"You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.”
An homage to what I have learned and want to remember in Germany.
Experiences are what matter. Checking places off a list or taking a photo in front of every attraction does not leave me fulfilled. Experiences are what matter.
When someone asks “How are you?” (Wie gehts dir?), the polite response is not “I’m fine, thank you”, but “Ah, I feel like sh*t” or whatever is actually on your mind. Germans think you are being false if you answer "good".
Girls' nights are a must. Girl trips are a must. Bingo is the shit.
Maybe not all rules are meant to be broken. The "to a fault, rule following" Germans have somehow managed to make rule following a new habit of mine... and more impressively... BILLY!
When you enter a restaurant, you sit yourself down. Try asking a waiter for a table and they’ll look at you as if you’re cray cray (unless it’s a very busy or touristy place).
Mullets are acceptable on Germans – on children, on old guys, even on people running for elections.
Germany's universal healthcare system makes my liberal bleeding heart so happy. ... as it did my wallet when I unexpectedly got pregnant while under American health insurance with a $13,500 deductible.
Dogs are allowed everywhere – on the train, in restaurants, in the mall. German people love dogs (and babies, also everywhere). Note that Goose is not considered a dog in Germany. He is a German Eating Monster. German Eating Monsters (GEMs) are not allowed everywhere.
Almost every day, somewhere in Franconia, there’s a random festival going on or a nice farmer’s market where you can buy fresh produce.
Franconia and Bavaria are very, very different. This you must know.
German men are hot. They are. They are big; they dress well; they keep nice haircuts; even the dumb ones are ridiculously smart; they're athletic; they can drink a lot of beer. A whole lot. (This will have to be deleted before I share it with my colleagues during my Abschied)
Similarly, German women have big boobs and a big butt. It's not fair.
If you go out to the villages, most people will struggle to speak English. It’s kind of nice…
“A beer a day keeps the doctor away”, eating massive chunks of meat makes you a stronger drinker, and a shot of Schnapps calms the stomach. Allegedly. (Also: German Schnapps is NOT what we think of in America.)
Beer is cheaper than water. Good beer. The best beer.
No matter how many times I look up at the Nuernberg castle or wander through the middle of Kraftshof at night, I continue to be amazed that I live here.
Politically incorrect jokes are okay here, and unfortunately racism is very much still alive.
Public transportation will never be as good as it is in Germany.
Brutal honesty really is the best policy.
Partying is for all ages. Also, dancing on tables.
Visiting friends and family is important. Maybe the most important. Skip that weekend beach trip and visit a friend that recently moved or a cousin in another state.
Life in another country is always an adventure. Every action requires serious problem solving.
Every drink is carbonated.
It is possible to live without air conditioning.
To order a beer in a bar, you use your thumb to indicate “one” rather than your index finger (watch Inglorious Basterds)
Germans stare. I did not get used to this. I tried to use my competitive nature to my benefit... and yet they still stared me down.
A couple German facts that I really found interesting:
- Munich is further north than any major US city (excluding Alaska).
- German is the official language of 5 countries: Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. It is also spoken in Northern Italy and the French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine.
- Germany is the first country to adopt Daylight Saving Time (DST) in 1916.
- Germany borders 9 countries (Austria, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Belgium, Luxemburg, Holland, Czech Republic, and Poland).
- Hugo Boss designed the official uniforms for the Nazi Party and Hitler Youth.
- The longest word published in the German language is Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft
When I am wearing a tank top on the first day of Spring, Germans are most likely wearing a down jacket.
Between German beer and German bread, I am not sure which one I will miss more.
Everything is closed on Sundays. ... and it actually resulted in a true day of rest and quality time with family and friends.
You must carry cash at all times. Credit cards are not accepted at 99% of places.
Despite the difficult language and lack of warm and fuzzy culture, Germany is utterly wonderful.
“I’m not sure what I’ll do, but—well, I want to go places and see people. I want my mind to grow. I want to live where things happen on a big scale.”
- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Ice Palace and Other Stories
