A glimpse into a couple of weeks in Germany!

Over the last week I've come up with a bit of a survival guide.....here is just a little glimpse of what an American Expat thinks about as they begin their life in a little village in Germany.
What does it take to live in Germany?
 
Great outerwear! 
L.L. Bean would love it here.  This picture is taken outside of our house and as you can see the sky is a bit gray and we have a little snow.  Germans never check the weather....and it doesn't matter if it's raining, sleeting or snowing - Germans are out and about.  Parkas, mittens, hats, boots......it doesn't have to be fashionable - just sensible.  Kids are walking everywhere - umbrella in hand if needed - but most of the time just trudging down the cobblestone streets with rosy cheeks.  We have seen a glimmer of sun in the time we've been here - but it gets dark early and it's dark in the mornings....something I'm getting used to.

Going on HOLIDAY!
We have had many a day to walk these cobblestone streets into town - and we've learned when Germans go on holiday....they really GO ON HOLIDAY!  Things were closed for days!  When the stores did open on the Monday following Christmas - IKEA was like the day after Christmas in the states! The picture below is a little  glimpse into one of our shopping trips to IKEA...yikes! They don't except credit cards - so bring your euro!  And remember assembly is required! 

If you don't have enough of milk - and they don't have gallons in this country - it's more like a liter.....you're doomed!  On Sundays most everything is closed all the time.  The only thing open are some restaurants and florists.  Why florists?  If you are invited to someone's home for kuchen and cafe in the afternoon you can stop and pick up some flowers along the way.  I love it!

Always have a euro in your pocket!
To get a cart at the local market you need a euro.  That way you return the cart to the same spot inside the store and get your euro back.  No random carts in the parking lots.  To go the toiletten (bathroom) in most places you need a euro.  That has not been easy for me....I'm the girl that hit the ATM regularly to withdraw $10.00.  Germans also buy what they need and use cash!  Credit cards are rarely accepted...so much for American Express!

Honesty and dilligence...and never be tardy!
There is nothing wrong with this....and I admire rule followers....here are a couple of examples.  If you're standing at a crosswalk (and believe me they are narrow roads to cross), and you don't see a car coming for miles.......JUST WAIT FOR IT!  The green walk sign that is!  You must never, ever cross when the little man is still red.  I've been here 3 weeks and never seen anyone walk on red!  WOW!  Now, how about this for honesty?  We had Dave, Heather and the kids here for Christmas (which was absolutely fantastic by the way) and we decided to take the Banhof (train) to Frankfurt to hear the bells on Christmas Eve.  No Problem....we can figure it out.  We walk as a group of 9 to the train station right here in the village.  We make sure we know exactly when the train leaves as the trains are NEVER late!  We attempt to read the signs......after many tries, we simply ask a nice German woman how the heck to get to Frankfurt.  Big language barrier.....but as you can see from the pictures below we made it!  As we were riding the train no one was checking our tickets... maybe when we get to the terminal in Frankfurt we'll have to go through a turnstile or something....NOPE!  It's the honor system.....you may or may not get your ticket checked along the way...you never know when you will so you always buy one, but wow that's a crazy system! The chimes on Christmas Eve were amazing.  People lined the cobblestone platz, drank gluhwein (hot wine) and had fun.  At one point, Heather and I were standing there with the kids.  An older German couple came up and started chatting with us.  She had a bag of cookies....now the first thing you think of as an American is the wicked witch and the apple in Snow White......and our mantra "never take food from strangers" - well that went right out the window as Heather and I, along with the kids bit into her delicious homemade cookies!  Now when would you do that in the states?  Well, the good news is we've all lived to tell about it.....and they were absolutely delicious....and that's what this couple has done for years. 

Mine is bigger than yours!

Gotta love this picture of brotherly love.....the bigger the beer...the better it is  Dave, Heather and the kids appeared 2 days after we arrived in Germany.  We knew they were coming...but the kids didn't!  It is a moment we'll never forget.  Even though we were amongst chaos and unpacking....it was so much fun for the kids.  After many trips to the local market, assembly of furniture, electrical wiring projects....and a trip to an American Sports Bar to watch the NFL......PROST!