An interesting development, as Lithuania proposes to allow dual citizenship, due to many of their countrymen seeking UK nationality - by contrast, of the 37,000 Lithuanians in Ireland, just over 1,000 have become naturalised, so this referendum should encourage a greater proportion to do so.
Civil servant: "And, Herr treibeis, there's an optional festivity, which takes place four or five times a year at the City Hall, for all new German citizens. You shake hands with the Mayor, there's a finger-food buffet, you get to watch a short film, there's a children's choir, there's ..."
Me: "That's clinched it!"
Civil servant: "What, the children's choir?"
Me: "Yes. Where do I sign up for "Unfortunately, I shall be unable to attend'?"
Civil servant (lowers his voice): "To be honest, the children's choir isn't the worst thing about it, not by a long chalk."
I would be very content to have EU citizenship, but am not particularly bothered about which country,
The fact that I am the only member of my family not to have an easily available path no doubt has something to do with this.
Had we stayed in Italy, I could have eventually qualified through residence, but I was never keen to do that under Berlusconi and remain troubled by the drift of the country in general.
I now intend to change my name to Lars Sack. I've always wanted a one-syllable first and last name that I don't have to spell on the phone.
A hearty welcome to the greater German family. Frau imp is now fond of telling everyone that I'm "more German than the Germans". The flak I get just for wanting to be on time. And going to the bakery early on a Sunday morning to avoid the queue. And for liking the odd Schlachtplatte washed down with a keg of Riesling.
A hearty welcome to the greater German family. Frau imp is now fond of telling everyone that I'm "more German than the Germans". The flak I get just for wanting to be on time. And going to the bakery early on a Sunday morning to avoid the queue. And for liking the odd Schlachtplatte washed down with a keg of Riesling.
After running around for ten minutes, do you also say you have "Kreislaufprobleme", as a synonym for "I'm knackered"?
Germans aren't punctual anyway. In the last football team I played in, the only people who turned up on time were me, a Welshman and a Turk.
They expect everybody else to be punctual, though.
After running around for ten minutes, do you also say you have "Kreislaufprobleme", as a synonym for "I'm knackered"?
Germans aren't punctual anyway. In the last football team I played in, the only people who turned up on time were me, a Welshman and a Turk.
They expect everybody else to be punctual, though.
Ha, I think that's her point, that I'm way more punctual than the natives. German punctuality and efficiency - one of the great European myths. Had to send a pointed WhatsApp message to all the parents of my U9 team last week about us losing the first 15 minutes of practice due to general tardiness. They're probably all thinking, "Bloody hell, ever since we gave him a passport..."
I'm all for going native, but there are limits. I sell Riesling, and the only people who buy it are elderly ladies for whom "Riesling" is a synonym for "wine". I'd clean a khazi with Riesling, but that's about all.
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