Germany Observations •• Some Blog Site

Germany Observations

Oct

2018

I noticed some things on my recent visit to Germany.

They really like carbonation.
If you don’t specify how you want your non-alcoholic drink, it will be fizzy. Mit bubbles.

Even water.

If you ask for water, chances are good you’ll get sparkling water. Ask for still water. Shtill vasser.
They don’t know what lemonade is.
I ordered a lemonade at a restaurant, because it was on the menu. The “lemonade” came clear and sparkling so I was suspicious, but it had a lemony taste.

I tried again at the next restaurant:
“Laymonaddeh, bitteh”
“Sprite or 7Up?”
“What…?”
(my German colleagues try explaining. I should have switched my order to iced tea, but I was so flabbergasted trying to reconcile calling a Sprite a lemonade that I think I ordered a Sprite. Have I mentioned I do not like carbonation?)

After the waiter left, I explained to my German colleagues what lemonade is – water, squeezed lemons, and sugar. They were amused, as no one around there drinks that. Then they showed me the Bitter Lemon drink that they were familiar with and I had never seen before.
They don’t eat much chicken.
It’s the opposite of the United States. Here, every restaurant has chicken and few have ham or pork. There, every restaurant has ham or pork and few have chicken.
They don’t use top sheets.
This one could be a European thing. But your hotel bed comes with a comforter/duvet thing and a pillow. A fitted sheet covers the mattress, but you’re either hot with the comforter or cold without it.
They are friendly and just about everyone knows English.
We were hard-pressed to find someone there who did not speak English.
They regard Switzerland as we Michiganders regard Ohio.
The Swiss know you’re not from there and are very strict about traffic tickets.

Also, the higher speeding tickets will cost you 1-, 2-, or 3-months salary.

Germany is a fine place to visit. Roads are nice, cars are nice – there was only one car I remember seeing with rust on it. It was memorable because it was such a contrast to the other cars.

Yes, I did go on the Autobahn and made it over 100mph for a short time. There was too much traffic around, and that prevented any other attempts.

Last thing to note – I always pictured Germany as being very old, much older than the US. And that is true for the regions, but Germany the country was formed around the time of the US civil war. So it is a young country, and now I know who and where the Prussians were.

And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

Luke 15:13