One sure way to learn and remember the word Einbahnstrasse (one-way street) is to read this little joke. I got it out of the German language book PingPong 3.

Aus einer Zeitungsmeldung:

Tourist suchte sein Auto in der Einbahnstrasse

Köln – Ein japanischer Tourist suchte im Kölner Stadtzentrum verzweifelt nach seinem Auto, das er in der Einbahnstrasse geparkt hatte. Der Mann hatte am vergangenen Wochenende zuerst selbst nach seinem Wagen gesucht. Nach erfolgloser Suche ging er schließlich  zur Polizei. Erwartungsvoll zeigte er den Zettel, auf dem er den Namen der Straße notiert hatte: “Einbahnstraße” stand darauf.

Nachdem der Beamte den Mann über seinen Irrtum aufgeklärt hatte, suchten sie gemeinsam nach dem Wagen und entdeckten ihn schließlich in der Kasionsstraße.

- Ende der Meldung -

Yesterday evening, we passed this store sign in a small village. Had me chuckle a bit, since the shop owner’s name seems to be in close relationship to her business.

As an instructor of German, I’d like to share these two words with you.

The family name Pickel means pimple in English and she runs a Kosmetik Institut (beauty parlor).

Miss Pimple, I’d like a facial, please.

The following book offers some hard facts about Germany. Well, published in 2010, there is no need to fear for it to be outdated as Germans are slow to change.

On the other hand, you can also read Margit’s post about 10 Things I like about Germany, which are based on her experience and observations.

I know, I should write my own list of things I like about Germany, which do not differ much from Margit’s post. But for a living, I have to explain the Germans’ quirks and other traits. My job, next to teaching, is also problem-solving. Some expats have a lot of questions when dealing with German neighbors and life in Germany, in general.

Once my head is free of all these interesting challenges, I shall write my own list.

This has been circulating the net for quite a few years. I have just received it once again via e-mail, and in case you have missed it, here it is:

The European Commission has just announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the European Union rather than German, which was the other possibility.
As part of the negotiations, the British Government conceded that English spelling had some room for improvement and has accepted a 5- year phase-in plan that would become known as “Euro-English”.
In the first year, “s” will replace the soft “c”.. Sertainly, this will make the sivil servants jump with joy. The hard “c” will be dropped in favour of “k”. This should klear up konfusion, and keyboards kan have one less letter.
There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year when the troublesome “ph” will be replaced with “f”.. This will make words like fotograf 20% shorter.
In the 3rd year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.
Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling.
Also, al wil agre that the horibl mes of the silent “e” in the languag is disgrasful and it should go away.
By the 4th yer peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing “th” with “z” and “w” with “v”.
During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary “o” kan be dropd from vords kontaining “ou” and after ziz fifz yer, ve vil hav a reil sensi bl riten styl.
Zer vil be no mor trubl or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi TU understand ech oza. Ze drem of a united urop vil finali kum tru.
Und efter ze fifz yer, ve vil al be speking German like zey vunted in ze forst plas.
If zis mad you smil, pleas pas on to oza pepl.

Just discovered the post Discriminatory food names should be banned, says Austria – Telegraph.

Well, come to think of it, it might be time to clean up the cuisine, that is if you have no other fish to fry.

Zigeunerschnitzel (gypsy schnitzel) could be derogatory towards gypsies, but I have always liked the colorful array of paprika slices on the pork cutlet. It added a nice Hungarian touch to it.

Had never heard of Negerbrot (n… bread) before, but there is even a Facebook fan page for it.

Read the original post: ‘Discriminatory’ food names should be banned for some more ideas which food names should be banned.

For some funny food names around the world, visit Funny Food Names.