European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 1, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The stars and stripes Pago 11 5 letters a a writers fond memories of Germany on the eve of my departure from Germany there Are a few items that i would like to address concerning the personnel who support the Mission that the United states has undertaken Here. I would like to take this Opportunity to thank the Many people who have made my stay in Germany both challenging and invigorating. In the years that i have been Here i have been a Dodds student a University of Maryland student a contract employee an appropriated fund employee a non appropriated fund employee and now a departing employee. I have been a Mehrer Steuer value added tax administrator a pizza Cook a purchasing agent a cashier a postal clerk a Bunny Rabbit a summer Camp instructor a waitress a Clown a bartender a contracting officer a receptionist a Tutor and a special events coordinator. In All those positions i have met numerous people who have one common goal. That goal is to support the . Forces in Europe. Daily in the stars and stripes letters to the editor there Are complaints and gripes about every aspect of life in Europe. Although some of these complaints and gripes Are legitimate most Are just valves to a let off  although i cannot speak for Safe i feel i can speak for Usa eur quite knowledgeably. Overall great strides have been made to better the Quality of life for personnel in Europe. Without having been fortunate to live Here for an extended period of time like myself most people cannot realize How much things have changed. An to has come extremely far Over the years a live sports coverage current shows better programming live news and longer viewing hours. An radio has done likewise. Cafes is the constant a whipping boy for everything that goes wrong anywhere. Cafes is not perfect but what Large business is to be responsible for All that cafes is responsible for is a tremendous Challenge. The Days of cafes closing facilities because it was a Benefit to the employees is gone . Exchanges closed sundays and mondays. A prime example of the Reader remarks on Tours a reminder for those taking Tours let the buyer beware. Tour guides earn a salary plus tips. If a tour guide takes you to a a a special store for shopping he she is probably receiving a 30-40 percent rebate on the total amount spent by the tour group. On my last tour i asked a sales clerk for the tour guides discount. I paid unobtrusively. My discount came to 44 percent plus a free gift. At another shop i observed the cashier remove several $20 Bills Roll them up and hand them to the tour guide. A name withheld Kae Fertal West Germany improvement in a fest offerings is the emergence of Burger Kings. Commissaries have come a Long Way too. The products in the stores now arc better and the personnel arc better trained. Morale welfare and recreation in military communities has taken giant leaps for the most part in providing programs that Benefit All aspects of the Community. There arc other agencies that have come a Long Way Over the years and they should be commended. We Over Here should remember that this is not the Hometown we left. If you have legitimate complaints utilize the appropriate Means to relay these complaints to the people who can do something about them. Far too much time is spent moaning and groaning about Machts nights things that Are basically individualized complaints. For the most part the people in positions of authority arc willing to listen and arc More than Happy to resolve your problem. On the other hand if you feel that something is going right in your Community let someone know. We arc far too Quick to complain and far far too slow to Praise things that arc great. The perception that people who work for the . Government do so Only because they cannot get a Job anywhere else is an antiquated idea. Believe it or not whether people working Here Are your wife husband neighbor or Friend they Are working because they care about the support you receive Overall. I encourage All of you to take advantage of living in Europe. The a Quality of life programs and activities and the support activities that some so readily criticize May not be Here for Long. Those things that we All enjoy Here May not be available at your next assignment. I would like to close by thanking people i have met Over the years for the experiences 1 have had in Europe. I would especially like to thank the people of the Munich Community where i have been for the last 11 years of my 15 years in Germany for the privilege of living and working with them. The people in Munich Are without exception the finest group of people i have Ever been associated with. Life in Europe has not always been perfect but i Don t expect life anywhere to be. Mahalo and Aloha a Carla c. Flanagan Munich West Germany All letters to the editor must contain the full printed name and address of the writer and must be signed. We do not read unsigned letters but we will withhold your name on request and protect your privacy. All letters Are subject to  pals i am doing an English project at school on what it is like to live on an air base. I would like to hear from people 14 to 16 years of age. A Clair Malone 31 Yar Vingale Road Willenhall Coventry cv3 3en England i am 19 years old. I like biking dancing and listening to music. A Alma Corsage Magnao nor eco ii Dumaguet City Negros Oriental Philippines i am 23 years old and my hobbies Are learning English fashion drawing Reading singing dancing. Fishing and swimming. A Idem Sonmez Gil Urfali Mah. Kaper sit. B1/1 d 17 Kartal Takacik Istanbul Turkey i am 18 years old and enjoy biking volleyball dancing and movies. A Carmencita Corsage Magnao nor eco ii Dumaguet City Negros Oriental Philippines i am a 26-year-old filipino contract worker interested in a pen pal. A Lina m. Macabugao no 1912 Road no 3639 Block 536. Duraz Bahrain Landers dear Ann Landers i have never seen this subject discussed in your column. I am talking about being ripped off by the bridal Industry. I work in a bridal shop and you would not believe what goes on. First almost everything must be paid for before the merchandise is delivered. We be had bridesmaids in tears because their gowns were too Small and floor length instead of Tea length. The shop owner says a sorry take it to a seamstress and have her trim some fabric off the Bottom and put it in the Side  last month a $5,000 wedding gown came in two Days before the wedding and it was the wrong style. The shop owner said a if you want a gown for that Day you a better take  recently an order came in for six bridesmaids dresses. Five gowns were too Small. Even though the bridal shop had been aware of the problem for three weeks alterations were not done until the Day before the wedding. The Bride and her Mother were nervous wrecks. My cousins wedding cake was delivered to the reception undecorated a with just Flat frosting. When my aunt asked what happened she was told a the pastry chef did no to feel Well and he went  the bridal Industry is ripping people off left and right because they know it is an important Day and they can Call the shots. In be never seen anything in print about this scandalous Racket and it would be a Public service if you took them on. �?., Connecticut dear . Several of my family members and friends have had Lovely weddings and i do not recall hearing any horror stories such As the ones you describe. We called a local bridal Salon and this is what the spokesperson said there Are some Shady characters and Slick operators in the bridal business a the same As in other businesses. They should be reported to the better business Bureau. The Best Way to find a reputable bridal merchant is to ask friends and relatives for recommendations. It is always Wise to go to a store whose reputation is Well established. Crooked operators do not survive for Long. The usual procedure is a request for a 50 percent Down payment. There should be a written agreement spelling out the Cost of the gown or gown san approximate Price for alteration and an agreed upon Date for delivery. Dear Ann Landers i just read the letter from . In Upland Calif who feels that because he is 75 years old he has nothing but his Gold Teeth to offer from his body. He is mistaken. We have just completed our first Quarter of medical school and it included an Anatomy class. Four students were assigned to a cadaver which we dissected and studied for 100 hours. It is my opinion that the woman who made it possible for us to learn from her remains taught us More than any other single person Ever will during our education process. After the final exam my three lab partners and i stood around Molly the name we had Given her and said  please let your readers know that a body of any age is of great value to medical students. �?w.p., Sacramento dear Sac you did and in a Way that i never could. Thank you. C creators Syndicate european edition col. Gene e. Townsend Usan commander editor in chief it. Col. Suzanne l. Phillips Usan Deputy commander editor in chief Marie Kominicki Mert Proctor Deane b. Mcdermott production manager managing editor circulation manager this newspaper is an authorized unofficial publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of the stars and stripes Are not necessarily the official views of. Or endorsed by the . Government the department of defense or the . European command. 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