[originaltext]M: Hey Markus. I have a question I’d like to ask you.W: Yes. Go

M: Hey Markus. I have a question I’d like to ask you.
W: Yes. Go ahead.
M: Well, I’m thinking about going to Germany this summer, and I need some advice. You’re the best person l know to answer my questions since you’re German.
W: Thank you. What do you want to know?
M: Well, don’t laugh, but I met this really nice woman through an online music mailing list, you know, a discussion group on the Internet [laughter]. I need some advice. You see, Claudia,...
W: Okay. So it’s Claudia, oh?
M: Yeah, yeah. See, she invited me to spend two weeks in Germany. And well, I told her I had studied a little bit a bout the country and language, and she’s planning on introducing me to her parents.
W: Hey. Sounds kind of serious.
M: What should you do when you greet someone for the first time in Germany?
W: Well, it depends upon your relationship with the person. Now if you’re meeting someone formally for the first time, like Claudia’s parents, you should make sure you arrive on time.
M: Okay. Arrive on time. Uh, what about common greetings?
W: Well, Germans often shake hands, and they use the person’s family name, unless they’re really close friends.
M: Okay, what about with Claudia? I’m not sure what I should do in her case.
W: Ah. You can call her Claudia and shake hands.
M: Well, anything else?
W: What about taking her some flowers?
M: Sounds good. Thank you !