage to
     : anyone/anything and you will be liable.  No question of
     : going to court to settle a dispute, it is simply settled
     : by insurance claims.  If you have children you are liable
     : for any and all damage they do (your child runs into the
     : street and causes an oncoming vehicle to swerve into a
     : telegraph pole or another vehicle.  YOU are liable for all
     : damage (to both vehicles, the telegraph pole, etc) ...  DM
     : 2 Mio was the minimum (1993), 5 Mio was recommeded. 
     : [added 1/96] 

     : **eating out**: 
     : Is horribly expensive.  Cheap is ~DM15.  Decent is
     : DM20->30+.  No refills for coffee.  [customary in the US.]

     : **groceries and clothing**: 
     : Generally these are also more expensive than in the USA
     : but right now I guess the dollar is weak and this makes it
     : worse.  Food shopping is not that much more expensive but
     : clothes are usually quite a bit more expensive.  Typical
     : prices in a "j.c.penney" type store: shirts DM30-80,
     : trousers DM80-150 shoes DM100-200.  

     : **bureaucracy**: 
     : It seems that everything you want requires 10 forms plus
     : copies of birth certificates, passports, marriage licenses
     : (driver's license probably won't work) and whatever else
     : you can think of.  

     : note: I live in Aachen which is a medium sized town.  I'm
     : not sure how much different the cost of rent and food will
     : be in a large city.  

     : Hope this is of some use.  

     : Hi, 

     : I forgot to mention something.  It has to do with
     : **taxes/social security contributions** in germany. 
     : Unfortunately, when I went to see the people in the
     : administration, I spent about 1/2 hr and it was still not
     : clear to me what the deal was but the gist of it is: 

     : There is some kind of pension scheme into which everybody
     : ("Angestellte") pays ("Beamte" get this automatically I
     : think (?)).  however, if you are here for 1 year only, you
     : are exempt from these payments.  It turns out that my
     : contract here at RWTH Aachen will now be extended beyond
     : the original 1 year.  As a result, I now become obliged to
     : make these payments and what is more, I have to make
     : payments for the previous year as well.  The bottom line
     : of all this is that I have to pay (approximately) DM1000
     : straight down.  This came without warning.  I thought I
     : would let you know in case anybody else asks about taxes
     : etc; I'm sorry I don't have any more details.  
   [end quote]

   [9/95] 


Subject: 25 Urban Legends
=========================

   Contents: 
    => 25.1 "I am a jelly doughnut" 
    => 25.2 German Did Not Become the US's Official Language by 1
       Vote.  
    => 25.3 Once I heard that "Mein Kampf" is forbidden in Germany 



Subject: 25.1 "I am a jelly doughnut"
-------------------------------------

   In his famous speech in Berlin, J.  F.  Kennedy, the president of
   the United States, announced "Ich bin ein Berliner".  

   This is frequently (and willfully?!)  misconstrued as translating
   to the English phrase "I am a jelly doughnut".  While the German
   word "Berliner" indeed also refers to a German bakery deli, and a
   naive learner of the German language might be lead to believe
   Kennedy only embarrassed himself, it was actually never conceived
   in this meaning by the German audience.  

   For a scholarly discussion, see the following journal article: 

   Eichhoff, Juergen; Monatshefte, **85** no 1, (1993) p.  71.  "Ich
   bin ein Berliner": A History and a Linguistic Clarification. 
   Summary: President John F.  Kennedy's well-known exclamation has
   been often declared to be incorrect German, causing the President
   to be totally misunderstood by his audience.  It is shown here that
   and why the statement, translated for Kennedy by a native speaker
   of German, is the correct and the only correct way of expressing in
   German what the President wanted to say.  [10/95] 


Subject: 25.2 German Did Not Become the US's Official Language by 1 Vote.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

   There never was any such vote.  

   Dennis Baron, in "Declining Grammar", p.218: 
     : In 1795, a proposal in Congress to print all federal laws
     : in German as well as English lost by only one vote.  Known
     : as 'the German vote' or 'the Muhlenberg Vote,' after the
     : speaker of the house who reportedly stepped down to cast
     : the deciding negative, this event has been transmuted by
     : pro-English folk tradition into a myth that German came
     : close to replacing English as our national language.  
   [end quote]

   [10/95] 

   For a more complete account also read one of his posts to USENET. 
   [03/96] 
     <ftp://bohr.physics.purdue.edu/pub/scg/US.one.vote.txt>


Subject: 25.3 Once I heard that "Mein Kampf" is forbidden in Germany
--------------------------------------------------------------------

   There is no index of forbidden books.  Legally speaking, this is a
   question of copyright laws.  

   The state of Bavaria own the worldwide publishing rights to
   Hitler's "Mein Kampf".  They do not grant the right to publish,
   copy, or distribute the book in any form, on paper, electronically,
   or on tape, in an effort to hinder the spread of the book and
   message.  If you get any copy of the book printed **after 1945**,
   it was illegally produced and marketed.  
     <http://ftp.utas.edu.au/docs/flonta/DP,1,1,95/HITLER.html>


Subject: 26 Traditions and Cultural Oddities
============================================

   Contents: 
    => 26.1 German Holidays and Festivals 
    => 26.2 Walpurgisnight 
    => 26.3 Wedding Traditions?  
    => 26.4 Tongue Twisters 
    => 26.5 Skat -- Rules, Software?  
    => 26.6 Gluehwein Recipe 



Subject: 26.1 German Holidays and Festivals
-------------------------------------------

   Contents: 
    => 26.1.1 Holiday Dates 
    => 26.1.2 Carnival 
    => 26.1.3 Advent, St.  Nicholas and Christmas 



Subject: 26.1.1 Holiday Dates
-----------------------------

    Jan                 1            Neujahr    
                                     (New       
                                     Year)      

    Jan                 6            Heilige    
                                     Drei       
                                     Koenige    
                                     (Epiphany) 
                                     (BDW)      
                                     (BAY)      
                                     (SAN)      

    Feb                19 (*) 7      Rosenmonta 
                          weeks      g,         
                          before     Karneval   
                          Easter     no         
                          Monday     official   
                                     holiday,   
                                     but free   
                                     day in     
                                     most parts 
                                     of the     
                                     Rhineland< 
                                     BR>        
    Apr                 5 (*) Friday Karfreitag 
                          before     (Good      
                          Easter     Friday)    
                          Monday                
    Apr                 8 (*)        Ostermonta 
                                     g (Easter  
                                     Monday)    

    May                 1            Tag der    
                                     Arbeit     
                                     (Labour    
                                     Day)       

    May                16 (*) 11     Christi    
                          days       Himmelfahr 
                          before     t          
                          Whitsuntid (Ascension 
                          e, a       Day)       
                          Thursday              
    May                27 (*) 7      Pfingstmon 
                          weeks      tag        
                          after      (Whitsunti 
                          Easter     de)        
                          Monday                
    Jun                 6 (*) 10     Fronleichn 
                          days after am: BDW    
                          Whitsuntid HES NRW    
                          e, a       RLP SAR .  
                          Thursday   In SAC and 
                                     THU only   
                                     towns and  
                                     villages   
                                     which are  
                                     mostly     
                                     Roman      
                                     Catholic   

    Aug                15            Mariae     
                                     Himmelfahr 
                                     t in       
                                     Saarland,  
                                     in Bayern  
                                     in towns   
                                     and        
                                     village    
                                     which are  
                                     mostly     
                                     catholic   

    Oct                 3            Tag der    
                                     deutschen  
                                     Einheit    
                                     (National  
                                     holiday)   

    Oct                31            Reformatio 
                                     nstag      
                                     Reformatio 
                                     n Day BRB  
                                     MVP SAC    
                                     SAN In THU 
                                     only       
                                     towns/vill 
                                     ages with  
                                     mostly     
                                     protestant 
                                     population 


    Nov                 1            Allerheili 
                                     gen All    
                                     Saint's    
                                     Day BDW    
                                     BAY NRW    
                                     RLP SAR In 
                                     THU only   
                                     towns and  
                                     villages   
                                     which are  
                                     mostly     
                                     Roman      
                                     Catholic   

    Dec                24 (1/2)      Heilig     
                                     Abend      
                                     (Christmas 
                                     Eve)       

    Dec             25,26            Weihnachte 
                                     n          
                                     (Christmas 
                                     )          

    Dec                31 (1/2)      Silvester< 
                                     BR>        

    => (*) 
       variable holidays; dates are given for 1996.  
    => (ABC) 
       observed only in specified areas/states: BAY Bayern, NDS
       Niedersachsen, BDW Baden-Wuerttemberg, NRW Nordrhein-Westfalen,
       BER Berlin, RLP Rheinland-Pfalz, BRB Brandenburg, SAC Sachsen,
       HB Hansestadt Bremen, SAN Sachsen-Anhalt, HES Hessen, SAR
       Saarland, HH Hansestadt Hamburg, SHO Schleswig-Holstein, MVP
       Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, THU Thueringen, 
    => (1/2) 
       "half a holiday", i.e.  from around noon on 

   [02/96] 


Subject: 26.1.2 Carnival
------------------------

   In Germany the season of Carnival s referred to as "Karneval" or
   "Fastnacht" or "Fasching" depending on the region.  It's very
   different from e.g.  Brazilian or Venecian (Venice/Italy) Carnival. 
   In general, Carnival is a Catholic "festival".  In predominantly
   protestant areas you'll find little Carnival activities.  It is the
   period before Ash Wednesday, before the Lent, the fasting-days,
   begin.  People take it as the last opportunity to drink, eat and
   frolic to their hearts content.  Until Easter things will be going
   to some extremes.  
   A common throughout Germany is people's liking for costumes and
   disguises, may they be traditional (e.g.  in Baden or in
   Venice/Italy) or leaning towards the bizarre side as in the
   "Rheinische Karneval", (i.e.  between Mainz and the Dutch border
   along the river Rhine) Naturally, children like to dress up but
   adults do so, as well.  
   The "Rheinische Karneval" season begins on 11/11 at 11:11 a.m.  at
   which time people on market places of every major Rhineland town
   celebrate "Hoppeditz Erwachen" ("The awaking of Hoppeditz", a
   figure in the Carnival).  Typical music is played, disguised people
   drink beer, wine, champagne...  and Hoppeditz rises from his bed
   (or grave).  This beginning mark is not really a big event,
   however, very quickly normal day-to-day life takes over again;
   Christmas passes..., Silvester passes...  but eventually Carnival
   gets going!  Some "Sitzungen" start being held here and there;
   people commence at halls for a show that starts precisely at 7:11
   (or 8:11) p.m.  On the stage a panel of eleven (the "Elferrat")
   presides the "Sitzung" and some "artists" (who can be ordinary
   people) come on stage.  Music groups perform and dance groups and
   especially "Buettenredner" -- men and women who make mocking
   speeches about everyday life, politics (local, national,
   international) and so on.  The most important of the evening are,
   however, the Prince and Princess of Carnival.  Every town has their
   own royal couple.  The Prince and Princess' guards bear wooden
   rifles and wear uniforms resembling those of Napoleon's armies
   which occupied the Rhineland from about 1800 to 1815.  Their manner
   of conducting serves to ridicule military in general.  
   The "hot phase" of Karneval starts on 11:11am of the Thursday
   before Ash Wednesday, the so-called "Weiberfastnacht" (Carnival of
   women), the day women take control.  From Saturday to Tuesday
   parades take place in many towns; the most important ones are on
   "Rosenmontag" ...  starting at (you guess!)  11:11am.  The three
   big ones are in Duesseldorf, Cologne and Mainz.  In the parades you
   see some brass bands, a lot of disguised people, a few guests from
   abroad (US brass bands, Brazilian groups; only in the big parades)
   and many "Motivwagen".  Those are tractors with a trailor
   displaying a motive, some paper dolls representing celebraties or
   politicians to mock about...  other "Wagen" carry the Prince and
   Princess, or their guards or the children prince and princess.  All
   parading groups throw sweets or other goodies into the watching
   crowd.  Spectators along the way shout "Helau" or "Alaaf"
   (depending on the area.)  There are different traditions to end up
   Carnival.  On Ash Wednesday 0:00, Carnival is over.  The
   "Hoppeditz" goes back to his grave, or the "nibbel" has to be
   burnt...  


Subject: 26.1.3 Advent, St. Nicholas and Christmas
--------------------------------------------------

   **Advent** is very similar to the way it is celebrated in the US,
   except for the wreath displayed with four candles on a table
   instead of being hung on the door.  

   **St.  Nicholas** is based on a historic figure who provided
   charities to people in need during the winter months.  
   In the catholic tradition, on the eve before December 6th St. 
   Nicholaus comes to the children's houses, accompanied by his
   servant, "Krampus".  He reads out of "the golden book" all good and
   bad attributes of the kids and the generaly well-behaved children
   will get small presents (traditionally fruit, nuts, and cookies)
   But the "bad" ones receive a birching from Krampus...and the really
   bad apples are taken away in Krampus's big sack.  

   **Christmas** is celebrated on the evening of December 24th.  As a
   child, you will be told to remain in your room from late afternoon
   on, because the christ-child (das "Christkind") will come tonight. 
   While in bed, your parents prepare the Christmas tree
   ("Weihnachtsbaum").  After sunset (maybe 6pm) you are asked to join
   your parents.  A special Christmas dinner may be served (not in the
   room with the Weihnachtsbaum.)  When the family has almost finished
   dinner one of the parents sneak out and ring a little bell.  The
   other parent exclaims: "O' das Christkind was just here!" which is
   your cue to open the door and for the first time you see the
   Weihnachtsbaum -- and all the presents underneat.  Then everyone
   wishes everybody else a "Froehliche Weihnachten"; you open your
   presents and play until you fall asleep under the tree.  This is
   the one night in a year, when you do not have to go to bed early. 
   [03/96] 


Subject: 26.2 Walpurgisnight
----------------------------

   On April 30th, in the Harz Mountains, near Hahnenklee and Bad Grund
   some odd things happen.  At Blocksberg and Brocken you will see
   some of the few last real witches leaping over camp fires...and (if
   you are really lucky) taking off on their broom stick into the air
   for their annual journey to where no one knows...  [04/96] 


Subject: 26.3 Wedding Traditions?
---------------------------------

   Of course, there is no single accepted tradition.  You'll find lots
   of peculiar behavior surrounding this event...some of them: 
     : I remember being surprised at seeing in Idar Oberstein,
     : Rheinland Pfalz, people carrying dishes out to the street
     : and smashing them, and a young couple, turned out bride
     : and groom (to be?)  trying to keep them swept up. 
     : Apparently the custom is that all old dishes should be
     : broken before the wedding, and the marriage will be
     : excellent if the couple can keep up with the sweeping.  
   [end quote]

     : During the reception the bride is kidnapped by the wedding
     : witnesses (best man etc.)  to a local bar or restaurant,
     : the groom has to go "rescue" her and pay the bill at the
     : local bar.  
   [end quote]

     : German receptions last very long into the night - at
     : midnight the bride's veil comes off and is given to the
     : next girl/woman who is going to get married.  
   [end quote]

     : The first dance is danced by the bride and the groom, it
     : is traditionally a waltz!  The next dance is only for
     : bride with father and groom with mother, while bride's
     : mother dances with groom's father.  The day/night before
     : the wedding there is the tradition of the "Polterabend",
     : where everybody who knows of this wedding is coming to the
     : bride's house and brings old dishes (ceramics - NO glass -
     : bad luck) and breaks them in the front yard (drive way),
     : this is done for good luck!  And the brides parents
     : generally provide refreshments - beer (very German).  The
     : bride and the groom have to clean up everything that same
     : evening with a broom, and they have to do it each time
     : somebody breaks something else, so they never get to sit
     : down.  
   [end quote]

     : Germans wear wedding rings on the **right** hand!  And the
     : groom and bride have identical rings (wedding "bands" -
     : **no** diamonds).  
   [end quote]

     : In Northern Germany they like to play a trick on the
     : wedded couple, while they are in church, getting married. 
     : As they come back they will find all their furniture on
     : the roof of the house where they are going to live, and
     : all the doors locked, i.e.  barricaded, no way to get in
     : the normal way.  The first obstacle for the couple to take
     : then is to somehow get into the house and the furniture
     : off the roof, beds, chest drawers and everything, usually
     : through a whole in the roof.  No outside help, but
     : everybody will be watching ...  [04/96] 
   [end quote]

     : What I thought was quite romantic about their weddings was
     : how they decorate the hood of the bride/grooms wedding car
     : with lots of flowers (compared to the junk they put on and
     : tie to Americans cars) They form a procession after the
     : wedding and drive through town honking their horns. 
     : Friendly Germans always honk back wishing the couple "Good
     : Luck".  I've witnessed this in a few parts of Germany, and
     : think it is a nice tradition!  [04/96] 
   [end quote]



Subject: 26.4 Tongue Twisters
-----------------------------

   Challenge your German pronunciation skills with these...  

     o "Fischers Fritze fischt frische Fische." 
     o "In Ulm, um Ulm und um Ulm herum." 
     o "Der Cottbusser Postkutscher putzt den Cottbusser
       Postkutschkasten mit Cottbusser Postkutschkastenpaste." 
     o "Der uralte Riese Ruebezahl zaehlte rote Rueben im
       Riesengebirge." 
     o "Zwischen zwei Zwetschgenzweigen zwitscherten zwei Schwalben." 
     o "Blaukraut bleibt Blaukraut und Brautkleid bleibt Brautkleid." 
     o "In Mischa's Schischuh schwimmt ein Misch-Masch aus
       Sushi-Sossen." 
     o "Hob's B'steck z'spot b'stoet.  (Ich habe das Besteck zu spaet
       bestellt.)" 
     o "lilafarbenes wollenes Flanellaeppchen" 
     o "Ob er aber ueber Oberammergau oder aber ueber Unterammergau
       kommt, wuesste er noch nicht." 
     o "Wir Wiener Weiber wuerden weisse Waesche waschen, wenn wir
       wuessten, wo warmes Wasser waere." [06/96] 

   [1/96] 


Subject: 26.5 Skat -- Rules, Software?
--------------------------------------

   There are a fistfull of aces available: 

     o Skat 1.1.2 -- highest-quality Skat shareware.  (Mac) [07/96] 
         <http://140.103.2.124/Skatpages/Skatarchive/Skat112.sea.hqx>
     o Skat 3.0 is available as a demo.  (Windows) [07/96] 
         <http://www.wooster.edu/economics/sk/SkatDemo30.hqx>
     o DosSkat (is what it says...a DOS program) [07/96] 
         <http://140.103.2.124/Skatpages/Skatarchive/dosskat.zip>
     o There's also an all-new Windows Skat program, **Skat 2095**. 
       Full information is available on the Skat home page and you can
       also download a demo of Skat 2095 from there.  The program is
       quite nice and includes illustrations by Ulli Stein.  [07/96] 
         <http://140.103.2.124/Skatdflt.html>

       CreaTeam-Software, Kay Elbert, Suenderup 8, 24943 Flensburg,
       Germanys 
       tel: +49-461-64808, fax: +49-461-64095 [07/96] 

   A rough description containing the rules can be obtained here... 
   [4/95] 
     <file://bohr.physics.purdue.edu/pub/scg/SKAT>

   ..a more comprehensive text-version of the rules of Skat as well as
   numerous sample hands can be found at Wooster College.  [9/95] 
     <http://140.103.2.124/Skatpages/Skatarchive/Beginnerskat.txt>

   ...and yoo, there's also a dedicated homepage.  Just for
   International Skat :-) Contains a beginner's guide, sample hands
   and some Skat history.  Also included is information about Skat
   activities in the US.  
     <http://140.103.2.124/>



Subject: 26.6 Gluehwein Recipe
------------------------------

    => How to make Gluehwein: "Lechner's Kochbuch" 
        3 cups     red wine   

        1 cup      water      

        1/2        cinnamon   
                   stick      

        3          cloves     

        1/2        lemon's    
                   juice      

        some       lemon      
                   peel       


   Mix and heat up everything (don't let it boil, though); serve hot. 
   [02/96] 

   And a variation: 
     : Take a huge pot or kettle.  Place in it 1/2 cup of water. 
     : Add 1 tbsp ground cinnamon and 1 tbsp ground cloves and
     : juice of 1 lemon.  Bring to a boil.  Add a 4-liter jug of
     : burgundy (or other cheap red wine).  Heat, but make sure
     : the temperature stays below 170 degrees Fahrenheit
     : (boiling point of ethyl alcohol).  Add sugar to taste and
     : brandy for additional wallop if the outside temperature
     : drops below 0.  Walk, don't drive home!  
   [end quote]

   [02/96] 


Subject: 27 Genealogy
=====================

   Contents: 
    => 27.1 Where is Famous ...  Buried?  
    => 27.2 How do I Find Out About my Family Name?  

   Tracing yours and others' ancestry 


Subject: 27.1 Where is Famous ... Buried?
-----------------------------------------

   For burial sites of famous Europeans pick up a copy of the
   "Handbuch der Grabstaetten": 

    1. Aubert, Joachim; "Handbuch der Grabstaetten beruehmter
       Deutscher, Oesterreicher und Schweizer.  2.  Ed."; Muenchen;
       Dt.  Kunstverlag (1977); ISBN 3-422-00335-5 
    2. Adler; Josef; "Die Grabstaetten beruehmter Europaeer";
       Muenchen, Berlin; Dt.  Kunstverlag (1986); ISBN 3-422-00782-2 

   [1/96] 


Subject: 27.2 How do I Find Out About my Family Name?
-----------------------------------------------------

    => online info 
       Read the newsgroups soc.genealogy.*; in particular
       soc.genealogy.german and get their FAQ lists.  If your server
       doesn't not carry these newsgroups, nag your news-admin, then
       subscribe to one the email gateway listservers; 
         <http://w3g.med.uni-giessen.de/gene/faqs/FAQ.html>

       from Europe 

           send email    To: listserv@rz.uni-karlsruhe.de
           with body     SUBSCRIBE GEN-DE-L user_name
       from elsewhere 
           send email    To: listserv@mail.eworld.com
           with body     SUBSCRIBE GEN-DE-L user_name
       Als try this gopher site or the US WWW site www.genealogy.com
       and its mirror site in Giessen .[1/96] 
         <gopher://Alpha.CC.UToledo.edu:70/11GOPHER_ROOT%3a%5bRESEARCH-RESOURCES.genealogy%5d>
         <http://www.genealogy.com/>
         <http://w3g.med.uni-giessen.de/gene/>

       Further you can try to ftp information from ftp.genealogy.com,
       which has a wealth of information about genealogy.  
         <ftp://ftp.genealogy.com>

       Have a look at the attempt to create a world-wide genealogical
       databases, dubbed GenWeb.  
         <http://demo.genweb.org/gene/genedemo.html>

    => In the USA you may want to...  
       go to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS.) 
       and visit one of their Family History Centers (FHC) and run a
       computer check to see if your family name appears on the
       International Genealogical Index (IGI.)  This may provide you
       with the general kingdom, duchy, province, (whatever) where
       your family name appears.  It is then up to you to contact the
       genealogical association from that area.  [4/95] 

       be sure to check all available U.S.  sources: local church
       records, citizenship papers, census reports, passenger lists,
       social security files, war records (civil, WWI, WWII, etc)
       which may list the origin of birth.  [11/94] 

    => "Deutsche Zentralstelle fuer Genealogie" 
       Kaethe Kollwitzstr.  82, 04109 Leibzig, Germany, tel
       +49(341)401 1113 

       The Center won't provide you with your family tree, but
       promises to answer specific questions (the more specific, the
       better your chances of success!)  Their collection includes
       100,000 personal documents and 16,000 church registers (dating
       back to the sixteenth century) and basic information on more
       than 1.4 million people is available.  

   [4/95] 


Subject: 28 Humor
=================

   Contents: 
    => 28.1 It's True...  
    => 28.2 Some Humorists 



Subject: 28.1 It's True...
--------------------------

   Yipp, the utterly small number of German humorists survive on bread
   crumps, telling their story to an ever-frowning audience of busily
   passing ignorants; their history fills a single-volume history (of
   one page), and the library of Emden had to close down because
   someone stole the book.  

   Possibly one treat of German humor can be mentioned...irony. 
   [03/96] 


Subject: 28.2 Some Humorists
----------------------------


     o Wilhelm Busch 
     o Karl Valentin 
     o Herbert Rosendorfer 
     o Otto Walkes 
     o Heinz Erhardt 
     o Dieter Hildebrandt 
     o Gerhard Polt 
     o Dieter Huesch 
     o Loriot 

   [03/96] 


Subject: 29 Questions and Answers
=================================

   Contents: 
    => 29.1 Where do I Keep Up with German Soccer Results?  
    => 29.2 Ich lebe zur Zeit nicht in Deutschland.  Wie kann ich...  
    => 29.3 Mail Ordering Other Stuff?  
    => 29.4 How can I Find Out about that Famous ...  



Subject: 29.1 Where do I Keep Up with German Soccer Results?
------------------------------------------------------------

   If you ask Thomas Hofmeister he will send you the most recent
   soccer results via email from
   hofmeist@zorro.informatik.uni-dortmund.de.  His postings are also
   archived on a WWW-Server.  [2/94] 
     <http://ls2-www.informatik.uni-dortmund.de/Buli/Buli.html.>


Subject: 29.2 Ich lebe zur Zeit nicht in Deutschland. Wie kann ich...
---------------------------------------------------------------------

   Contents: 
    => 29.2.1 ...meinen auslaendischen akademischen Titel uebertragen? 
    => 29.2.2 ...mein Wahlrecht wahrnehmen?  

   (Because this is only important for Germans, I write this in
   German.  There are just too many special legal terms involved to do
   it in English ...)  


Subject: 29.2.1 ...meinen auslaendischen akademischen Titel uebertragen?
------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Es gibt jetzt eine Broschuere, "Anerkennung auslaendischer
   Studienleistungen und auslaendischer Hochschulabschluesse", welche
   kostenlos vom Bundesministerium fuer Bildung und Wissenschaft,
   53170 Bonn, angefordert werden kann.  Dort drin sind dann auch
   Adressen von verschiedenen Behoerden zu finden.  

   Generelles zum Thema: 

     o Zustaendig ist das Bundesland, in dem man seinen Wohnsitz hat. 
     o Die Regelungen der verschiedenen Bundeslaender sind **nicht**
       einheitlich.  
     o Das "Fuehren auslaendischer Titel und Grade" ist ohne vorherige
       Genehmigung durch das zustaendige Bundesland **strafbar** !  
     o In Bayern sieht es so aus: 

        + Auslaendische Titel duerfen nur in der Originalform gefuehrt
          werden 
        + Eine Konvertierung auslaendischer Titel (also z.B.  M.S ->
          Dipl.-Ing.  Ph.D.  -> Dr.  etc.)  ist in Bayern lt. 
          Auskunft des Kultusministeriums **nicht** moeglich.  
        + Mit der Fuehrungsgenehmigung ist keine Anerkennung
          verbunden.  


   Weitere wichtige Fakten, die ihr wissen solltet: 

   Fuer alle Bundeslaender: 

     o Um einen auslaendischen akademischen Grad in seiner
       Originalform fuehren zu duerfen, bedarf es einer "Erlaubnis zum
       Fuehren ..." 
     o Diese Erlaubnis erteilt das Kultusministerium des Bundeslandes,
       in welchem der erste Wohnsitz liegt.  Fuer Personen, die nicht
       in Deutschland wohnen, erteilt das Land NRW die Erlaubnis.  
     o Die Erlaubnis kostet etwa 100-150 DM Bearbeitungsgebuehr.  Die
       Bearbeitung dauert etwa einen Monat.  
     o Die Erlaubnis besagt nichts ueber eine Gleichwertigkeit.  Sie
       stellt lediglich fest, dass der Titel rechtmaessig erworben
       wurde und gibt an, in welcher Form er verwendet werden darf. 
       Zum Beispiel wird aus einem Master of Science, der an der State
       University of New York at Albany erworben wurde, ein "Master of
       Science at State University of New York at Albany". 
       Gleichzeitig werden auch zulaessige Abkuerzungen mitgeteilt
       (Bsp: M.S.  (SUNYA)).  

   Fuer alle Bundeslaender ausser Bayern: 

   Es gibt noch den zweiten Weg (ausser in Bayern): Ihr koennt einen
   im Ausland erworbenen Titel als einem deutschen gleichwertig
   anerkennen lassen.  Die Bearbeitung ist dann im allgemeinen etwas
   aufwendiger (laenger, teurer).  Das Ergebnis ist, dass ihr euch
   dann statt Ph.D Dr.  phil nennen duerft (oder auch Dr.  rer. 
   nat.).  Die Details sind von Bundesland zu Bundesland sehr
   verschieden.  Diese Anerkennung kann auch abgelehnt werden.  

   In einem Beispiel (Baden-Wuerttemberg) wurde ein amerikanischer
   Master (in Computer Science) in einen Magister umgewandelt.  Dies
   wurde mit der Studienzeit begruendet, welche kuerzer war als die
   Regelstudienzeit fuer einen Diplom-Informatiker.  

   Wer nicht in Deutschland gemeldet ist, muss sich an das
   Kultusministerium von Nordrhein-Westfalen wenden.  Es wird dann ein
   Nachweis verlangt, dass man wirklich im Ausland lebt.  Da es in
   vielen Laendern (speziell USA) keine Meldepflicht gibt, muss
   normalerweise der umgeschriebene Pass vorgelegt werden (Kopie
   reicht).  Andere Nachweise sind zum Beispiel ein Auszug aus der
   DMV-Kartei (im wesentlichen besagt dieser, dass man einen
   amerikanischen Fuehrerschein hat, welcher auf eine amerikanische
   Adresse ausgestellt wurde).  

   Die Adresse in NRW: 
   Ministerium fuer Wissenschaft und Forschung, des Landes NRW,
   Postfach 101103, (Voelkinger Str.  49), 40002 Duesseldorf 
   tel +49(211)896-4335, fax +49(211)896-4555 

   Verlangt wird in NRW (wie sonst auch): Beglaubigte Kopie des
   Abiturzeugnisses und der Verleihungsurkunde fuer den amerikanischen
   Grad, Kopie eines Wohnsitznachweises, ausgefuelltes
   Antragsformular.  Nach der Bearbeitung wird eine Gebuehr verlangt
   (war 150 DM).  Ein Ph.D.  wird in Dr.  rer.  nat.  (USA)
   umgewandelt.  Die Bearbeitung dauert etwa 3-4 Monate.  

   Eine Korrektur: 
   Auslaendische Akademische Grade, welche in englisch, franzoesisch,
   spanisch sowie einigen anderen Sprachen verliehen wurden, werden
   seit neuestem, bundesweit, nur noch in ihrer Originalform mit
   Zusatz anerkannt.  Diese Information habe ich einem Merkblattes des
   Kultusministriums in NRW entnommen.  Aus einem Ph.D wird also kein
   Dr.  (USA) mehr sondern ein Ph.D (USA).  Eine Erlaubnis zum Fuehren
   des Titels in seiner Originalform wird immer dann gegeben, wenn die
   Universitaet welche den Titel verliehen hat im jeweiligen Land zum
   verleihen des Titels berechtigt ist.  Die Gebuehren sind nach wie
   vor etwas ueber 100 DM.  [03/96] 

   Eine Ergaenzung: 
   Der vorliegende Gesetzesauszug ist der Paragraph 141 des Gesetzes
   ueber die Universitaeten des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalens
   (Universitaetsgesetz - UG) vom 20.11.79 zuletzt geaendert durch
   Gesetz vom 6.7.93.  
   Demnach koennen saemtliche Hochschulgrade, staatliche Titel, und
   Bezeichnungen, die an einer staatlichen oder staatlich anerkannten
   Hochschule in einem anderen Mitgliedstaat der EU erworben worden
   sind, gefuehrt werden.  
   Da diese Regelung sich unmittelbar aus der Richtlinie des Rates
   (der EU) vom 21.12.88 ergibt (89/58/EWG), duerften sich
   entsprechende Regelungen in allen anderen Bundeslaendern und
   Staaten der EU wiederfinden.  [03/96] 


Subject: 29.2.2 ...mein Wahlrecht wahrnehmen?
---------------------------------------------

   Jeder Deutsche im Sinne des Grundgesetzes mit staendigem Aufenthalt
   im Ausland ist wahlberechtigt, wenn er sich nicht laenger als 10
   Jahre im Ausland aufhaelt.  Waehlen darf nur, wer in ein
   Waehlerverzeichnis eingetragen ist.  Da man bei staendigem
   Aufenthalt im Ausland nicht automatisch in ein Waehlerverzeichnis
   (ueber das Einwohnermeldeamt) eingetragen wird, muss man einen
   foermlichen Antrag auf Eintragung in ein Waehlerverzeichnis stellen
   und gleichzeitig eine Versicherung an Eides Statt abgeben, dass man
   Deutscher im Sinne des Grundgesetzes ist, einem das Wahlrecht nicht
   aberkannt wurde usw.  

   [Zitat aus der Broschuere] 
     : Fuer jeden Antragsteller ist ein besonderes Formblatt (in
     : Erst- und Zweitausfertigung auszufuellen.  Sammelantraege
     : sind nicht moeglich.  Der Antrag sollte fruehstmoeglich
     : gestellt werden; er muss spaetestens bis zum 21.  Tage vor
     : der Wahl bei der zustaendigen Gemeindebehoerde eingegangen
     : sein.  Die Antragsfrist kann nicht verlaengert werden.  In
     : das Waehlerverzeichnis eingetragene Wahlberechtigte
     : erhalten ueber die Eintragung keine Benachrichtigung. 
     : Ihnen werden - bei fruehestmoeglicher Antragstellung - der
     : Wahlschein und die Briefwahlunterlagen ca.  1 Monat vor
     : dem Wahltag uebersandt.  

     : Zustaendige Gemeindebehoerde, an die der Antrag zu richten
     : ist, ist: 

     :   o die Gemeindebehoerde der letzten "gemeldeten"
     :     Hauptwohnung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, 
     :   o der Oberstadtdirektor der Stadt Bonn - Stadthaus,
     :     Berliner Platz 2, D-53103 Bonn, wenn der
     :     Wahlberechtigte noch nie fuer eine Wohnung in der
     :     Bundesrepublik Deutschland gemeldet war.  

   [end quote]

   [5/94] 


Subject: 29.3 Mail Ordering Other Stuff?
----------------------------------------

   **Software, CD-ROM's etc.** 


     o **NBG USA INC.** 482 Holly Avenue, St.  Paul, MN 55102, tel
       +1(800)624-8729 
       email nbgusa@winternet.com Their catalog contains a lot of
       German software!  E.g.  "compact electronic book: Neues Grosses
       Lexikon" (50,000 terms) on CD for US$29.99.  A tour of the
       Munich Zoo for US$19.99.  An educational CD (in German) for
       US$24.99.  A CD of German shareware for US$9.99.  Some Mac and
       some Spanish/French/English stuff is included, too.  [4/95] 

   **German Stores** 


     o **Quelle** They used to have an American branch office, but
       that's closed now, it seems.  Only way to reach them is by WWW. 
         <http://www.quelle.com>
     o **Otto** Also reachable on the net.  
         <http://www.quelle.com>



Subject: 29.4 How can I Find Out about that Famous ...
------------------------------------------------------

   For German "public figures" check out the "Munzinger-Archiv"; a
   collection of leaflets containing biographical data of numerous
   people.  [02/96] 
--
         *  *      ralf <mailto:vogelges@physics.purdue.edu>
          *Q *
        *_/|- 	   maintainer of the soc.culture.german FAQ:
          / ! 	   <http://www.physics.purdue.edu/~vogelges/faq.html>
