[originaltext]M: Hey, Sally. I’m thinking about going to Germany this summer, a

M: Hey, Sally. I’m thinking about going to Germany this summer, and I need some advice. You’re the best person I know to answer my questions since you’re German.
W: What do you want to know?
M: Well, I met a really nice woman, Linda, through an online music mailing list, you know, a discussion group on the Internet. I need some advice. You see, she invited me to spend two weeks in Germany. And well, I told her I had studied a little bit about the country and language, and she’s kind of expecting that I know more than I really do.
W: Hum, you are really in trouble now! What do you want to know?
M: Well, she is planning on introducing me to her parents.
W: Hey. Sounds kind of serious.
M: It isn’t, at least I think it isn’t. Anyway, what should you do when you greet someone for the first time in Germany?
W: Well, it depends upon your relationship with the person. If you’re meeting someone formally for the first time, you should make sure you arrive on time.
M: Okay. What about common greetings?
W: Germans often shake hands, and use the person’s family name, unless they’re really close friends.
M: What about with Linda? I’m not sure what I should do in her case.
W: You can call her Linda, shake hands, and why not take her some flowers?
M: Oh, how do you say "Nice to meet you" in German anyway?
W: Honestly, I think you need to take an intensive course in the German language before you leave. Otherwise, Linda might think you’re speaking Japanese or something!