Feier-abend

Feier-abend.
I learned what that meant before I even hopped on the plane for Germany.
Working for a German boss I learned that when it's Feier-abend it's feier-abend.
That means it's quitting time.

Closing time.

Work is finished.

Time to go home - or go for a beer.

I knew the concept, but I didn't really know...
Now there are many folks who will want to wrap things up before they feel that their
day is complete regardless of the time. I am often one of those folks.

I'll plan to leave at 7pm, my usual quitting time but will have a couple of emails that didn't get sent that I'll stay for. Then I'll see one little thing that needs to be organized for tomorrow. Then before long I'm eating dinner at 9pm or later!
Many of us do it. There are thousands upon thousands of over-worked Americans. Ok, there's the occasional late night fast food place that will close the door on you.

Now let me tell you that you haven't lived until you discover the REAL meaning of quitting time.
That, I have just learned from Germany. In my first week.

Germans don't play.
When it's time to go, it's time to go.

This includes whether or not you made it into the store 2 minutes before closing!

Just a little note in case you don't know or have forgotten, electrical devices made for the USA do not plug into European outlets.
That said, here's the lesson:

I was all ready to have a nice Friday evening in. Unwind from a whirlwind of a week. I turned on my laptop and was in the middle of talking on skype to my BEST friend from University aka my "twin sis" when I realized that the battery on my computer was very low. In fact probably 10 minutes away from being completely empty.
No problem, as we talked I reached for my cord to plug it in and saw that the US plug was missing the converter that I had put on it. I had just the one for the 2 things that I brought from the US that I need to plug in. After searching my 2 rooms and my computer bag, I assumed that I had left the converter plug in the extension cord at my office 40 km away! There was no way I was going to drive all the way there at night in a new city.

I was in a panic because there was no way I was going to go the entire weekend (not even Friday night) without my computer!!!
Emails, skype! My connection to folks back home.
I might be the adventurous one taking off for Germany, but sometimes I just want to hear a familiar voice, you know?

I was feeling the need to be in touch with some familiar folks.
So, after getting the scoop that the was a store near me still open if I hurry I could just make it.

I seriously doubted I would be so fortunate as to find it without getting at least a little turned around, it's so easy to do in this city, but I had to try. One wrong turn and that was my chance lost. But, it was possible! And lo and behold, I actually made it there with barely 2 minutes to spare!

I ran inside and tried my best German asking the girl behind the counter where I could find a converter.
Blank stare....

"Damnit!" I thought.

"...plug, for my computer..."

"Ah! Computer. 3rd floor." Computer - That universal word.

Ok, 3rd floor, Which to us is the 4th floor. See, it's all the little things...

I RAN up the slow moving escalator and just made it to level 3 slash 4 when I heard a booming voice one level below.

"Feier-abend." said the security guard and he gestured with a sweeping hand movement as if to shoo me out of the store.

"Oh! Eine moment, bitte."
(inner monologue which went unspoken) Please Mr. I made it into the store, just let me buy my plug or cord whichever...

I stood frozen in my spot. This guy looked serious. And he was wearing one of those clear "secret service" earpieces.

I looked around... someone, anyone... Help! I need a distraction. I untied and tied my shoe. That bought me a few seconds...

Ah, one employee guy, passed, "Excuse me, I actually said it in German, "Entschuldigung..."

He walked right past, completely ignoring me! Ah! The nerve, but what could I do? He had cds to stock before he could leave.

Another employee guy is heading my way, let me try one more time... "Entschuldigung..."

"Ja?" Oh, Wow! A nice one. "Sprechen Sie Englisch?"

"Yes." OK! I fired my question at him. I had to just run over and buy it and then I'd have my computer going again...

Well, as it turns out they only had the big, expensive converter travel package that Mac makes and I only need the one little converter plug thingy.
DAMN!!
I was desperate and thought about just buying it, but later discovered that they DON'T TAKE CREDIT CARDS!!!
I can see my sister picking her mouth up off the ground now.

Of course I didn't have enough cash for that fancy $80 crap and by the time I got all of the information that I needed, the loud guy from downstairs had called up a reinforcement security guy who was now standing next to me and the nice Media Markt guy letting me know without saying one word that he was there because I was there.

Message received. Also at this point since I had used up those spare 2 minutes and more, it was PAST closing time! So, there was no side trip to floor 0 to just pick up that tiny little plug that I found out is what I needed, it's Feier-abend and I was getting an escort out the door!!!

I can truly say that that is the first time I've ever been tossed out of a store.
For wanting to BUY something.
They don't care how much money you're going to spend, it's Feier-abend.
Quitting time!