Since I've been in Germany for about a week, I've had plenty of time to make some observations about the German people and their way of life. Now these observations are kind of mixed with the observations I made when I visited Berlin and Munich last year on a Maymester trip. (Shoutout to all of those people, miss you guys and club Matrix of course!!) So here are the observations:
1. Germans don't smile
Being from the south I have been raised to walk with a smile on my face, acknowledge others, say please/thank you/you're welcome/excuse me/I'm sorry, but the Germans seem to be lacking in that area. I don't know why exactly but it's a very foreign concept to me. So when I pass people on the street I usually can't help myself but to greet them with a smile and hopefully they don't think oh why is this random girl smiling but instead it makes them happy and then they will in turn smile at someone else.
2. Germans are major rule followers
Germany is a country of many rules, but I have learned that most of the rules are unspoken. Such as: make sure if you are riding your bike you are in the bike lane and not the street; always pick up dog poop even if it isn't in somebody else's yard; it is a sin in Bavaria if you drink a weiss bier (their main beer) out of a bottle, you must drink out of a glass; the only time it is accepted to open windows is in your own home - Germans get upset about drafts if you open a window on the train or at work - most of the time someone will come and close it; you don't wear your workout clothes to the gym - there are large coed dressing rooms (WEIRD!) that you change in when you get there; on escalators you pass on the left and stand on the right - definitely don't stand in the way of a person in a hurry to get on the train, believe me you will get a few words in German and it's not fun.
There are plenty of other rules but they are slipping my mind at the moment - definitely the ADD kicking it. And if you break one of the many unwritten rules you will definitely know! Germans feel like it is their place to let you know you have done something wrong.
3. Crazy/good drivers
If you don't know, you have to be 18 to get a license in Germany because Germans are very strict about their driving. There are lots and lots of road signs and the lines on the road are very distinct. You must always use your blinker and yield to pedestrians. One interesting fact about driving is if you come to an intersection when normally you would have the right away, well you don't continue to drive, the person turning onto that street does. They also park on the side of the road a lot so it only leaves space for one car and Germans are very good about letting the car come through that was on the road first. They are very good drivers because they follow all of the rules unlike American drivers. (especially in Columbia, if you lived there you know what I'm talking about - it's terrible)
4. Healthy lifestyle
Since I've been here I've only seen a few obease people and they were at the large indoor pool with speedos and bikinis which was a nasty sight to see, let me tell you!! But Germans tend to lead a very healthy and active lifestyle. People are always biking to and from work, the beer gardens, to the bakery, etc. Since gas is so expensive, that encourages them to take public transportation or bike. Like I said in a previous post, I'm not the biggest fan of biking but I'm going to have to get used to it. But I do especially enjoy biking after a Weiss beir or 2 at the beer garden :)
There is also not a lot of fast food options like in the states. Where there is a McDonalds on every corner in America, there is a bakery here in Germany. Yes bread is not the best because it is a carb ("Is butter a carb?" Mean Girls reference, sorry just came to mind) but the bread is fresh and usually organic. There are lots of markets and fresh fruit and vegetable stands around the city and in the different towns. The vibrant colors of the food are so enticing and I think I've eaten more vegetables since I've been here than ever before, but hey I'm not complaining. But I do have to say I'm a sucker for good chicken fingers and french fries so I'm currently missing my Zaxby's, Chick fil a and my favorite Mexican food, Qdoba!
5. Germans love their gardens
If you live in the city, land is very rare. Even in small towns outside the city like where we live, land is very rare. So when you do have a little land in your backyard you cherish it! Germans love to plant flowers, make sure their grass is always cut and have nice furniture to relax and enjoy the day. It is usually a nice temperature outside so Isabella, Rivers and I are always playing in the little backyard. While Brandon and I were running the other day she took me by the train tracks and there was this huge piece of land sectioned off and you can buy some of it and create your own little garden. You can plant flowers, vegetables, or set up furniture to have parties. It is actually a cool concept because so many different people are connected by this plot of land all because they love to be outside in their garden.
This is not an observation but instead something that I'm dealing with everyday. Brandon and I went into the city on Tueaday and while she went to yoga I had a coffee and walked around and went into a lot of different stores. Most Germans can speak English at least a little bit but I cannot speak German. My last semester of college I took an introduction to German class so I could learn the basics which has helped a lot to know certain words and understand a little of what people are saying but by no means can I speak German. Krcelic is Croatian and my grandmother and dad have always told me I looked very Eastern European with my blonde hair a blue eyes; well Germans also look a lot like this. So when I was walking into the boutiques and shoe shops, I was greeted with a "hallo" and I would respond the same, so the salesperson would assume I was German and could speak the language, ha jokes not the case. If they would start talking to me in German I would respond with "oh I'm sorry I don't speak German" and then we would usually converse a little in English. Once I left the stores I would say goodbye in German which is "tschuss" which means see ya later. The few words I do know in German I try to speak as often as possible just to show I am trying to make an effort. But as I walk the streets wether in the city or our town, I sometimes enjoy not understanding the language because it leaves the mind to wander. I have to use my imagination to guess what the sign is saying or what peoples conversations are about based on their facial expressions. I also can't use my phone unless I have wifi so I'm not constantly checking Twitter, Snapchat or Instagram and instead I really pay attention to my surroundings, which I have thoroughly enjoyed.
1. All my ΧΩ girls! Spending my last semester all day everyday with my best friends was amazing and now it's sad to not all be together. But know I miss all of you and wish y'all were all here with me! LICO!
2. To my sister! So excited for your journey to Mexico this summer! I know you will enjoy every minute and I can't wait to hear about all of your fun adventures. Love ya long time little one!
3. And to my parents! Thank you for supporting me during my last 22 years and especially through college - GO COCKS! And again THANK YOU for allowing me to go on this wonderful journey, I wouldn't be who I am today without your love and guidence! Miss and love y'all!
