Now getting work on an appropriate level and quality seems to be not implicitness today anymore. Even when you pay for it all world seems to think it is just necessary to take the money from you.

This week I move a website for a customer to a new hosting provider and part of it was registering a ssl certificate which had to be done by the administrators of the hosting provider. So the customer passed on the info and got charged for installing it …. and when I tried her online shop I had to find out about it does not work because of a missing certificate information.

How can that be???

That was exactly what I asked the hosting business, but so far I did get nothing but excuses from them.

It’s anyway curious. You request hosting by an American Hosting business and helpdesk personal from India is answering you. When you then insist in getting things done, a "Super"-Admin from USA is answering you, then telling that they are sorry about that and that is missing and it is a pre-requirement to full fill you wish first … the wish you told them about and even got charged for it a few days ago.

Honestly, I’m not sure this is the appropriate business to be …. and I’m really happy about I didn’t recommend it to the client, only being hired for the move itself.
Believe me, I’m really happy to pay $US 2 more, but get a real service instead myself!

His morning I’ve found a Cause Invitation at Facebook. It was about the firefighter at Australia actually dealing with these bush fires and in general the national tragedy happening there actually. 

It wouldn’t have needed this invitation to make me aware about. Our news here are full about it since day and Mr. Kevin Rudd nearly as often on the screen than our Angela.

I have to confess that my feelings about are splitted in a deep sympathy with people their and their losses, but also in feeling curious about there are so many victims of those fires. Why does this happens?

I have seen already a few areas after it burned there – at Australia, but also at California and other part of the world. What do people expect after several weeks without rain and extremely hot conditions? To be able to fight a fire with shovels and sand? No Way!! It needs a big machinery water and chemicals and trained personal to do for sure. And even those might feel forced to give up at some stage …

But at least in my thinking lives go always for belongings. Why do they not manage to see it is time to leave … When it is time to leave?! Isn’t that also some kind of failure by the officials telling people to evacuate in time?

Anyway, I’m too far away and really never experienced it myself and so I will stay carefully with my judgements and the commitment that my thoughs are with the people there.

Today I’m giving a training for some guys from Belgium. For sure we speak English as our common language we can talk with, but for all of us it is our second language. It is nice and funny atmosphere in which we are dealing with each other by all participants are being aware about some little language "issues" can occur.

In fact we have a lot of fun with each other mixing up and through three different languages at the same time and luckily ending up always with some explanation everyone is able to get and understand.

But back to the question … How good is your spoken English? Asked about today, I would answer honestly that it is as good as the English of my communication partner I talk with.

Really! And it is not the first time I’m recognising it. Give me some native English speaking person to talk with and all the conversation does run quick and easy for me. I know all the words and the more I talk, the more easier it turns out for me and often people do tell me that they are impressed. (Glad they do, as for I personally still doubt about)

Since a while I’m aware and even can hear about English is not always English. There seems to be a million different dialects and ways to speak exactly the same word and at least for me it often depends on where my opposite is originating from. People coming from the UK preferable for sure! I like and understand their English best. But also Canadians and Aussies do not really cause me trouble. Americans are fine too – at least as long there not coming from southeast USA or are descending by Asian ancestors.

So once again back to the question. The real true answer might be … It depends! … at least for me.

Must be now nearly 9 years since I was in the USA for longer. And now being over again I recognize that there is some mentality border for sure. People are different here for sure.

Sure they are friendly and exceptional helpful in any situation. Bit never the less I can feel it … they are different.

The last few years I’ve traveled Canada, New Zealand and Australia and wherever it was, I have felt closer to the people there.

I really can’t specify it better than, the people there are more European alike. Strange but true … perhaps the reason why I archive to make really close friends in those countries I mentioned last, but never archived to come closer with some US folks so far.

Now this is tempting ….

Yesterday I did catch up with my brother on Yahoo. He is actually over in the USA and like me a great fan of all that shiny new things offered in electronic stores! So it was no wonder he was strolling into a lot of shops comparing rate and based on our Euro is actually very strong it is no wonder buying things there seems to be very lucrative at the moment.

Now generous he is, he offered me to do a bit of shopping for me as well!

How tempting! Can I resist? Hardly I guess … at least we have already started to speak about specific models he will now look into and check out for me.