Christmas Gifts: I live in New York near Woodstock, which is known all over the world, so the Woodstock Chimes have been a great hit as presents, come in all sizes and prizes. Also local art prints from the Hudson Valley. I am sure each area has it's own unique specialties, and do not forget our new coins, the quarters and the gold dollar, etc. I definitely make sure what ever I send is made in the USA and of quality. Regards, Ingrid IGF

Curt, Thanks for this information. This sounds like a safe way to go. Mildred [email protected] wrote: > <How does one send cash to Germany.> > > International Currency Express will convert your US$ to DM at the current > exchange rate, fill out an international check that costs your German > contact nothing to cash, which is a serious problem were you to send a > check or cash in US$ because German (and US) banks charge fees for > converting currency. The charge to you is $5. They then mail the check to > you. The phone call is free. > > International Currency Express > 427 North Camden Drive #F > Beverly Hills CA 90210 > telephone (888) 278-6628. > http://www.foreignmoney.com/rates.htm > > I have no business relationship with this company & provide this info as a > courtesy only. > Regards, > Curt _______________________________________________ Why pay for something you could get for free? NetZero provides FREE Internet Access and Email http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html

<< Does anyone have any suggestions concerning gifts for German adults? > Greetings Listers, When visiting in Germany, I had taken along a map of my American state of North Dakota. The German families I was with were very interested in pictures of our Native American Indians, the separate lands they live on and the fact that our Indian Tribes now operate Gambling Casinos and even have money. A picture of a present day Indian Pow Wow seemed to make them think we were still living in the very Wild West as they might see in old TV Western movies complete with feather head dress, bows and arrows, and still on the war path. As a thank you, I sent them a USA Sacagawea $1.00 coin with a bit of Indian history. One fellow then said he was a coin collector and very pleased to receive this for his collection. There is presently an exhibit of our North Dakota Indian Artifacts at the Linden Museum in Stuttgart. There are large crowds and much interest in viewing these. Germany just doesn't have many [any] Native American Indians to match ours in America...... Mary Lynn Axtman

Martha, I have been told the same by one other person. Thanks for the help. From what I have learned it would cost $30.00 at the bank and Western Union send a check at the cost of 15.00. I could ask the to e-mail me also. That is a good idea. It has been suggested to put in one extra dollar because of the changing value. Thanks for the help. Mildred Martha Gates wrote: > Mildred, > What I've done several times to send money to Germany was > probably not the safest thing...but have not had any > trouble. I called Wells Fargo Bank and asked them to get me > $60 or whatever in DM. They call me when they receive > it...I pick it up, put it in my letter and mail it...I > usually get an e-mail from my friend when they receive > it...there is a little fee at the bank...but not much. Good > luck! > Martha ____________NetZero Free Internet Access and Email_________ Download Now http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html Request a CDROM 1-800-333-3633 ___________________________________________________________

Thinking of presents made me think of books, which is what I would want for a present. However, that is not going to do much good, if the language is unreadable. How much English do you need to understand Peanuts, or Calvin and Hobbes? Some of my favorite reading, if not truly great literature. Does Germany or Europe have newspaper comics? Thomas Koch ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 10:14 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] Christmas Gifts > Christmas Gifts: > I live in New York near Woodstock, which is known all over the world, so the > Woodstock Chimes have been a great hit as presents, come in all sizes and > prizes. Also local art prints from the Hudson Valley. I am sure each area has > it's own unique specialties, and do not forget our new coins, the quarters > and the gold dollar, etc. I definitely make sure what ever I send is made in > the USA and of quality. > Regards, > Ingrid > > IGF

Another thing that the teens like is Levi Jeans. Where kids here might never want to wear Levi's the German kids love them.

That's right. I also took a US Flag- one of the ones you can get from your Senator that get's flown over the White House for a few seconds. They loved that!

The women like nice silk scarves. Any food item from the US that is native to the US. I took normal popcorn over and made it for my cousins. All they ever had was the already popped kind. They loved cream corn. Took over model cars of US made vehicles.

This is what I received from an English friend. Enjoy. Heinz BM__MailData> NOTICE OF REVOCATION OF INDEPENDENCE > > To the citizens of the United States of America, > > In the light of your failure to elect a President of the USA and thus > to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your > independence, effective today. > > Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical > duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories. Except > Utah, which she does not fancy. Your new prime minister (The rt. hon. > Tony Blair, PM for the 97.85% of you who have until now been unaware > that there is a world outside your borders) will appoint a minister > for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the > Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire will be circulated next > year to determine whether any of you noticed. > > > To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following > rules are introduced with immediate effect: > > 1. You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary. > Then look up "aluminium". Check the pronunciation guide. You will be > amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it. Generally, > you should raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. Look up > "vocabulary". Using the same twenty seven words interspersed with > filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and > inefficient form of communication. Look up "interspersed". > > 2. There is no such thing as "US English". We will let Microsoft know > on your behalf. > > 3. You should learn to distinguish the English and Australian accents. > It really isn't that hard. > > 4. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as > the good guys. > > 5. You should relearn your original national anthem, "God Save The > Queen", but only after fully carrying out task 1. We would not want > you to get confused and give up half way through. > > 6. You should stop playing American "football". There is only one > kind of football. What you refer to as American "football" is not a > very good game. > > The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world outside your > borders may have noticed that no one else plays "American" football. > You will no longer be allowed to play it, and should instead play > proper football. > > Initially, it would be best if you played with the girls. It is a > difficult game. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed > to play rugby (which is similar to American "football", but does not > involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full > kevlar body armour like nancies). We are hoping to get together at > least a US rugby sevens side by 2005. > > 7. You should declare war on Quebec and France, using nuclear weapons > if they give you any merde. The 97.85% of you who were not aware that > there is a world outside your borders should count yourselves lucky. > The Russians have never been the bad guys. "Merde" is French for > "sh*t". > > 8. July 4th is no longer a public holiday. November 8th will be a new > national holiday, but only in England. It will be called "Indecisive > Day". > > 9. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and it is for > your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what > we mean. > > 10. Please tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us crazy. > > Thank you for your cooperation, oh, and by the way, we will also refrain > from using the awful and most insincere expression "Have a Nice > Day". _________________________ Heinz L. Zulauf Flotowstrasse 9 D-64287 Darmstadt Germany e-mail: [email protected] Visit my Private Homepage "The Classical Music Site" http://myweb.vector.ch/zulauf _________________________ ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 7:47 PM Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] May Pole > In a message dated 16/11/00 13:20:58 GMT Standard Time, [email protected] > writes: > > << Hello - I took a picture of a May pole in Munich on a recent trip, but have > forgotten the tradition that goes along with this. >> > Hi Diane > The tradition is explained on the following site > www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/m/maypole.htm > and for a little more and a great Maibaum picture > www.germanworld.com/maypole.htm > We used to have maypoles in every town and village in England, sadly the > tradition has died out. I used to take part, never could remember when to > duck under the ribbons <G> > I think the German Maibaum is usually much more interesting, showing as they > do, the history of the town or village and with no ribbons for little boys to > get confused about > Jack Garner > In the land of Robin Hood > P>S> Nothing whatever to do with German maypoles but I have a scan of a > village May Queen picture, painted in our village in the early 1900s. Write > me direct if you would like to see it. > J

Hello, Go to this site, scroll down to the title and you will find a midi with the melodie for you to listen to. http://www.acronet.net/~robokopp/Volksoic.html Mary Ann > Hi! > I don't know who wrote it. > It is more a northern German song. > I would sing that song, when I was a child in Germany, when I went in > the evening with my lantern. Katharina > >Love the song! Do you know the > time period it dates from > > > > I go with my lantern > > and my > lantern goes

There is a import tax on gifts that the recipient has to pay. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 4:08 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] Christmas Gifts to Germany > Does anyone have any suggestions concerning gifts for German adults? I would > like to send Christmas gifts to several men and women in Germany and am > having trouble thinking of something from the United States that a German > person would like. Your help will be appreciated. > > Ethel >

The problem is that there is nothing that is "American" anymore -- I ran into the same problem when I wanted to get gifts for relatives and gene assistance in Switzerland -- I ended up bringing sheets of stamps and flags and scarfs. I would like to know other ideas too. Maybe there are some Germans in Germany or Switzerland on the list who could indicate what they would like. Claire ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 4:08 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] Christmas Gifts to Germany | Does anyone have any suggestions concerning gifts for German adults? I would | like to send Christmas gifts to several men and women in Germany and am | having trouble thinking of something from the United States that a German | person would like. Your help will be appreciated. | | Ethel | |

[email protected] wrote: > Does anyone have any suggestions concerning gifts for German adults? I would > like to send Christmas gifts to several men and women in Germany and am > having trouble thinking of something from the United States that a German > person would like. Your help will be appreciated. > > Ethel Wild rice from Minnesota! or a picture book (souvenir book) of your city. Paul in Minneapolis

Could one of you who can read German please translate this letter for me? “Personenstandsurkunde anbei erhalten Sie die Heiratsurkunde der Frau Dorothee Friederike Elisabeth Seyer, verstorben am 06.12.1935 in Schernebeck (St.Amt Luederitz, jetzi Vgem Tangerhuette-Land). Das Ausstellen von Urkunden der Anna Dorothea Friederike und Anna Marie Wilhelmine ist nicht Moeglich, da diese Personen nicht zu ermitteln sind.” Also am curious about the heading of the letter: “Verwaltungsgemeinschaft “Tangerhuette-Land” -Leiterin des gemeinsamen Verwaltungsamtes- Mitgliedsgemeinden: (followed by several village names) Thank you so much for any help. Judy

Does anyone have any suggestions concerning gifts for German adults? I would like to send Christmas gifts to several men and women in Germany and am having trouble thinking of something from the United States that a German person would like. Your help will be appreciated. Ethel

When in Mannheim in Sept., there was a beautiful May Pole looking pole in the city center. I was told this had local Guild crests hanging from it. Could someone please explain if these are the same or how they might be different......?? Thanks, Mary Lynn Axtman

Here is the May day story I send this year to the list. It may help you. Katharina > > MAY DAY >In Germany the first of May is a national holiday, similar to Labor Day >in the USA. It is the International Worker's Day.- Tag der Arbeit, when >workers gather for rallies and speeches. But it is more than that. >To this day there are a variety of May festivals. >May was a joyous time in the ancient calendar. The fairies, the rulers of >May, would help the earth to dress herself once more in green. In farming >areas, spring, summer and the beginning of autumn were filled with a lot of >work. this would only interrupted by the midsummer celebrations 'Johannis >Tag'. " Mayregen brings Segen" >( Rain in May brings blessings). >Many costumes are connected to this the first of May. >Maiglöckchen (May bells) are in bloom. >Maikäfer ( May beetle) from chocolate are bought from stores. >Houses are decorated with green sprigs and flowers. >May is the month most sung about. >The May pole is put up and there are dances around it. >There are May pole or a May queen contest. >In some areas the whole town will gather around the May pole. >The May pole and the dance around is a symbol of spring's reawakening. >May is also known as "Wonnemond" the month of lovers. >In May the most weddings took place. >Over time the Maibaum (may tree) lost it original meaning, of celebration a >wedding. >Young unmarried men from a town would organize a dance, to get unmarried >maidens of the town, into the spirit of May. >Then if a wedding took place, a tree decorated with colorful streamers and >ribbons would be places in front of the brides house. >The May pole would be officially erected in the middle of the market >or in front of city hall. >The traditional May pole dance starts with long ribbons attached high on >the pole. >Each dancer holds the end of a ribbon.The circle of dancers begin far away >from the pole , so the ribbons will be straight and tight. >There should be a even numbers of dancers, facing alternatively clockwise >and counter clock wise. All dancer move in the direction they are facing, >passing right shoulder with the next, and so on around the to braid the >ribbons over and under around the pole.Those passing on the inside will >have to duck, those passing on the outside raise their ribbons to slide >over. > >In Bavarian towns, it has been custom to cut a tall and straight tree, >place it in the middle of the town and decorate it with wreath of spring >flowers and ribbons. >One of the tradition is to attempt to steal the May pole from a neighboring >town, then the pole is held for ransom for a couple kegs of beer. > >There is also a Maibaumkraxeln(May pole climbing). > >Maiwein (May Wine) is a German drink, it is flavored with fresh Waldmeister >(sweet woodruff). >Waldmeister is a herb, a small plant with white flowers. > >Maybowle (May punch) >12 sprigs of sweet woodruff >1 1/4 cups powdered sugar >1 bottle of dry white wine >(1 cup of brandy). >Cover the mixture for 30 min. Remove the sweet woodruff. Stir contents of >bowl >thoroughly and pour over ice in a punch bowl. >Add: >3 bottles of white wine >1 quart carbonated water or champagne >thinly sliced oranges and some pineapples. > >Few Americans realize that the May Celebration actually commemorates >historical events here in the United States. >During the late 19th century, while corporate power was growing, American >workers faced a political and legal system that failed to reorganize even >the most basic rights of workplace safety. >On May 1. 1886, the American Federation of Labor declared a national strike >to demand an 8 hour work day and many workers across the country responded. >By the 1890s, May 1. was already being celebrated as Labor Day in some >States, other states celebrated in early September. >At one time there was a "Loyalty Day" celebrated, on the first of May. >I read, that the Labor Day , was moved to September >1. To fill the long gap between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving >holidays. >2.Government leaders opposed to labor militancy, and moved the the >Labor day as far as possible from the 1. of May. > >Katharina >[email protected] > >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.

Hi! I don't know who wrote it. It is more a northern German song. I would sing that song, when I was a child in Germany, when I went in the evening with my lantern. Katharina > >Love the song! Do you know the time period it dates from > > > > I go with my lantern > > and my lantern goes with me > > Above the stars are shining > > and we are shining down here. > > With the bright light we find our way. > > Rabimmel, rabimmel,rabum. > > > > I go with my lantern > > and my lantern goes with me > > Above the stars are shining > > and we are shining down here. > > I go home , my light burned out, > > Rabimmel, rabimmel, rabum. > > > > Ich gehe mit meiner Laterne > > und meine Laterne mit mir. > > Da oben leuchten die Sterne, > > hier unten leuchten wir. > > Mit Lichtern hell sind wir zur Stell, > > rabimmel, rabimmel, rabum > > > > Ih gehe mit meiner Laterne > > und meine Laterne mit mir. > > Do pben leuchten die Sterne, > > hier unten leuchten wir. > > Mein Licht ist aus , ich gehe nach Haus, > > rabimmel, rabimmel, rabum. > > > > Katharina > > > > > > >_________________________________________________________________________ > > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at >http://www.hotmail.com. > > > > Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at > > http://profiles.msn.com. > > > _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com.

In a message dated 16/11/00 13:20:58 GMT Standard Time, [email protected] writes: << Hello - I took a picture of a May pole in Munich on a recent trip, but have forgotten the tradition that goes along with this. >> Hi Diane The tradition is explained on the following site www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/m/maypole.htm and for a little more and a great Maibaum picture www.germanworld.com/maypole.htm We used to have maypoles in every town and village in England, sadly the tradition has died out. I used to take part, never could remember when to duck under the ribbons <G> I think the German Maibaum is usually much more interesting, showing as they do, the history of the town or village and with no ribbons for little boys to get confused about Jack Garner In the land of Robin Hood P>S> Nothing whatever to do with German maypoles but I have a scan of a village May Queen picture, painted in our village in the early 1900s. Write me direct if you would like to see it. J

<<<G>>> Fine with me ... as long as we don't lose our McDonalds, and all similar establishments Dick S. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Heinz L. Zulauf" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 11:03 Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] American Independence > This is what I received from an English friend. Enjoy. > > Heinz > > BM__MailData> NOTICE OF REVOCATION OF INDEPENDENCE > > > > To the citizens of the United States of America, > > > > In the light of your failure to elect a President of the USA and thus > > to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your > > independence, effective today. > > > > Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical > > duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories. Except > > Utah, which she does not fancy. Your new prime minister (The rt. hon. > > Tony Blair, PM for the 97.85% of you who have until now been unaware > > that there is a world outside your borders) will appoint a minister > > for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the > > Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire will be circulated next > > year to determine whether any of you noticed. > > > > > > To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following > > rules are introduced with immediate effect: > > > > 1. You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary. > > Then look up "aluminium". Check the pronunciation guide. You will be > > amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it. Generally, > > you should raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. Look up > > "vocabulary". Using the same twenty seven words interspersed with > > filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and > > inefficient form of communication. Look up "interspersed". > > > > 2. There is no such thing as "US English". We will let Microsoft know > > on your behalf. > > > > 3. You should learn to distinguish the English and Australian accents. > > It really isn't that hard. > > > > 4. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as > > the good guys. > > > > 5. You should relearn your original national anthem, "God Save The > > Queen", but only after fully carrying out task 1. We would not want > > you to get confused and give up half way through. > > > > 6. You should stop playing American "football". There is only one > > kind of football. What you refer to as American "football" is not a > > very good game. > > > > The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world outside your > > borders may have noticed that no one else plays "American" football. > > You will no longer be allowed to play it, and should instead play > > proper football. > > > > Initially, it would be best if you played with the girls. It is a > > difficult game. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed > > to play rugby (which is similar to American "football", but does not > > involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full > > kevlar body armour like nancies). We are hoping to get together at > > least a US rugby sevens side by 2005. > > > > 7. You should declare war on Quebec and France, using nuclear weapons > > if they give you any merde. The 97.85% of you who were not aware that > > there is a world outside your borders should count yourselves lucky. > > The Russians have never been the bad guys. "Merde" is French for > > "sh*t". > > > > 8. July 4th is no longer a public holiday. November 8th will be a new > > national holiday, but only in England. It will be called "Indecisive > > Day". > > > > 9. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and it is for > > your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what > > we mean. > > > > 10. Please tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us crazy. > > > > Thank you for your cooperation, oh, and by the way, we will also refrain > > > from using the awful and most insincere expression "Have a Nice > > Day". > > _________________________ > Heinz L. Zulauf > Flotowstrasse 9 > D-64287 Darmstadt > Germany > e-mail: [email protected] > > Visit my Private Homepage > "The Classical Music Site" > http://myweb.vector.ch/zulauf > _________________________ > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2000 7:47 PM > Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] May Pole > > > > In a message dated 16/11/00 13:20:58 GMT Standard Time, [email protected] > > writes: > > > > << Hello - I took a picture of a May pole in Munich on a recent trip, but > have > > forgotten the tradition that goes along with this. >> > > Hi Diane > > The tradition is explained on the following site > > www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/m/maypole.htm > > and for a little more and a great Maibaum picture > > www.germanworld.com/maypole.htm > > We used to have maypoles in every town and village in England, sadly the > > tradition has died out. I used to take part, never could remember when to > > duck under the ribbons <G> > > I think the German Maibaum is usually much more interesting, showing as > they > > do, the history of the town or village and with no ribbons for little boys > to > > get confused about > > Jack Garner > > In the land of Robin Hood > > P>S> Nothing whatever to do with German maypoles but I have a scan of a > > village May Queen picture, painted in our village in the early 1900s. > Write > > me direct if you would like to see it. > > J > >