1. Basically everybody bikes and walks. It’s not considered “sporty;” it’s just a way of life. When you need to travel a short distance, you walk. Cars are tolerate of cyclists and there are heavy fines if you hit one.
2. Cheese is a dish unto itself. Cut a slice, top it with vinegar, and eat it on its own. There is cheese on the table at every meal, and there’s no need to put it on bread in order to eat it.
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| Pictured: cars driving on the right side, and the ever-present bicycles parked by the buildings. |
3. Not everyone is skinny. There are lots of plump and chubby people running around. I haven’t seen any obese people, though.
4. Stoplights turn yellow before they turn green. This gives everyone time to shift into gear/stop putting on their mascara, so they are ready to roll when the light turns. Why don’t we have this in America?!
5. The rabbits are the size of groundhogs. The Hasen, as they are called, look like mutant bunnies to me, although I haven’t seen one up close yet.
6. People drive on the right side of the road. Only the British use the left side.
7. Lederhosen is making a comeback with the young people. You still won’t see it on a daily basis, but it’s considered fashionable to wear at festivals and special events.
8. Despite the natives’ protest that German is a beautiful language (and it really can be), it still sounds like the most terrifying thing in the world if it’s yelled. Michaela shouted at her dog for chewing on her shoe, and I nearly dove under the couch.
9. Conversely, little children speaking German is the cutest thing I have ever heard. Have you ever heard a three-year old yell, “Achtung!”? Words cannot describe how adorable it is.
10. People eat a lot of soup. When Michaela learned that I don’t make soup at home, she got a thoroughly confused expression and asked, “Then what do you eat?”
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