I am an ex patriot Brit living in south western Germany. I came over at the end of 1977, after 5 years in the Royal Air Force and 18 months at Pedigree Petfoods. The first couple of years, I spent learning the language and the local dialect "Schwäbisch" (Anglo-Saxons say "ssh-way-bissh"). Fortunately in those days there were not that many who spoke English. So I am fluent in the spoken word, and not too bad on the written. Over the years I have worked for companies such as the Aachener & Münchener insurance and AEG. I have been self employed in the IT branch since 1982 and on the Internet since 1997.