LL-L "Culture" 2008.06.26 (04) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L  - 26 June 2008 - Volume 04
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From: JRodenburg at aol.com
Subject: LL-L "Culture" 2008.06.25 (02) [E/LS]

I know of such subordinate associations in two American cities, and hardly
any member can actually speak or even read Low Saxon, and some wouldn't know
*Matjes* from *Weißwurst *if their lives depended on it.


Ron, what cities are these? Do the clubs have web sites? Would be another
place to start to "remember" our north German heritage. John

Viele Grüße aus Illinois
John Rodenburg
Rodenburg (Tarmstedt, Amt Rotenburg (Wümme), Hannover)
Brunkhorst (Stemmen, Amt Rotenburg (Wümme), Hannover)
Werner (Langen, Hesse-Darmstadt),
Steinke (Kreis Schlochau, Pommern)
Krause (Kreis Schlochau, Pommern)
Schröder (Warsow, Mecklenburg-Schwerin),
Meyer (Eitzendorf, Kreis Hoya, Hannover)
Hinkeldey (Wechold, Kreis Hoya, Hannover)
Zum Mallen (Schierholz, Kreis Hoya, Hannover)
Röhrdanz (Mecklenburg-Schwerin)

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From: Helge Tietz <helgetietz at yahoo.com>
Subject: LL-L "Culture" 2008.06.25 (02) [E/LS]

Leve Ron,

I can really imagine the sterotype perceptions you encounter in North
America, I had the same experience when I spend half a year travelling in
North America many years ago, by checking my address or passport they all
asked me about the beerfest, I simply didn't know what they were talking
about, explaining that there is plenty of beer in Northern Germany but no
particular fest didn't really help...I quickly realized what my family was
on about by proclaiming themselfs as rather Danish than German because
Sleswick-Holsten resembles by landscape, traditions and culture Denmark a
lot more than Bavaria with what I was being associated. So after
experiencing this misconception too frequently I told people (when asked
about my home) that I am from the border of Denmark and Germany, that
derailed them immediatly...Tonight we will have a football game where Spain
vs. Russia and if Spain would win the stereotype conception is that the
whole country will go wild, but I am afraid that celebrations in Donostia
and Girona will be a lot more muted, if any at all....the same will probably
valid for Grozny, Kyzyl or Sortavala in case Russia wins...

Groeten,

Helge

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com
Subject: Culture

Thanks a lot, John and Helge.

John, I don't really want to name the associations publicly for "political"
or rather "diplomatic" reasons, because this issue comes with some baggage.

I quite agree with you, Helge. Once in a while I have to mention with
connection with the Netherlands to make Americans, Canadians and Australians
understand. But all but a few seem to consider that too much confusing
detail.  It's easier to deal with country-based stereotypes. It's not as
though Europeans don't have the same tendency. The idea(l) of "one country,
one ethnicity, one language" is still very much alive and kicking about
happily.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

P.S.: By the way, I have to apologize to whoever I once told that Helge was
only a men's name. Recently I came across it as a German woman's name. Not
that gender *really *matters, but sometimes one wants to know which is
applicable: "he" or "she". ;-)
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