1/26/11

Tauschring

My cold walk to train station


Today was just one of those "strange days".  We had a babysitter coming, but Jason ended up having a late meeting. Despite the downpour of snow and my awful cold, I decided to utilize the sitter and go downtown to get a little shopping done.  This time my umbrella was in hand as I walked to catch the train.  I have finally figured out why people carry them in the snow- It is NOT to keep the snow off, but rather to block the gust of frigid wind that plays freeze tag with your face.

First stop- The four story bookstore "Wittwer" which covers almost a city block.  I had a gift certificate from Christmas burning a hole in my pocket.  Note to self-Don't do so much research and type up lists of books to buy when there is a limited English section consisting of 5 bookshelves.   I had to laugh at myself standing there with a 3 page list.

 Next stop-boot shopping. I have finally figured out that high heel boots and snow/ice DO NOT get along well.  People always talk about the "poor customer service" in the German stores.  I had yet to find this true.....until tonight.  Maybe I scared the clerks with  my big ole white down coat, my huge peasant wool gloves, ear flap dutch hat and my Southern accented German. I have to say I started feeling a little insecure due to the language barrier, and my lack of knowledge on the correct shoes size in EU measurements.  Then add in the fact that In Germany the shoes are on numerous shelves organized by size, not by style. So, you find the little plaque with sizes and see what is available in your size.  That is.....if you can find the little plaque and know your size. Enough of that...

Next stop-I was off to find a new hat.  This is where the fun begins. After finding the perfect hat, I began asking the sales people where the "Kasse" was located.  Their answers and my bad understanding of fast German, sent me on a wild goose chase.  I never could find the Kasse (Cash register) but did figure out that I had dropped one of my gloves somewhere in Breuninger (Huge store like Macys on 5th)  I stood there and just started laughing.  I mean really, I am already in a store that makes me nervous and now of all things to lose in the frigid weather when I still had a long walk back to the train.  I tried to find the word on my I-phone for "have lost" but the 3G network was down and the store was closing in 10 minutes.  UGH..this meant a call to Jason during his meeting. After the call, I begun my rounds and I do mean rounds, of asking in German "Ich habe meinen Handschuh verloren. Haben Sie Handschuh gefunden? ( I have lost my glove, have you found a glove) After saying this to five people-BINGO, one sales clerk said yes and gave me a quick answer in German.  I caught customer and four, so I started my next round of questions in German, "wo ist das Kunden-Center "  (Where is the customer center)  I made my way across what felt like a mile long hike to the other end of the store and up to the fourth floor only to be told, "wir haben keinen Handschuh!"(We don't have any gloves)  But what do you know....another Customer Service lady took one look at me (I am sure I looked really scary at this point with my nose running from the cold, face red from embarrasment and sweating since I still had on my down coat, wool scarf and there heat was turned up to 90degrees!) She quickly told the other lady where my glove was located. 

Next stop....This is where is gets WIERD....I am on the elevator and to the point of JUST GET ME OUT OF HERE.....when I hear a lady yelling what I think is "geschnitt....geschnitt..geschnitt" (to have cut over and over)  Well just today I had learned the past tense of "To cut" and why is that lady yelling that to me?!?!? She jumps on my elevator and starts talking very quick German to me.  I have no idea what she is saying so I just answer "Ya" with a quick head nod.   When the door finally opens, I almost start running.....I need fresh air!!!  Then I hear the same voice calling me again, but this time in English.  I turn with dread....."yes, I answer her, I am American" She then asks, "Can you help me with an English Verb Participle I don't understand" Little did she know she had picked the WRONG person to ask any type of English Grammar clarifications. I do pretty good just to speak any language much less dissect it for you.  Long story short....she stood there and talked to me about Grammar rules for French vs. English vs. German for 20 minutes as I stood there thinking "HOW DO THESE PEOPLE ALWAYS FIND ME?"  I knew we (SHE) was coming to the end of this conversation when she asked, "What sector are you with"  Me, "Sector??? what is a sector?"  Her," well you don't look like agriculture"  me, "What the heck, I have no idea what you are even asking me"  Then she asked if I was a part of Tauschring.  I had no idea what that was and needless to say,  I got real nervous.  All I could think of was that this lady was in some sort of crime ring and wanted me to join. (thanks to my  wild imagination)  When I got home and translated this term, I learned what "Tauschring" truly means.  You can see the brief explanation I copied from the internet at bottom of post.


tapestry on ceiling!
enjoying my soup
Next stop-Wine cafe --because I NEED a glass of wine after the last hour of crazy.  I had heard of " Scholz" but it was better than heaven compared to my last hour.  This cafe has big glass windows, dark black tiled floors, tapestries of kings and horses line the ceiling, little leather chairs and couches surround the tables which allow you to watch the trendy crowd inside and the snow outside.  I had the best tomato soup- with bits of fresh mozzarella which was accompanied with a piece of rye bread and a nice big glass of "Rot Wein".

Between my hot meal and a peaceful walk to the train station that allowed me to take great photos of the city (people weren't out because the snow turned to rain) I decided it was a pretty good day after all.... Here are some pictures of the Stuttgart on a quiet desolate night.
The contrast of "old" mixed with "new"

I doubt he was in a Tauschring
Again, "modern museum" built right by the Palace
 Tauschring emerged in Germany in the mid-1990s for the same reasons they emerged elsewhere: economic recession, high unemployment and lack of money. The situation was exacerbated by reunification of east and west Germany. Unemployment levels are still 20 or 30% in some parts of East Germany today.  Tauschring, through which people with little or no money could trade objects and favours (Gib und Nimm; ‘Give and take’).Through the exchange circle, people came in contact with each other in a new way. They felt useful and worthwhile and appreciated the social aspect of their contact.





4 comments:

  1. So she figured you're here in Germany because of hard times in the US? People will seriously just blurt out anything, won't they? Wow

    Anywho, I still can't remember my German shoe size when put on the spot, and we've lived here for 10 years. 38 sounds right lol (I wear a 7 1/2 US). But my husband doesn't remember so well either and he is German. So whatever.

    And I seriously cannot understand why stores turn up the heat to 100 degrees when they know people are coming inside in huge coats where it's freezing out. But it's something to get used to because it's the same year after year.

    Books are the one thing we go wild over when we get back to the US. We'll just sit for hours in Borders and thumb through books. Surprised they haven't kicked us out of any of them yet :) Amazon with Prime service for flat rate express shipping is your friend!

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  2. Kirstin, just read your blog, so funny, all the places you go to, I know them so well and I love Cafe Scholz, Breuninger etc. :-) Tell you what though, if ever some strange person starts talking to you, in Germany you don't need to be so polite and listen for 20 minutes, it's Germany after all - just cut them off :-) LOL :-) - you go girl!

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  3. very funny! It 's great that you can keep a good sense of humor about everything! You are a trooper! Wish I could join you for a glass of Rot wein!

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  4. I have never heard about Tauschring! Interesting!
    And I totally agree with Andrea...just cut them off. Tell them...Entschuldigung, aber ich muss gehen....and just leave.You are so very brave!

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Stuttgart, Germany, Germany
We are living as non-military expats for a second time in Stuttgart Germany. The first time, we moved from Alabama to Stuttgart, Germany in December 2010 for three years and now are back after six years.. This is a great adventure for our whole family that we enjoy sharing.
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