The German Blog

"Euro Cocktail" February 23rd, 2012 in Dallas

CS — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:59:02 GMT

GACC North Texas Chapter
&
Co-Sponsoring Organizations:
The British American Commerce Association of DFW
Finnish American Business Guild
French-American Chamber of Commerce Dallas/Fort Worth
Italy America Chamber of Commerce of Texas, Inc
Swedish American Chamber of Commerce

Cordially invite you and a guest to attend our next

“Euro Cocktail”

An Informal Reception Where You Can:
* Make New Business Contacts
* Network with Members of the European & American Business Community
* Exchange Corporate Literature & Business Cards

Thursday, February 23, 2012
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Cadot Restaurant

18111 Preston Road, Suite 120

Dallas, TX 75252

972.267.5700

Jean-Marie Cadot, a native of Paris grew up in a family that's been in the restaurant, hotel and bakery business since the 1700's. Beginning his training at his father's bakery when he was eight years old, Jean-Marie went on to apprentice at Lasserre Paris, a famous three star Michelin Guide restaurant after getting degrees from the Ferrandi Cooking School and the Grands Moulins de Paris Baking and Pastry School. He continued working in Paris, including time at two more Michelin star restaurants, before coming to New York City and Dallas.

Now with more than 27 years of experience in upscale French restaurants, including experience in banquet and catering services, Jean-Marie has opened Cadot Restaurant.

At his namesake restaurant, the menu is a surprising mix of classic French and modern American, and even includes hamburgers. Jean-Marie serves a bar menu complete with grilled cheese sandwiches. His goal is to give customers the best version of what they want.

We invite you to visit their website at www.cadotrestaurant.com or follow Cadot on Facebook and Twitter.

RESERVATION FORM: Euro Cocktail @ Cadot on February 23, 2012

Please RSVP by returning this form to: GACC NTX Chapter, Attn: Traute H. Malhotra 12700 Preston Rd., Ste. 190, Dallas, TX 75230. Phone/Fax: (972) 437-5705 by Monday, February 20, 2012 with your payment or via email togacc@thmrealty.com. Please make check payable to GACC NTX. No cancellation accepted after February 20. No-shows will be billed. Names held at the door.

Name: ______________________________Company: ____________________________

Guest(s):____________________________Company: _____________________________

Guest(s):____________________________Company: _____________________________

Prices: $25/person MEMBERS   $35/person NON-MEMBERS
(includes hors d'oeuvres & 2 drink tickets for wine or beer)

Please circle one: Amex/Visa/MC  Amount: _______________

Billing Address: (Street)_____________________________________________________

(City)_____________________________ (ZIP)_______________

Credit Card #: ___________________________________Exp. Date: ________________

Name on Card:____________________________________________________________

Signature: _______________________________________________________________

Telephone: ___________________________

Traute H. Malhotra
GACC NTX Chapter President
972.437.5705
GACC@thmrealty.com www.gaccsouth.com

Messehostess in Dallas gesucht

CS — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:08:48 GMT

Hilfe gesucht!

Hallo liebe Bewohner aus Dallas,

ich würde mich sehr freuen, wenn mich jemand auf meiner Werbemittelmesse

in Dallas unterstützen würde. Wir stellen dort zum ersten Mal aus, haben einen kleinen Stand.

Wir, das ist die Firma Tee-Shaker aus Hamburg. Wir stellen ein Golf-Werbeartikel her.

Der Erfinder des Tee-Shakers war ein guter Freund von mir, der letztes Jahr überraschend gestorben ist.

Daher habe ich die Firma vor Kurzem übernommen.

Die Messe findet im Convention Center von Dallas statt.

Donnerstag und Freitag jeweils von 9:30 a.m. bis 5:00 p.m.

Die Arbeit dort besteht aus Herausgeben von Unterlagen und Einscannen der Daten.

Super easy, die einzige Voraussetzung dafür ist, nett zu sein.

Gern eine junge Dame, aber nicht zwingend.

Bitte schickt mir eine E-Mail unter glage@tee-shaker.com oder ruft mich mobil an: 702 724 6500.

Ich zahle das Geld am Ende in bar aus.

Herzlichen Dank!

Ich freue mich auf Dallas.

Arne Glage

Help needed!

Dear people in Dallas or nearby,

I will be in Dallas this week for a promotional gift show. We do have a little booth there.

The only thing I need would be someone to help me on my booth.

We produce and sell a corporate gift for golfers, called the Tee-Shaker. The inventor of this product

just passed away last year, so I took over the company.

The show takes place at the Dallas Convention center from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The job is simple – just giving out catalogues, samples and scanning the badges.

Just to assist me there. No skills needed – just be friendly.

A young lady would be perfect – but not essential.

Please send me an E-Mail to glage@tee-shaker.com or call my cell at 702 724 6500.

I will pay in cash after the job.

Thank you so much!

Looking forward to come to Dallas.

Arne Glage

www.tee-shaker.de

www.tee-shaker.com

German/American Chamber presents:

CS — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:10:03 GMT

GACC South, North Texas Chapter

&
Co-Sponsoring Organizations:
The British American Commerce Association of DFW
Finnish American Business Guild
French-American Chamber of Commerce Dallas/Fort Worth
Italy America Chamber of Commerce of Texas, Inc
Swedish American Chamber of Commerce

Cordially invite you and your guests to attend a workshop

“2012 Economic Forecast & Associated Risk Factors"

Robert A. Dye, Chief Economist, Comerica Bank will provide his insight on the current state of the United States economy and risk factors that will play a role in 2012.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

11:30 am Networking & Box Lunch
12:00 - 1:00 pm Presentation and Q&A
Price: $20 for Members, $25 for Non-Members

Comerica Bank
1717 Main Street
4th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75201
Parking: Parking garage located under Comerica Tower, approximately $9 for 2 hours.
Details about room location will be announced closer to the event.

Robert A. Dye, Ph.D., was appointed as senior vice president and chief economist at Comerica Bank in July 2011. Mr. Dye leads the bank's Economics Department, providing research and analysis vital to Comerica as well as business leaders and policy makers throughout the country. You can follow Mr. Dye on Twitter @Comerica_Econ, where he posts regular updates and links to new publications, commentary and analysis, in addition to other thoughts on matters affecting local, state, regional and national economies. Mr. Dye is a member of the National Association of Business Economics.

RESERVATION FORM: Workshop – Wednesday, February 1, 2012

(includes box lunch and iced tea)

Please RSVP by returning this form to: GACC NTX Chapter, Attn: Traute H. Malhotra 12700 Preston Rd., Ste. 190, Dallas, TX 75230. Phone/Fax: (972) 437-5705 by Janaury 27, 2012 with your payment or via email to gacc@thmrealty.com. Please make check payable to GACC NTX. No cancellation accepted after Janaury 27, 2012. No-shows will be billed. Names held at the door.

Name:________________________Company: ________________________

Guest(s):______________________Company: ________________________

Please circle one:Amex/Visa/MC Amount: __$___________

Billing Address:________________________________________________

City:_____________________________Zip Code:____________________

Credit Card #: ______________________________Exp. Date: ___________

Name on Card:________________________________________________________

Signature: ___________________________________________________________

Telephone: _________________________

PRICE: $20 per person MEMBERS, $25 per person NON-MEMBERS

Traute H. Malhotra
GACC NTX Chapter President
972.437.5705
GACC@thmrealty.com www.gaccsouth.com

Technology on Tap

CS — Tue, 17 May 2011 14:11:00 GMT

An Ongoing Series Where The University of Texas at Dallas Presents Technology Talks Aimed at the General Public in the Heart of Big D

What better way to learn a little more about what is happening in our world than to sit in on a presentation or two from the leading edge research in our neighboring colleges & universities. Of course, Academia can be a little intimidating, so instead of the average lecture hall, we get to learn right here at a Pub!

Assistant Professor Gans will offer a 25-30 minute presentation on how robotics are developing and then will open the floor for questions and discussion.

A family friendly night, great for high schoolers to think about where they want to go, for current college students who enjoy the subject matter, the Downtown patent lawyer and the tech-savvy business avatar from all over DFW, and of course for the rest of us a fun time to enjoy a pint, watch something other than the news and perhaps catch a glimpse of our future!

Event Link on UT Dallas Calendar:

https://www.utdallas.edu/calendar/event.php?id=1220180271

Event Link on Trinity Hall Calendar:

http://www.trinityhall.tv/PDFs/technology%20on%20tap%20May.pdf

CULTURAL CARE AU PAIR HIRES GERMAN NATIVE CLAUDIA POWERS OF DALLAS, TX

CS — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 20:18:00 GMT

AS LOCAL CHILDCARE COORDINATOR

- Local Resident to Serve as a Resource for Parents Seeking

Alternative Childcare Options -

DALLAS, TX, February 25, 2011 -

Responding to the increasing demand for quality live-in childcare, Cultural Care Au Pair has recently added Claudia Powers to its field staff for the Dallas, TX area. As a Cultural Care Au Pair Local Childcare Coordinator (LCC), Ms. Powers will provide service and support to host families and their au pairs throughout the program year.

Ms. Powers is part of a nationwide network of more than 500 Cultural Care Au Pair Local Coordinators dedicated to promoting global understanding through intercultural exchange. Ms. Powers will advise area au pairs and their host families on educational opportunities, as well as organize fun activities for the entire extended Cultural Care Au Pair family to enjoy.

“Our hands-on local childcare coordinators are a key part of the success of Cultural Care Au Pair, and one of many reasons why families come back to us year after year for flexible and affordable live-in childcare,” said Valerie Rempe, director of program development for Cultural Care Au Pair. “Claudia is a terrific and knowledgeable source for anyone in the Dallas area who is interested in getting more information on hosting an au pair.”

Ms. Powers is a German native, a dual citizen of the USA and Germany and has lived in the US and the DFW Metroplex specifically for the last 10 years. Ms. Powers is a 3^rd year Cultural Care Au Pair host mom herself and her passion for and experience with the program led her to accept the local childcare coordinator role for Cultural Care Au Pair. Ms. Powers, her husband, au pair and two young daughters live in North Dallas.

Ms. Powers is currently interviewing families who are interested in hosting an au pair. As a community resource on alternative childcare and intercultural exchange, she can be reached at 469-450-6723 (or via email – claudia.powers@lcc.culturalcare.com)to answer any questions.

Interested families may also visit Cultural Care Au Pair’s Web site at www.Culturalcare.com or Ms. Powers’ personal website at http://cpowers.aupairnews.com/

Cultural Care Au Pair is the leading provider of intercultural childcare and educational exchange since 1989. A division of EF Education and a U.S. Department of State regulated program, Cultural Care Au Pair is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., with an extensive network of international recruitment, screening and orientation offices worldwide.

Education budget cuts threaten German programs in local high schools!

CS — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:22:00 GMT

The financial situation of Texas independent school districts is threatening German programs. Districts cancel their German programs or have plans to reduce teaching staff. As done in other areas, German will be the next foreign language to be eliminated or taught via video conferencing and online courses. Non-personal classes will reduce the quality of teaching and learning in a way that the students will lose interest. This will mean that the German programs will fade away. German is already at a disadvantage, with Spanish (as only foreign language) being offered in middle schools. Many students take it there to free up more time for other classes in high school.

Considering the role of Germany in international business and as the most important trading partner for the U.S. in Europe, the German programs should continue. Districts that want their students to be educated for living and competing in a global setting in the 21st century should not eliminate any foreign language program, especially not the German one.

Any ideas how to strengthen German programs and keep them in our schools?

Submitted by “Frau Lehrerin”

German language school in the Dallas area

CS — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:32:00 GMT

GERMAN LANGUAGE SCHOOL FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN

JANUARY 8^th - APRIL 30^th

offers regular and accredited courses at two locations:

DALLAS :

Harwood and Young

Every Saturday 10 a.m,. -12 p.m.

ADULTS, all levels from Beginning to Advanced

CHILDREN, AGE 4 – 15

RICHARDSON:

Arapaho and Meadowcreek

Every Saturday 2 – 4:30 p.m.

CHILDREN, AGE 4 – 18

No Adult classes.

The Richardson school offers the following accredited courses:

Junior High School Students can take AATG (American Association of Teachers of German)

Exams and receive German credit (advanced placement) in their schools if German is taught.

High School Students can take the DSD (German Language Diploma). Passing this diploma entitles them to advanced placement at US universities; if they plan to attend universities in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, they will not be required to take German language preparatory classes

The school is part of the Dallas Goethe Center. Please find additional information

on our website:
dallasgoethecenter.org select link “language”.

WICHTIG !!! USA-Flugreisen erfordern zusätzliche Datenangaben ab 01. November 2010

CS — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:57:00 GMT

Auch bei bereits gebuchten Tickets müssen Secure Flight Daten ergänzt werden

Ab dem 1. November treten neue Regelungen der US-Behörden zu Passagierdaten in Kraft. Im Rahmen des so genannten „Secure Flight Programms“ müssen Buchungen
künftig bis spätestens 72 Stunden vor Abflug neben dem vollständigen Namen auch Geburtsdatum und Geschlecht des Reisenden enthalten.

Die Regelung gilt für alle internationalen Flüge in die und aus den USA sowie für inneramerikanische Strecken und ist unabhängig vom Zeitpunkt der Buchung.

Das Fehlen der Daten kann zu einer Abweisung der Buchung durch die US-amerikanischen Behörden führen und eine Nichtbeförderung zur Folge haben.

Passagiere, die ab dem 1. November 2010 zu reisen beabsichtigen und für die im Rahmen der Buchung bereits ein Ticket ohne Secure Flight Daten ausgestellt wurde,
werden dringend darum gebeten, ihre Daten vor der Abreise zu vervollständigen. Dies kann eigenständig bei der jeweiligen Airline erfolgen.

Detaillierte Informationen zum Secure Flight Programm sind auf den Seiten der USamerikanischen Behörde für Sicherheit im Transportwesen, der Transportation Security Administration, unter www.tsa.gov/secureflight

abrufbar.

MEMBER PROCLAIMED THE 2011 BEST LAWYERS' IMMIGRATION LAWYER OF THE YEAR FOR DALLAS

CS — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 20:14:00 GMT

Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, has named Eugene J. Flynn as the “Dallas Best Lawyers' Immigration Lawyer of the Year” for 2011.

Flynn, a longtime member of the GACC, has also been identified as a "Super Lawyer" Texas Monthly magazine every year in since 2003.

After more than a quarter of a century in publication, Best Lawyers is designating “Lawyers of the Year” in high-profile legal specialties in large legal communities. Only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is being honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.”

Best Lawyers compiles its lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The current, 17th edition of The Best Lawyers in America (2011) is based on more than 3.1 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers.

The lawyers being honored as “Lawyers of the Year” have received particularly high ratings in their surveys by earning a high level of respect among their peers for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity.

Steven Naifeh, President of Best Lawyers, says, “We continue to believe – as we have believed for more than 25 years – that recognition by one’s peers is the most meaningful form of praise in the legal profession. We would like to congratulate Eugene J. Flynn on being selected as the ‘Dallas Best Lawyers' Immigration Lawyer of the Year’ for 2011.”

Flynn, who also serves as Secretary of the Libertarian Party of the State of Texas, said he was humbled by this honor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT EUGENE J. FLYNN
214/821-1661
http://ejflynnlaw.com

Relocation Business in the Dallas Metroplex Recognized as Providing Winning Service

CS — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:30:00 GMT

DALLAS — October 5, 2010 —

Place2Place, a leading provider of destination services resulting in successful, productivity-enhancing relocations for transferring employees and their family members, today announced being named as a second place winner of an EMMA (Expatriate Management and Mobility Awards) by the Forum for Expatriate Management. Place2Place assists global companies by providing destination services to their transferring employees in the best and most effective way possible. Relocation services are available inbound to the United States and outbound to virtually every country.

The EMMAS are intended to celebrate excellence and innovation in global mobility programs as well as to recognize the performance of service providers in supporting the ambitions of corporate programs. Place2Place won second place in the Destination Service Provider of the Year category.

Place2Place was launched by Clivia Bettelli Baskin in 1993 by helping military families make successful cross-country moves as well as implementing a spouse-support program. With more than 16 years experience Place2Place is a full-service destination services provider assisting businesses with international and domestic relocation of its employees.

Depending on a company’s policies and the transferee’s needs, customized relocation plans are developed. Place2Place offers a wide variety of services including: preview trips, home searches, recruiting services and settling-in services. In addition, they offer various intercultural training programs, as well as English as a Second Language courses.

For more information, visit www.place2placerelo.com.

Deutsche Passantraege koennen jetzt in Dallas beantragt werden

CS — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:52:00 GMT

Wichtige Information bezueglich der Beantragung eines deutschen Reisepasses!

Ab sofort muessen deutsche Passantraege persoenlich beantragt werden. Dies kann ab sofort in Dallas erfolgen ohne dass man hierzu extra zum Deutschen Konsulat nach Houston fahren muss.

Es ist notwendig persoenlich zu erscheinen, damit die Fingerabdruecke erfasst werden koennen.

Dokumente die fuer den Antrag benoetigt werden finden sie auf der Webseite: www.houston.diplo.de

Die ausfuehrliche Webseite ist:

http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/de/05__Dienstleistungen/01__Reisepass/__Reisepass__Erwachsene.html

Die Gebuehr betraegt (zur Zeit) $112 fuer einen Passantrag fuer erwachsene Antragsteller (ausgestellt an den "German Consulate" in Form von money order) und eine Bearbeitungsgebuehr von $35 in cash.

Fuer weitere Rueckfragen stehe ich Ihnen jederszeit zur Verfuegung.

Mit freundlichen Gruessen,

Dagmar Reed
Assistant to Honorary Consul, Texas
Federal Republic of Germany
William H. Hart
325 N. St. Paul Street, Suite 2300
Dallas, Texas 75201
Tel.: 214-752-3684
Fax: 214-761-1700

email: dreed@hartlawintl.com

http: www.hartlawintl.com

Now’s The Time to Welcome an AFS Exchange Student from Germany!

CS — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:19:19 GMT

Sharing daily life with a teenager from another country and culture is a rich and rewarding experience, and it’s a wonderful way to bring more understanding into the world. To find out more about hosting, go to www.afsusa.org, call 1-800-876-2377, or email hosting@afs.org.

AFS, a non profit organization and the leading international high school student exchange program, needs families in northern Texas to host high school students from Germany and countries all over the world.. All kinds of families can host: two-parent households with young children or teenagers, single-parent families, families with adopted children, foster parents, as well as couples and single people who do not have children or who have grown children. One of the most important characteristics of a host family is being eager and excited to share your life and activities while providing the same kind of care, support, and comfort as you would to your own child or family members. Below is a little information about the students coming to northern Texas for whom we are looking for hostfamilies for;

Jonas is an A student who enjoys playing soccer and the saxophone in his free time. He also recently began kite land boarding. His family includes a younger brother & sister, a dog, two cats and 10 rabbits. Jonas is active in the Lutheran Church and volunteers to help with younger kids at church camps. He describes himself as active, interested and helpful.

Daniela lives with her father near a large city in southern Germany. She actually speaks Italian as her first language! She enjoys taking care of her pets, cooking, swimming, and learning about fashion. She would like to be a flight attendant in the future. She is described as independent, pleasant, and outgoing, and she loves helping others. Interests: fashion, jewellery Activities: swimming, cooking

Christian is the youngest of four children, and he lives in a small town in western Germany. He is an experienced AFS host brother, having lived with students from Finland, Sweden, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, and the United States. His mother and sisters all spent a year abroad as teenagers, as well! Christian loves skateboarding, snowboarding and bicycling. He is also very musically inclined, and plays drums and guitar. He is active, social, outgoing, and creative, and he is really looking forward to experiencing life in an American school.

Robin and his family (including his two older brothers) live in a mid-sized city in western Germany. He is athletic, and enjoys tennis, running, hockey, and badminton. He is also looking forward to trying new sports, such as American football and lacrosse. He enjoys composing music on his computer, as well, and he often DJs with his brother.

If you have any interest at at please go to www.afsusa.org, call 1-800-876-2377, or email hosting@afs.org. Thanks for sharing this info with your friends and family. This is the experience of a lifetime, not just for the student but for you and your entire family!

Erin Betlock
Houston Gateway Hosting Manager
800.876.2377 extension 2235
651.647.6628 fax

German Language School Saturday Classes in Downtown Dallas

CS — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 03:04:28 GMT

Please click here for more details

http://www.dallasgoethecenter.org/languages/

RAC Performance teams up with European Cycle Sport for Cars and Bikes!

CS — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:39:00 GMT

Keep your schedule open on the last Saturday each month, starting March 2010 !!!

RAC Performance and European Cycle Sport welcome you to our location at:

3219 Commander Drive
Carrollton, TX 75006

Join us for the first ever gathering of performance cars and performance motorcylces in the DFW area! Displays will include some of the creations built by RAC Performance featuring RUF, GMG Racing, and Manthey product lines along side elite motorcylces from Ducati, BMW, MV Augusta, Triumph, and Aprilla available from European Cycle Sport!

This will no doubt become a mainstay in the DFW automotive and motorcycle scene! Please stay informed at our following websites for more information and pictures from the events! Spread the word!

More info click here: http://www.racperformance.com/index.aspx?id=News

Elektronische Erfassung der Auslandsdeutschen - Nachricht vom Konsulat in Houston

CS — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:46:00 GMT

Liebe Landsleute,

ich möchte Sie auf diesem Wege über die elektronische Deutschenliste ELEFAND (Elektronische Erfassung der Auslandsdeutschen) in Kenntnis setzen. Alle Deutschen, die - auch nur vorübergehend - im Ausland leben, können in eine
Krisenvorsorgeliste gemäß § 6 Abs. 3 des deutschen Konsulargesetzes aufgenommen werden.

Es handelt sich hierbei um eine freiwillige Maßnahme. Die Botschaft und die Generalkonsulate raten, von dieser Möglichkeit Gebrauch zu machen, damit - falls erforderlich - in Krisen- und sonstigen Ausnahmesituationen schnell Verbindung mit Ihnen aufgenommen werden kann.

Die Aufnahme in die Krisenvorsorgeliste erfolgt ab sofort passwortgeschützt im online-Verfahren. Die elektronische Registrierung soll die bisher manuell geführte Krisenvorsorgeliste der Botschaft und der Generalkonsulate
ersetzen. Wir bitten Sie daher, Ihre Daten möglichst bald über das Internet einzugeben, auch wenn Sie bisher schon registriert waren.

Zur Registrierung gehen Sie bitte auf folgende Website:

https://service.diplo.de/elefand/registration.do

Sie werden künftig automatisch in regelmäßigen Abständen aufgefordert werden, Ihre Angaben zu bestätigen bzw. zu aktualisieren. Damit sollen Vollständigkeit und Aktualität der Registrierungen im Sinne einer wirksamen Krisenvorsorge und --bewältigung sichergestellt werden.

Bitte beantworten Sie die Ihnen automatisch zugehenden Aufforderungen deshalb im eigenen Interesse.

Falls Sie Fragen zu ELEFAND haben sollten, können Sie sich jederzeit Kai-Uwe Spicher in Verbindung setzen.

Kai-Uwe Spicher

Deputy Consul General
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
1330 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1850
Houston, TX 77056-3018, USA
Tel.: (001) 713-627-7770 (front desk)
Fax: (001) 713-627-0506
Email: Vw-1@hous.diplo.de
Website: www.houston.diplo.de

Precision. Motion. Style. - www.Germany.info

Work life in Germany is so hard - Germans work 86 % as much as Americans

CS — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:07:00 GMT

Life in Germany is hard, so Germans don’t have the energy to work as much as Americans. Even German professionals punch the clock to track their time spent at work down to the minute. The concept of flex time is nearly universal in Germany as is the constant complaining by every German employee that they have so many overtime hours that they don’t know how to get rid of. It is such a burden to them knowing that they are needed by their employers yet owed more time off, because their 30 days of vacation and multitude of holidays a year just aren’t enough, when they work a little longer on the few days a year that they actually go to the office.

When the stress of trying to take care of their own leisure time needs and work place demands simultaneously gets to be too much, Germans go to a doctor to get prescribed a six week Kur, a sort of health spa retreat, where they can enjoy the benefit of having their health insurance pay for the all-inclusive resort, and their employer paying them their full salary for learning horseback riding and cooking. The best part for Germans is that these count as sick days and don’t take away any of their thirty days of vacation.

Germans are delicate and need lots of time to erholen, to sort of rejuvenate, and they need at least one vacation a year with 3 consecutive weeks to properly recoup. This is best done in a sunny place like Greece, Turkey, Spain, or Portugal. In America we tell each other to have fun on vacation, Germans command each other to erholen themselves well.

Germans don’t make very many babies, but the ones who do are well rewarded for leaving their employers in a precarious position. Whether they are male or female, Germans can take maternity or paternity leave for up to three years and their employers must hold a place for them, so they can waltz back into corporate life right where they left off. These poor workers can still complain though that they unfairly have to start back where they left off, having missed out on 3 years of raises and promotion opportunities.

Source: http://nothingforungood.com/2008/11/23/germans-work-86-as-much-as-americans/

Texas schools saying auf Wiedersehen to German programs

CS — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:21:00 GMT

By JESSICA MEYERS / The Dallas Morning News
jmeyers@dallasnews.com

Posters of snow-capped castles, Oktoberfest revelry and Albert Einstein decorate the walls of Claudia Keller's classroom in Frisco. She's only missing students. Six attend her AP German class, the only one in the school district.

Across the country, German is sputtering next to its garrulous Spanish competitor, and now Mandarin is grabbing the spotlight.

Even in Texas, a state once known for its meat-and-potatoes heritage and annual polka festivals, German's lost the love.

The battle of the tongues is tight. Foreign languages remain a low priority among American students, who start later and study fewer years than counterparts in many other countries. Teachers blame this language loss on budget constraints and a heavier focus on core subjects such as science and math.

But they also point to a societal crutch: Students know they can always rely on English. This leaves German teachers trying to prove that languages have value and that German is still worth it.

"These days we're just happy when kids are taking any language," said Helene Zimmer-Loew, executive director of the American Association of Teachers of German. "It's pitiful. And I have a feeling German might be one of the losers."

National membership in the group has dropped by 2,000 in a little more than a decade, she said. Hawaii is down to five members.

About 200 students study German in Frisco ISD, compared with more than 3,000 enrolled in Spanish classes. It's the least-celebrated language in the district, behind even American Sign Language. It also has the smallest enrollment in Richardson, where Japanese and Latin are more popular. Highland Park and Lovejoy ISD have dropped their German programs and taken up Mandarin instead.

Shrinking numbers

This collective disinterest had the opposite effect on Frisco High School senior Chase Porter, a student in Keller's AP class. "Everybody else takes Spanish," he said, "so I went for German."

Porter is one of a handful of students who study a language throughout high school. Texas students are required to take only two years of foreign language, and in many area schools, at least half don't continue.

That mirrors the rest of the country. Nationwide, less than half of students take foreign languages in public high school, according to the most recent report from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The percentage of students enrolled in these classes has crept up just 2.5 percentage points since 1990.

The numbers are flipped in Europe. About 60 percent of high school students in the European Union studied at least two foreign languages in 2007, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Communities. Only 6 percent didn't study at least one.

"There just doesn't seem to be as much of a push here to find and embrace solutions to language deficits," said Steve Ackley, a spokesman for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. "There's a lot of lip service but languages are not being translated into things schools are graded on."

Beverly LeMaster, a retired German teacher who taught in North Texas for 30 years, said that mentality plays almost as significant a role in marginalizing language classes as funding does.

"Part of it is good old American arrogance," she said. "Haven't you heard, 'I don't need to learn another language; everyone speaks English?' "

The educational structures in place reinforce that notion, LeMaster said.

"We're not immersing them at an early age, and we're teaching them one hour a day," she said. "By the end of two years, it's impossible to have any fluency."

German's suffering even more because it can no longer draw on the intrigue of ancestral ties or frequent exchange programs, said Gray Westmoreland, president of the Texas German Society and a former German teacher in Yoakum, Texas.

"Young people just don't seem to be interested in cultural heritage," he said. "It's a real pitfall in teaching this language."

Influence on Texas

The German influence in Texas stretches back to the 19th century, when job opportunities and open land brought thousands to Central Texas. The community expanded, leaving legacies like the town of New Braunfels and Shiner beer. More than 2.7 million Texans claim German ancestry, according to the 2008 American Community Survey done by the Census Bureau. More than 112,000 Collin County residents report German heritage, nearly 15 percent of the population.

Backlash from the World Wars silenced a number of German speakers, but German language study gained popularity again as a result of the Cold War. Texas became a prime location for military bases as did Germany, where many American soldiers landed at some point in their careers. And military children like Kevin Lariscy returned to Texas hoping to continue their language study.

He remembers full classes at Lamar High School in Arlington in the late 1980s. Almost two decades later, he struggles to speak more than a few pleasantries – even though he lives in New Braunfels, with one of the oldest German communities in Texas.

"There is definitely an influx of other cultures watering down the tradition," he said, adding that taquerias now outnumber delis.

A reshaped ethnic landscape doesn't mean German shouldn't still get credit in public high schools, said Frisco's Keller as she joked with her small batch of students about pronoun placement.

She points out that Germany is the world's biggest exporter and Europe's largest economy. It's a leader in research and high-tech products. German tourists are the largest spenders of vacation money in the world. And its lively punk and metal music scene spawned a generation of imitators.

Foreign languages, she said, "open us to different cultures so that not everything is Texas, America."

Then she smiled and gave a courtesy nod. One student had just roared from across the room: "No English!"

Best German Restaurant in America title goes to Bavarian Grill of Plano, Texas

CS — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:12:00 GMT

“Best German Restaurant in America” title goes to Bavarian Grill of Plano, Texas.

Over 400 German restaurants, located throughout the United States participated in this first year of the search for the “Best German Restaurant in America”. Bavarian Grill, located in Plano, Texas, near Dallas – Fort Worth garnered almost one third of all the validated votes cast during the two-month online voting period. They also received the majority of positive judging forms from “undercover judges”, and the restaurant scored well with teams of expert judges who dined incognito at the highest scoring German restaurants. Health Department inspections were also reviewed to confirm a consistent “A” rating for the restaurant. The goal of the annual competition, according to Inga Bowyer, president of GermanDeli.com, is to recognize German restaurants that serve up a truly ethnic experience.

“Millions of US citizens trace their ancestry back to Germany. It’s only fitting that we celebrate restaurants that connect us with that heritage,” said Bowyer, who was born in Germany and whose online German food store hosted the contest. After scoring highest among all German restaurants in Texas in the ZAGAT Surveys® 2006, 2007, and 2008, and being voted #1 Ethnic Food by the Plano Star Courier’s Choice Award in 2008 and 2009, the latest recognition is their biggest yet, according to Juergen Mahneke, who along with wife, Elke, has been welcoming guests since 1993.

After receiving the great news Mr. Mahneke said: “My team and I thank all of our loyal, passionate guests who support us not only with regular visits, but also their votes.. And thanks also to our entire team who work hard so that our guests leave smiling, and want to return with their friends soon.” According to Bowyer, Bavarian Grill’s classic German entrees like schnitzel, sauerbraten, bratwurst, and roasted ham hock are complimented by a selection of over 50 different imported German beers. “They top it all off with nightly live music with a distinctly Bavarian vibe. We like their sense of fun, which is not only visible during this Oktoberfest time, but all year long,“ said Bowyer, who will present the award to Bavarian Grill on October 14 along with representatives of competition co-sponsors, Spaten and Franziskaner Breweries, and telecommunications company, Telna.

Reference:

http://www.BestGermanRestaurant.com
http://www.GermanDeli.com/top20.html

http://www.BavarianGrill.com

Contact Inga Bowyer at 817-905-7668 or Inga@GermanDeli.com
Contact Juergen Mahneke at 972-881-0705 or bavarian@bavariangrill.com

New German International School (Kindergarten) in Dallas now open!

CS — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:21:00 GMT

Young children can acquire native-like fluency as easily as they learned to walk. Where adults have to work through an established first-language system, studying explicit grammar rules and practicing rote drills, the young kids learn naturally, absorbing the sounds, structures, intonation patterns and rules of a second language intuitively, as they did their mother tongue. Benefiting from these skills and encouraging children in the age from 1 to 5 years to learn a second language – this is the goal of the first German International School in Dallas that just had its grand opening.

“Our purpose is to provide an environment with comprehensive programs where the children may better develop their learning and physical skills before formally entering the school system”, says Charlotte von Engelbrechten, Principal of the school. “Two years ago I started realizing my idea”, she remembers, “and with the help of the German community here in Dallas we were able to finish the project just in time to open for the school season 2009/2010. It was such a joy to see how many people were willing to support me building this school. Traute Malhotra, the director of the German American chamber of commerce NTX, helped us finding the right facility in the right location. Thanks a lot also to Nici Bremer, the treasurer of our school. She and her husband Andreas committed a lot of their free time helping us to getting the school up and running.

” Mr. Roland Herrmann, General Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany was the guest of honor at the opening event. “I just moved to Houston a few weeks ago and when I heard that there will be an opening of a German school in Dallas, I was more than willing to come to that event”, he says. “It is important that we further establish the German community in Dallas and a German school is an integral part of that community.

” In her opening speech, Charlotte also emphasized the international and multicultural aspect of the school. “The children who visit our school come from various cultural backgrounds. We have an Indonesian couple who met in Germany. So they want their daughter to learn German. We have German parents who want their children to practice their mother tongue, and we have American families who may have German ancestors and want their children to connect with their roots.” In a time where globalization expects us to create a greater intercultural appreciation and sensitivity - more than ever before – learning a second language helps us expanding our world view and gives our children a competitive edge in future markets and the global marketplace.

From left:
Traute Malhotra (President German/American Chamber of Commerce NTX), Charlotte von Engelbrechten (Principal of German Intl. School) and her husband Malte, Roland Herrmann, General Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, Karl Ziebarth (President Dallas Goethe Center) and Andreas Bremer (Board Member of German Intl. School)

You want more information about the German International School in Dallas?

http://www.german-isd.com/German_School/Welcome.html

Dallas Goethe Center

CS — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:24:00 GMT

The Dallas Goethe Center offers German Language School for Adults and Children

@ Dallas: Harwood & Young Every Saturday 10am- 12pm Adults & Children age 4-15

@ Richardson: Arapaho & Meadowcreek Every Saturday, 1:30-4pm Children only, age 4-18

While children are taught in a playful manner, teaching plans prepare them to take and pass high school exams for high school credits.

The ultimate goal is to pass the Deutsches Sprachdiplom (DSD) which allows them to enter universities in German speaking countries without taking required language preparatory courses.

· At present, German universities charge no or very little tuition · This school (established in 1989, is part of the Dallas Goethe Center · Classes are kept to a maximum of ten students ·

Experienced instructors are native Germans with teaching degrees from US or German universities For information go to www. DallasGoetheCenter.org or call 972.416.3421