Hi everybody! I am quite fond of a lot of old fashioned things, as for instance formal introductions, proper spelling, capital letters (where appropriate) and good grammar. You can quote me on this when you destroy me with your insightful, witty, droll and well-observed insights which you will post as clever little comments (or at least I hope you will do - let's see if it pays to be an optimist in this case).
Allow me the pleasure of introducing myself, as I said just a second ago, I am quite fond of these old and quaint little customs and traditions - my name is Kathleen (Kitty) Jones, I am from Dublin, Ireland and currently spending presumably a year in Herford, Germany on an errand of probably vain attempts to discover cross-cultural differences between the English-speaking world and the deep, brooding and scarily effective (at least when it comes to economics, or so common prejudice likes to believe) Teutonic mind, culture, psychology (uh - Freud comes to mind, and German was his mother tongue!), economy, sociology and presumably a whole bunch of other important-sounding words ending with a -y. I also have the perfect title for my neat little research project: "Studies in Futility". Unless, in rare cases of unprecedented generosity, dear fellow-traveller/German researcher/Teutonic adventurer you might like to share your personal little insights, experiences, anecdotes or anything else worth sharing about these "Deutsche" as they like to call themselves (I love Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator!).
Therefore, allow me to send this, my very first blog, believe it or not, into the world and see, if you, dear reader (if you exist) can prove me wrong - is there something to be said about these bloody Germans? And even if you agree with the rather cynical scepticism of my first title, if you're up for it, I believe we might at least get some entertainment out of our future discourse (if we manage to establish one that is based on keen observation as well as a profound and distinguished sense of style - but I'm sure you have something to teach about that). So you see, you have the power over the title of my next (the very first second blog entry I will ever write) text: It might sound something like "Avoid, if you are able too... being an optimist".
There remain only two more things I'd like you to consider:
1. <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 2.0cm 70.85pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->

What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so.

2. <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 70.85pt 2.0cm 70.85pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->

If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything.

Both of these are quotations by Samuel Clemens. Looking forward to hearing from you,

Yours

Kitty