1945

Who are our classmates living outside the U.S.A.? The latest roster shows nine. Thinking that their lifestyles would be of special interest to all of us, I wrote each of them. First to respond was Charles English, from Firming in the German state of Bavaria. For space reasons I have had to select passages to quote from his fine long letter, but this is truly his column.

"This 'adventure' was facilitated by the fact that Eva, my wife of 44 years, was German; as well as by the fact that we are living in a new age of convenient access...Actually, Europe is not so 'foreign, and living amidst our mother-countries is not so different, now that the ways of the Western world have become so integrated... Global transformation through technology instead of ideology!

"For ten years now, Eva and I have been residing in Bavaria; but, by my definition, we are domiciled in America, where our connections and interests remain. We think of it as a sort of 'double life,' conducted six hours later in the day...

"Our village of Finning is an interesting mix of old and new rural, traditional and modern crafts, a large number of commuting business, professional, and laboring people, making for an almost suburban atmosphere and adding up to a population of 1,500...F0r regular exercise we walk the farm lanes through open country (no fences). We are surrounded by beautiful farms, forests, and landscapes, as well as by friendly, diligent, energized, strong, highly competent, and good-humored people. These are the new German mix of Bavarian with the wave of post-war 'Prussian' refugees from the lost German regions to the north and east, together with the expellees from Sudetenland over 11 million uprooted people West Germany had to absorb after the war...

"Here, we can view the whole Germanic scene in historic depth and in terms of the problems and achievements of the last half of this century. It's striking to behold a Germany of humming cities, towns and villages, yet with 80 percent of its area in open space and managed evergreen forest. This despite the dense population, the extraordinary highway network, and the myriad villages dotting the landscape...Basic to this pattern is the tight containment and regulation of every community, thus preserving local identity as well as protecting the countryside from non-farm development. However restrictive and bureaucratic, this system does take into account long-term social considerations and results in an attractive environment for an extraordinarily productive nation. Our scenic 'county seat,' Landsberg, is an historic, most appealing, well managed city of 28,000 or so, with town-wall and gates from six or seven centuries ago...Munich, the state capital, (has a) city center set aside as walking zone. There you can wander all day between points of unique interest.. .Visiting inner Munich is a special treat. What do I do here? Well, I'm never caught up! with reading, listening and viewing, in this 'information age.' In this land of music, symphonic and Alpine, one can all the more appreciate our local TV; but with satellite TV from London, New York and Atlanta, as well as from all of Germany and nearby countries, one's retirement horizons are, indeed, expanded. But, reading comes first...

"Now, when weary of such, I go to gardeningtrees, shrubs and flowers...How plants prosper here! Everyone must have flowers...in garden or on balcony; but the variety and quality make for satisfaction and good neighborly spirit.

"Don, I would ask you to extend my greeting to our esteemed classmates, like Bud Elder and Harry Hampton. I read about them and all of the Hanover 'doings' with great interest."

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