Find The Magic Formula in the Oberpfalz, Bavaria, Germany

By (Timbo) Timothy R. Heefner

Learn about some of the cultural differences and superstitions between the USA and in the Oberpfalz, Bavaria, and Germany. Learn why two sometimes means three. Learn a good tip about tipping. Find out about Knockers. Learn what Wood for the Cabin means in the Oberpfalz and Bavarian culture. Learn why HD does not mean High Definition. Learn the about the myths of Warm Beer, and shaving. The author spent thirteen years in the Region and integrated with the culture. He shared that learning the language is helpful, however learning the culture was more valuable. Fifty of these insights are within the guide, drawing the reader in with various subject headings that sometimes have double meanings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: (Timbo) Timothy R. Heefner
• Release date: Nov 5, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310120763

(Timbo) Timothy R. Heefner

Timothy (Timbo) Heefner, a Civil Servant, was assigned to Germany for 13 years, living the last 10 in the Oberpfalz and Bavaria Region. He integrated wtih the local culture and learned the customs, superstitions, unwritten rules, as well as the language of his host Country. He shares the Cultural Differences and How To Find The Magic Formula (FTMF AMI) as an American in the Oberpfalz, Bavaria, Germany in his upcoming book.

Book preview

Dedication

To the city and people of Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Bavaria, Germany who taught me how to find the magic formula as an American living in the Oberpfalz, Bavaria, Germany. We shared our cultures, our opinions, many beers in many years as we worked hard, played hard, and did many other things hard! To the Stammtisch Höhe 308 club and the president, George Schurl Seidl, a great friend, and my mentor to the Oberpfalz culture. To Milchbar bei Matteo Rufo, Maria Crisan and their family for all the great memories and hopefully more to come in the near future! To Alexandra Bramer and her family for their hospitality and the great Christmas memories! To Sandra Hößl for helping me with my dream of returning to the good life of the Oberpfalz, Germany. You are the best! F... the rest! To Tim Gaughenbaugh, my best friend, who learned some German on the way to Italy. To my son Elijah (Eli) Miller who endured me away from my home. He toured Germany with me and hopefully broadened his knowledge. He will need it as he graduated in June 2013 from Shippensburg Area Senior High School. He was a member of the undefeated Track and Field team. Way to go Eli! Currently he is attending the Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) to further his studies.

Preface

This book is coming to fruition thanks to discussions with my brother, Reggie, about the things I learned in Germany besides the language. My brother speaks many languages but I would often point out to him the things I learned that a language book could not tell you. It helped me integrate into daily life in Germany for ten years in Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Bavaria, Germany which I came to love. These things were useful as he toured Germany with our father, Theodore (Ted).

(My father, who was in the first stages of dementia, pictured in the far right of the photo, with my brother in the middle and the locals from the Oberpfalz region)

who came to Germany to visit our ancestral home in Rimbach in the Odenwald, while he was still healthy enough and also attended my graduation from the University of Maryland in Europe at Heidelberg, Germany in 2010.

(Rimbach square with me, my brother, and father)

We had many great conversations about these differences which led to a lot of laughter between us and much prodding from my brother to actually write a small guide or book. I enjoyed sharing my experiences one night at a local club in Chambersburg, PA with two local residents, Tim, a local attorney and Tom, a local funeral director, who have familiarity with Germany. It motivated me further to try and finish the guide.

Introduction

I am going to share some of the cultural differences I discovered during my time in the Oberpfalz, Bavaria, and Germany. The goal is to bring awareness for Amis (German nickname for Americans); newcomers to the Oberpfalz region of Germany, to those interested in German culture, to those who traveled, lived, and worked there. It is a guide with antidotes interspersed with personal experiences, not meant as a comprehensive guide. The Oberpfalz chapter is geared towards the young at heart. If they learn a few of the differences or go to events in the book they will experience a country that few Amis even know about and be richly rewarded. I have dedicated some these pages to people I met along the way in Germany and the USA. I feel like a foreigner now in the USA due to reverse culture shock as you will read on the New Jersey, a new foreign country, page in the guide. I enjoy discovering people that have never traveled abroad and it is a dream of theirs. Upon my return to the USA I met two great women, one named Elaine at the Wawa store in Browns Mills, NJ, and Josie Perault at the local Applebee's restaurant in Chambersburg, PA. Both women seem to have that dream of one day traveling abroad and trying to learn a language. It is to the people like them I wish for their dreams to come true.

Sex and the Eyes

Here's looking at you!

You are in Germany! Great! Time to hit the