Germany
I got back from Germany a few days ago!
Other than some mishaps such as missing a flight and getting locked out of a hostel overnight (which was actually kind of funny), it was a really great time. I know a little German, but I was also with my boyfriend who speaks fluent German so there we no real problems getting around.
This is the first time I have been to Germany, so here's a quick list of cultural pros and cons that struck me. (These are meant to be taken in good humor.) For reference, I was in the southern part of Germany.
.
Good
-Everything is clean. Public places, restrooms, hotels, hotel SHOWERS, are just sparkling compared to their U.S. counterparts. It filled me with joy.
-The air is freakin' clean. So much purer, because of the much stricter emissions caps, from what I hear.
-The climate is NOT HUMID. Really, there seems to be NO HUMIDITY compared to the central United States. lkjax;hcvavadl; !!! The first morning I woke up, I was covered in pleasant sunlight but not a drop of sweat.
-The architecture is beautiful. I cannot get enough of the pastel-colored row apartments with flowers in the windows.
-The windows all open in a consistent fashion (different than U.S. windows) and and are really easy to open, at least the ones that I encountered in hotels.
-The shower design is better. The showerhead is really wide and easy to adjust.
-The public transportation system is useful, reliable, and seems to go everywhere. I envy it. DeutscheBahn FTW.
-The bread is so fresh and good. The little sandwiches at bakeries are easy to find and a much better option on-the-go than fast food.
-Breakfast is my kind of breakfast. It tends to be cold: Breads, meat slices, cheese, fruit, yogurt, boiled egg, muesli (better than cereal), Nutella.... I love these types of things. My favorite breakfast has personally always been a thick bagel with cottage cheese and fruit, kind of in that style. I don't like greasy American breakfasts.
-You get to seat yourself at restaurants
-You always get a casual "Hello" when you enter a business rather than an overbearing fake-sounding greeting.
-And yes, GERMAN BEER IS BETTER.
Not Good
-You have to either pay a fee or tip someone in order to use most restrooms.
-There aren't enough restrooms available in public areas like parks. They're too hard to find.
-Too much pork! Yuck. It was practically everywhere on every menu. I found it funny in one Japanese restaurant when most of the menu was pork-based. Gotta localize no matter what country!
-They usually drench the salad in dressing. Way too much!!
-No screens in the windows meant that bugs came rushing into the room at night!
-No martinis? We had little success finding any good alcohol that wasn't beer.
-Sales tax is 19%. And we didn't really think to claim any of it back when leaving the country. Boo hoo hoo
-IRRITANT #1: Why can't a person get a cold, refreshing beverage? Do they drink water in this country?
a) Water must be purchased in a bottle. It's unspeakable for them to serve a glass of tap water at a restaurant, even if you ask for it. (Although tap water is perfectly clean in a clean first-world country?)
b) The price of water and other beverages is exhorbitant compared to in the U.S.
c) German "cold" = American "a little below room temperature"
d) Do ice cubes exist?
e) There are no public drinking fountains. Even though I usually find these unsanitary, I will drink from them when there is no other option and I'm thirsty.
There were times when I was almost dehydrated. Because I've been conditioned to ice-cold beverages in America, nothing else will quench my thirst. Many times, McDonald's was a beacon of hope because it offered a specific fruity ice-blend drink at most locations. Actually cold because it's made with ice!!!!
Funny
-People look exactly the same. You can't tell an American from a German until they open their mouths. Middle-aged Germans seem just as likely to be overweight as middle-aged Americans.
-Pop culture is almost exactly the same. America really does export it all: the dregs of MTV and the drivel of Stephenie Meyer included.
Overall a good time! I'm glad not to be spending euros anymore (unfavorable rate) and to have plenty of ice water in the comfort of home. And not to have to walk all day. We tired ourselves out!!
Other than some mishaps such as missing a flight and getting locked out of a hostel overnight (which was actually kind of funny), it was a really great time. I know a little German, but I was also with my boyfriend who speaks fluent German so there we no real problems getting around.
This is the first time I have been to Germany, so here's a quick list of cultural pros and cons that struck me. (These are meant to be taken in good humor.) For reference, I was in the southern part of Germany.
.
Good
-Everything is clean. Public places, restrooms, hotels, hotel SHOWERS, are just sparkling compared to their U.S. counterparts. It filled me with joy.
-The air is freakin' clean. So much purer, because of the much stricter emissions caps, from what I hear.
-The climate is NOT HUMID. Really, there seems to be NO HUMIDITY compared to the central United States. lkjax;hcvavadl; !!! The first morning I woke up, I was covered in pleasant sunlight but not a drop of sweat.
-The architecture is beautiful. I cannot get enough of the pastel-colored row apartments with flowers in the windows.
-The windows all open in a consistent fashion (different than U.S. windows) and and are really easy to open, at least the ones that I encountered in hotels.
-The shower design is better. The showerhead is really wide and easy to adjust.
-The public transportation system is useful, reliable, and seems to go everywhere. I envy it. DeutscheBahn FTW.
-The bread is so fresh and good. The little sandwiches at bakeries are easy to find and a much better option on-the-go than fast food.
-Breakfast is my kind of breakfast. It tends to be cold: Breads, meat slices, cheese, fruit, yogurt, boiled egg, muesli (better than cereal), Nutella.... I love these types of things. My favorite breakfast has personally always been a thick bagel with cottage cheese and fruit, kind of in that style. I don't like greasy American breakfasts.
-You get to seat yourself at restaurants
-You always get a casual "Hello" when you enter a business rather than an overbearing fake-sounding greeting.
-And yes, GERMAN BEER IS BETTER.
Not Good
-You have to either pay a fee or tip someone in order to use most restrooms.
-There aren't enough restrooms available in public areas like parks. They're too hard to find.
-Too much pork! Yuck. It was practically everywhere on every menu. I found it funny in one Japanese restaurant when most of the menu was pork-based. Gotta localize no matter what country!
-They usually drench the salad in dressing. Way too much!!
-No screens in the windows meant that bugs came rushing into the room at night!
-No martinis? We had little success finding any good alcohol that wasn't beer.
-Sales tax is 19%. And we didn't really think to claim any of it back when leaving the country. Boo hoo hoo
-IRRITANT #1: Why can't a person get a cold, refreshing beverage? Do they drink water in this country?
a) Water must be purchased in a bottle. It's unspeakable for them to serve a glass of tap water at a restaurant, even if you ask for it. (Although tap water is perfectly clean in a clean first-world country?)
b) The price of water and other beverages is exhorbitant compared to in the U.S.
c) German "cold" = American "a little below room temperature"
d) Do ice cubes exist?
e) There are no public drinking fountains. Even though I usually find these unsanitary, I will drink from them when there is no other option and I'm thirsty.
There were times when I was almost dehydrated. Because I've been conditioned to ice-cold beverages in America, nothing else will quench my thirst. Many times, McDonald's was a beacon of hope because it offered a specific fruity ice-blend drink at most locations. Actually cold because it's made with ice!!!!
Funny
-People look exactly the same. You can't tell an American from a German until they open their mouths. Middle-aged Germans seem just as likely to be overweight as middle-aged Americans.
-Pop culture is almost exactly the same. America really does export it all: the dregs of MTV and the drivel of Stephenie Meyer included.
Overall a good time! I'm glad not to be spending euros anymore (unfavorable rate) and to have plenty of ice water in the comfort of home. And not to have to walk all day. We tired ourselves out!!