tolls

There are a number of public bathrooms in Germany that have tolls. A man or woman will sit at a small round table about ten feet in front of the bathroom, obviously loathing their job, accepting change onto a small plate. At least at the bathroom in the train station I was at this morning, the toll booth operator neither enforced the toll, nor was there any toll amount posted, but people were dropping 50-cent Euro pieces onto the plate. It seemed to be an unwritten law they you give this guy some cash to pass into his domain. Most of the patrons were doing it on the way out, and received a half hearted "Danke" from the operator who was about two minutes from falling asleep. I cant really speculate while these Germans seemed to be donating their money to this guy without being prodded for it, but I know I could have walked right by without much of a fuss.

A couple of hours ago, I got off the train at Mannheim sore from lugging around my luggage and xmas presents for most of the afternoon. I had set my alarm to wake me up just before the train arrived at the station, groggily grabbed my now very heavy suitcase and backpack, and didnt realize at the time I was leaving my $1000 laptop behind. I had a few minutes to get a coffee, and then boarded the next train to Köln. As I was settling in my seat and putting my things away, I realized it. It was a punch in the gut. That lap top is my baby, and outside of work, I carry it with me as much as I carry my wallet. I explained the situation to the lady who was checking my ticket, and she directed me to her boss at the front of the train. He seemed a bit sympathetic, but told me the only thing I can do is go to the DB (Deutsche Bahn) office when I get to Köln, and plead my case there. The situation obviously sucked, but what could you do, so I slumped back into my chair..
In the interem, I got to know the woman sitting next to me. She was coming from an interview with a renown language school here that I want to get a job at. I recently heard about this school. Its a high end language school that only hires native speakers to teach their languages, and they have a big demand for English teachers. She was a German teacher and just came from a successful interview. She asked me where I was from and when I told her Chicago, she said "oh thats obama country!! and said how Germans are so happy he was elected...
She got off a little bit before Köln and I started worrying about the laptop again. As the train slowed to a halt, I positioned myself right in front of the door and b lined to the DB office once the doors opened. By this time and after clumination of other events, I was beginning to think Germans, buerocrats( sp? ) especially , are much more sympathetic to a plight you may have when you attempt to speak their language. (think about it -- they deal with arrongant Americans all the time who demand they speak in our language because "everyone speaks it". Think if that was reversed... ) Disregarding that premonition , I charged to the DB window, asked Sprechen Sie Englisch, and explained my situation in English. After a max of two seconds , her response was "sorry there is nothing I can do... you can try the lost and found, and he may be able to call the lost in found at the station where the train was destined. " Somewhat crestfellen, but ready to try a new tactic, I went to the lost and found. (It has its own office -- not simply a pile of gloves and hats..) There was one guy there at his computer who looked like he hadn't been bothered all day and was content to leave it like that. I began to tell my tale in german, and although I struggled, I got the point across. I'm pretty sure I have a strong American accent, but he never threw me a life-line and crossed to English. Maybe it's arrogant of me to think he would? Anyway, he looked up where the train I took finaled at, and called that stations lost in found. He gave the guy my description and where it should be located on the train, and in the middle of his conversation with the other end, I heard him ask how the weather was and laughing and joking with the guz... At first I thought, what a dic* -- why is he just small talking with the guy .??Then I realized he was just buying time while another employee searched the train. After about five minutes, he gave me a thumbs up and said they have my computer. It's currently at the lost n found in Frankfort. After thanking the guy four or five different ways, he gave me the phone number to the frankfort lost n found. they open up at 630 tomorrow. So I may take a day trip there to pick up the computer if they cant get it here by tomorrow...