Comments on: Rose-Anne Clermont on seriously bad manners

By: Reader

Reader — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:31:49 +0000

Yeah, I agree with Gretchen. Go on, Americans, keep educating the Germans and the rest of the world!
But if you encounter similar experiences in Poland, Scandinavia, Italy or Russia you may realise that those “German manners” not only exist in Germany, and in return “universal etiquette/manners” are in fact American etiquette or manners of the amaricanised/English-speaking/western world.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:33:04 +0000

Sakapfet Rose-Ann?

I loved the stories. absolutely delightful. wishing you continued success…

By: Maithri

Maithri — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:09:29 +0000

Rose-Anne,

I’m crying with laughter and nodding my head in recognition…. You talk about these issues with such humor and grace. Something so needed in our world…

Thank you!

Much love, M

By: Amanda Taylor

Amanda Taylor — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:08:45 +0000

You are such a gifted writer (and storyteller). Being able to approach these painful encounters with such levity and candor is a testament to what a remarkable (and strong) woman you are. I found the stories entertaining yet sad and very insightful as to the prejudices that unfortunately still exist around the world. Thank you for your honesty and beautiful writing!

By: Prabritystimi

Prabritystimi — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:20:33 +0000

Hi. Your site displays incorrectly in Mozilla, but content excellent! Thanks for your wise words.

By: Luisa

Luisa — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:27:56 +0000

Brilliant!

By: Paul Compton

Paul Compton — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:10:05 +0000

Rose-Anne, you just ooze eloquence, competence (in the German, false cognate, sense) and perceptiveness in this piece. Well done!
Sure, I’m not visually automatically associated with any non-Caucasian grouping. But as a half-jew, and born in Australia, I experienced the same level of ignorance many times in my seven years in England. “You come from Tasmania? My, you speak good English!” “So what were your ancestors deported for?” And much, much more offensive relating to Jewishness – something which, in fact, I have also experienced in Germany. I retaliate by telling Jewish jokes (which I hear from Jewish friends – nobody is better at self-deprecatory humour!) and watching the Germans squirm as they wonder whether they can get away with laughing at such jokes in front of a foreigner; then I explain my heritage and they feel even more awkward. What lesson am I trying to teach? I’m not sure myself, but at least I enjoy it.

By: Mama Shujaa

Mama Shujaa — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:58:45 +0000

I thoroughly enjoyed this and so look forward to your Bush Girl stories!

By: Timur I.

Timur I. — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 04:10:52 +0000

Good work! Thank you very much!
I always wanted to write in my blog something like that. Can I take part of your post to my site?
Of course, I will add backlink?

Regards, Reader

By: Dr Emmanuel Francois

Dr Emmanuel Francois — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:12:56 +0000

Terrific. Beautifully written and well narrated. Hopefully, you detected ignorance and bad manners more than bigotry. Those can be corrected easier than the latter. We should have some help from the arrival of Obama on the world stage. Please give us some more Berlin stories