random musings

before i post about the heidelberg schloss i thought i'd write about some of my experiences here. these are completely random are not about a particular place. just me either having trouble doing something or just noticing the difference between australia and europe, whether it be the way people behave or me being a stupid traveller. the first thing i want to talk about is customer service. it doesn't exist here. i'm so used to going into a place and the person behind the counter being friendly and wanting to help, here not so much. before anybody starts, it's not about me being taken for american or a language barrier thing, it simply does not exist. example, i walked into a shop the other day and was made to wait as the girl behind the counter could finish her conversation. at the castle we had to wait as the guy behind the counter continued his conversation on his mobile phone. people sigh when you try to interrupt them and don't seem too concerned that you are becoming completely put off buying whatever it was you came in for. this doesn't happen everywhere, but 9 out of 10 times it happens. the other night i had to ring up for my credit card (to australia) and it felt so wonderful to have a chat to the girl as she worked on her computer. alexis was in the room and when i finished he said, 'why were you talking to her so much? did she have to give an interview? why was she asking so many questions?' my response was, 'because that's customer service!' the idea is that you make people feel welcome and want to continue business with you, not like you're putting them out by asking them to do their job. i will say though, that france seemed to get the customer service angle. it may be just a german thing. who knows. although in true stereotyped french fashion, waiters treat you like crap. i nearly giggled at one when he sighed and then asked for our order. i have also noticed that when you try to talk german to a person behind a counter they seem amused and generally interested in what's going on. this was only in heidelberg though. this could be down to all the american bases here and the fact that most americans don't care to try german.

the transport here is brilliant, always on time and very clean. they do like to change the track trains run on without telling people, and they don't list all the stops on a train line, so watch out! although trying to figure out which ticket to buy is also very amusing. i have no idea what i'm pressing for the trams in heidelberg. i usually just press buttons until i get something that is the right price. although the other day i think i bought a ticket for the stadium. i didn't even know heidelberg had a stadium, let alone a ticket for it!

people like to stare here. when i say stare, i mean eye to eye, like they're sizing you up. as an australian i found this a little unnerving at first. i remember walking down the street and after the 4th person did it i started feeling around my face thinking something was wrong. haha. now i'm used to it though i just stare back and see how long it takes for them to look away. i'll be damned if i'm losing a staring contest to a stranger. this social occurrence is usually done by old people. it's like they think we can't have an army to beat you, so we'll just glare and make you uncomfortable. doesn't work anymore fools! i've learnt to stare back and not blink. now who's uncomfortable, hey?

while i'm on the subject of the general public, people like to push past you here. they don't go around you as you walk, they come straight at you. i'm sure this is fine for them, but having heard many tales of pick-pockets and muggings, every time it happens i instinctively go for my wallet to make sure. in strasbourg i felt really awkward and uncertain. i kept double checking my passport was still in my pocket an sizing people up, as if ready to pounce and beat the crap out of the person who dared to start me.

people here drink on the street down the hauptstrasse. i find this odd and completely startling. alexis thinks i'm weird because of it, but i'm used to thinking that people milling around drinking are usually up to something or waiting to cause trouble. i suppose this is my own problem as what i'm used to, but at the same time, if i can't understand what they're talking about, then i'm going to get nervous around drunks in a group on the streets.

that's about it for now, i'm sure there's plenty more to talk about, but i don't feel the need to show all my insecurities in just one post. next time i swear i'll write about the castle or at least something constructive with pictures.

tchuss