7 June
If it is not one thing then it is two things. Took a couple of minutes to
figure this one out. Am traveling with a mini mouse, convenient for the
eeePC as it has a multi-function trackpad. Well, seemed like the eeePC got
permanently hung. Could not left click with mouse. Could not open email or
change windows. Rebooted etc. Looks as if the left mouse button no longer
works. Scroll wheel fine as is the right mouse. Weird. If not one thing
then two things.
Back to the main point.
Last evening we stayed in a small Gasthous, 12 rooms, with a nice kitchen.
The Gasthous is run by a family as they usually are. Family Muller
http://www.hotel-stadt-nauen.de/
We had a good dinner and clearly Herr Muller prepared the dinner himself.
Frau Muller served us the several beers (QB finished a large beer on her own
to give you an idea of the thirst level of riding in the heat). Hers, BTW,
was a chicken breast on a bed of noodles with a wine reduction mushroom
sauce. Mine was a salad that contained, in addition to the usual, chicken
breast and two properly fried eggs.
We got to speak to both of them, their English is OK and my German
understanding is improving. Both seemed far too qualified, education wise,
for what they were doing. He knew of the eeePC and price immediately and
they both spoke with an educated authority and very pleasantly.
I asked them if business was terrible as we were the only ones eating
dinner. Nope, about normal. 12 rooms with 5 occupied, about normal they
both agreed. No one eating dinner? Ah, no one has any money and no one
just stops to eat from the street. Everyone has a family BBQ. "We do OK
with family dinners". Clearly satisfied with their lot but clearly not
getting rich from it.
At breakfast Frau Muller went off to the tax department where she holds a
second job as she takes care of the maintenance of the Gasthaus. Herr
Muller does the cooking and that question let to a discussion of the DDR.
I asked if things were much better since 1989 and he, immediately, said no.
One item to be very clear on is that he is not the least bitter about the
changes and could discuss the changes without rancor.
"I was born in 1948 so I always lived in the DDR. Before we did not pay
much for rent or anything for water or public services such as power.
Now, everything is expensive. Before we never locked the doors and now we
must keep them locked. Before the family was the center of the life, now
all are dispersed working in different areas." He has four now adult
children. Now there is a lot of unemployment, no jobs, all gone to China
and Japan, just like the US.
"I am a diploma Economist and worked in the party administration, as under
secretary. There were 4500 people employed. One day after the
re-unification someone came in and said you can now all go home. Today
3800 are from the West running what we ran"
The implications were clear. The Westies moved in and took over. The
schools are much worse now, his children did not get, by his estimate, a
good education. Before everyone worked so there were many teachers. Now
you can make money but all is expensive and the family has fallen apart.
"I had no job and needed to eat and feed my family. A relative offered me a
job as a cook and of course I became a cook."
He accepts his lot and thinks that his associates who hope for a return to
the old order are foolish. He is not intellectually challenged and this is
clearly a real problem. He has not traveled like his friends rather
keeping the funds to buy his house or apartment in another part of town.
Tried to discuss the concept of freedom and if the new freedom was of
value. "It was not a problem before" and so nothing has changed. For him
and his family what has changed is family life and a consumer society not
really to his liking. "I do not need all this much money".
Clearly one person's view of the DDR but, to the boogs, a very interesting
discussion.
Brought to you by Tip Top Tea, the tea that refreshes: try our seaside
blend, bit of wind and a few protein bugs but worth a few swigs.
Tscheuss
Boog's Blog 