No, the Germans just never loved the Americans - and still don't. I moved to Germany 1974, and I was very surprised to hear what I heard in bars and other water places, definitely anti American straight. Also this still remains the case, but now for other 'reasons', because while they varied over time, the sentiment remained the same.
As for the hard working Germans, rest assured, that this mythos belongs to past history only. A German is very good with a whip over his neck, so feeling that after WW II they worked their butt off. Now, next generation, that is a different case., because the hard workers got the idea, that their kids should enjoy their life more and not work like they had to do.
They spoiled their kids and same spoiled generation extended their off duty times like 38 hrs week and 8 weeks annual vacation, and... you mention it.
The Germans of today know very well that compared to the US they don't put in long hours, but then again "...those Americans are not very efficient, just hang around as opposed to our working style."
This of course is a lot of bull.
So you used to be married to a German woman?
I slipped out of that 'temptation', you could also call it a challenge, which I narrowly escaped and married a Japanese woman in stead :)
/Taro |
