just john

So, the worst possible personal issue has transpired this week. There is a mechanical failure in laptop's hard drive. I am cutoff from both the internet and personal email until the repair guy can get it up and running again. Worst case is I lose all the programs I installed, a few pictures that are not backed up at home in the States, and all the CDs I ripped from my collection - also back home. This is a six week old computer I bought from Cicuit City in Greenville so probably not even worth bothering to call. I'll end up paying for the repair to save myself the time and trouble of dealing with HP. If you ask, of course, their computers suck.

I found a small Italian restaurant down the street from my apartment last night and had my first piece of lasagna made by real Italians, a couple more beers, and some time to consider the last few days. Too bad I couldn't write it down. I don't think a swipe at the topic I have in mind from the office can do it justice so I'll put it off to another time.

I went to the Obi store last night which is the German equivalent of Home depot and managed to buy linoleum, trim and the tools to install it entirely in German. A minor victory for this week. I've got before, and soon to follow after, pictures which I'll get uploaded when the laptop returns.

One word about service in German. It's horrible by the American standard but that is a qualified statement. The American standard is that the service happen right away. My observation is that although most service happens quickly, it is often poorly executed and requires constant follow up. In Germany you will starve waiting for the waitress, learn to ride a bike waiting on the mechanic, and generally lose interest in or forget whatever it was you were waiting on in the first place. That being said, once said service arrives, it will be flawlessly and thoroughly carried out according to an extensive checklist as well as any other provisions provided by you in advance. You will not have to call back unless you forgot to ask for something in the first place. Good service, by this definition, is expected by most Germans to the extent that not receiving it is almost unthinkable. An extraordinarily heated conversation would immediately follow.