When we first moved here, I was so not a happy camper. It was always cold and rainy. I mean, come on, September in SC is still incredibly hot and humid. I didn't think it would be that much different here in Germany. Not being able to speak the language or understand very much was also incredibly challenging for such a talkative person as myself. Soon, the holiday season was upon us, and it was so difficult not being able to come home and see my family and friends.
Everything started to change for me after the holidays, though. I had taken several intensive German language classes, so my understanding was getting better and better by the day. I also met some really great people who helped me fill my days with great coffee and fantastic conversation. (Thanks Amanda and Karen)!! Rather than seeing all of the things I missed about America, I began to appreciate Germany a bit more, and I realized how narrow my view of the world was. So, I'm compiling a list of all the things I love about Deutschland...things I may have found a little annoying when I first moved here but now I don't know how I'll live without them.
*Having 5 different trash receptacles. The funny thing is that my very first German lesson when we moved here was to read and know all of the items that go into the Gelbasack (if you're in Germany, you know). Danny and I have been recycling since we were first married, but Germans take it to the extreme, and it's mandated. You HAVE to do it. I love that. Americans get such a bad rap, because we are consumers and wasters. I think we all should make an effort to recycle everything. I mean, why not? The only outcome is good things, so why wouldn't we do it?
*Dining Out. When you go to a German restaurant, you basically seat yourself. It's great, because if you don't want to be crammed next another table, you just pick a different one. On top of that, the waiters and waitresses don't bug you every two minutes. When you're ready to order, you close your menu, and they usually come right away. When you're ready to pay, you ask for the check. Other than that, you're left alone. And you can sit for hours if you want. I've never felt rushed out of a restaurant here. The difference is that the servers get paid more, but don't make as much in tips. When you tip here, you just round up or give an extra Euro or two if the the service was stellar. Since the waiters aren't paid based on how many customers they can get in and out, it makes the entire experience more enjoyable.
*No free refills. I HATED this when I first came here, because I can down several glasses of water in one meal in the States. I find that when I drink slower, I eat slower, and that just makes for a more enjoyable and relaxed experience. Also, how many times have you left a restaurant right after you had your glass refilled? You end up leaving an entire glass of whatever on on the table, and it gets thrown away. Do you realize how much is being wasted? Consider how many people go out everyday, and think about how often that happens. We deserve to be called spoiled and wasteful. (Please don't be offended. I still LOVE America).
*Having my German corrected ALL the time. This used to annoy the daylights out of me. I just wanted to be able say what I had to say, no matter how bad I butchered the language, without being interrupted. Every day when I'd go to the bakery, she'd correct my pronunciation, and it didn't seem like she was being very nice about it. The cool thing is that over the last several months, I've been corrected less and less, which has made me feel like I've accomplished something!! It's funny when you start speaking in German, and the person automatically starts speaking in English. They know you're obviously not from Germany. Now, that happens less and less. When mom was here, I had to translate A LOT!! It was great. For the first time, I felt like, "Yay, I know this. I've got this down"!! It was awesome.
*The fact that it costs about 2000 Euros to get your drivers license. Bear with me on this one. I know that as Americans, we want a deal all the time...something for nothing. As a German, you're required to have so many hours with a driving instructor. It's a lot, from what I hear. Then you have to take a pretty tough test, and if you fail, it's another thousand Euros or so for the training to take the test again. This is great, because if you aren't serious about driving, you take a bus or a train. Only people who NEED to drive do it. And then, the drivers who are on the roads are more well-trained. I've only seen one wreck the entire time I've lived here, even with all the snow. And there's no speed limit on a lot of road. People drive so fast!! But everyone knows the rules, and they actually follow them. You don't see drivers just riding in the left lane, EVER!! It's a huge no-no.
Ok, so I think this is enough for now. I plan to add to this list, so look for updates. There's so much more I want to share.
Beth
0 comments:
Post a Comment