13.11.06

Chivalry in Europe

As a general rule, I avoid wearing heels on Mondays and Fridays since I have so much walking to do back and forth form Munich to Basel. I don't walk the whole way but it can feel like it if I am wearing the wrong shoes. Today I had high heeled navy blue pumps and my feet were hurting before I even checked into my flight in Munich this morning. By the end of the day something was feeling very wrong with my right ankle but I was convinced I could lug my suitcase, my heavy laptop bag and make a quick shopping trip resulting in a grocery bag full of several liters of liquid among other things all back to my apartment. As I was walking the final block to my apartment, I heard an 'Entschuldigung Sie' 'blah blah blah hilfen'. Side note: one cool thing about German is you can miss a lot of the beginning and middle parts but if you catch the last word it is the most important one in the sentence many times.

Anwyay, are you kidding me? Someone not only acknowledging my existance but asking if I need some help?! Sure I was hobbling down the road homeless style (all my wordly possessions in tow). But normally this would just result in being cut off or mowed down, especially if I remotely looked like I might want to get in line, on the tram, in a taxi, on the bus, or generally in the direction someone else wants to go. Anyway it was very sweet and refreshing and worth a smile.

Posted from Basel

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did you end up with a hurt ankle? :(

I ended up hurting mine on the weekend trying to carry my bike up a flight of stairs to catch my train lol

Michelle said...

Yeah, my ankle was a little tender last night. I have slowly been phasing out higher heels over the last year or two but I still have some old favorites around. They just aren't good for the feet, knees and back even if they look cool. It's been easier to get rid of them in Europe because only all terrain shoes work here. But since I don't wear them so much anymore it seems like it has gotten harder and more painful when I do.

Kirk said...

Wait, that happened in Basel?! Wow--I would have expected him to scold you for not carrying things in an ergonomically correct way (which happened to Gretchen once when she was carrying groceries home).

Michelle said...

Kirk,

I've experienced the Swiss finger wag and correction on the 'right way' to do things also. Somehow I always take it personally too.

Unknown said...

Oh that is so nice. when you needed it most, someone came! Hope you are heeling fast... (oh geeze, no pun intended)...

And yes please send me some warm chestnuts, just not sure how that would work...

Why can you send frozen food and it works but hot, not so much... LOL

Enjoy some chestnuts for me!

Anonymous said...

Forget about shoes for a minute and tell me - How was the TV?!?!?!?!

K.J.

ps - Verlander = roy (which I am sure you heard already)
Oh well, Papelbon still had a great rookie time for a closer - We shall see where he will play this year :-)

Michelle said...

Kyle,

The TV is great! So how are you? Where are you these days and what are you up to? Hope life is treating you well. Almost time for Christmas cookie season ;-)

Anonymous said...

I'm living out of the back of my truck ... okay thats just for this week because I'm traveling (in oregon right now) down to CA to visit you know who and her family - we got back in contact through an odd number of circumstances... all of which were improbable - but since when is my life something that cares about probability ???

My health is good. My happiness is beyond that which I can express. Both the pups are good...pretty much no concern or problem.

Work is the same old - take a job, like it, do it for a while, grow to hate it, leave it, take some time, find another... repeat cycle...

Am looking forward to Christmas very much so. Just quit a job. Spending Thanksgiving in CA before working my way east to be with family out there... Who knows what state I'll be in next? :-) I've been to all fifty - I suppose I should just live in all fifty now! Or perhaps start living in other countries...

Speaking of Christmas --- SNOW. Skiing! I can't wait to hear how that improves for you this next year!!! I'm sure you'll do even better than last year. I still owe you a few lessons I think...

Did I give you cookie recipies? I think I did? How did you like them? I forget - I'm going back in time to look them up - Do you want another this year? I have misplaced your contact information... If I can figure out how to send mine securely I will... :-)

Anonymous said...

On scolding:

Today I had a guy from Dell Switzerland at my house to fix my computer, which was incredably expensive.

He scolded me 3 times during the course of fixing it for not having taken the 3 year warrantee (never mind that it costs 30% of the value of the computer and I would have had to take it back to a Benelux country since that's where I bought it).

Then he gave me bill for CHF 600 and left me with my computer. Which still doesn't work.

Glad someone was nice to you, enjoy it.

Anonymous said...

is your email still city clothing gender at a scorching sort of communication?

Anonymous said...

tee hee, that is funny. i just wrote someone about how i want to walk around the grocery store complex with an umbrella pointing out of my stomach. i can't believe it, even the grandma's mow me down.

p.s. we're officially boycotting my boyfriends vicious mother until she admits what a wonderful person I (okay, and him) am :).
I'm taking it in stride!

Anonymous said...

That made my week- it's the nicest thing I heard all week!