Daily Differences

 

    Adjusting to life in Germany has not been easy. Before arrival, I did not realize how much daily tasks become daily rituals, or how much energy it takes to disrupt these rituals and adopt new ones. Although I haven’t experienced too much culture shock, there are many differences I’ve noticed between Ohio and Erlangen. If you want to spend time in Germany, here are some differences you may want to know:

Bread: What everyone says is true: the Germans know how to make bread. From sandwiches to buns to pretzels to sourdough to desserts to strudels, you name it, German bread is delicious. Bakeries are nestled on every other street corner and no matter which one I attend, the bakers working behind the counter have always been sweet and helpful, even when I fumble over my words.

Currency: With Euros, each bill is a different length and color, making it easy to distinguish between different amounts. Some coins are cents and some are full Euros, so make sure you know the difference.

Insect Hotels: This is a concept I never knew existed before living in Germany. Apparently, these cute little constructions are exactly what you’d think: hotels for insects! They’re surprisingly big. Here’s a photo of one I saw in Würzburg yesterday: 

Masks: Masks are still required on public transportation and in certain indoor spaces like pharmacies. It’s also normal to see people wearing masks in public, at school, or outside, especially if they’re feeling sick.

Pigeons: They’re EVERYWHERE. I’m not kidding. One almost flew straight into my head when I was walking down the street yesterday. I’ve seen pigeons inside train stations and shopping centers. When I visited Munich and Würzburg, they were there too. You can’t escape them. In battle, the pigeons in Erlangen would easily massacre the seagulls at Cedar Point. We’re all outnumbered. It’s only a matter of time.

Postal Mail: Most bureaucratic processes are still done through paper mail rather than email, which means registering for electricity or receiving your student ID can take weeks.

Public Transportation: When I arrived in Munich’s airport the morning of September 5th, I knew I needed to travel over 117 miles to Erlangen, then find my address within Erlangen, all while carrying my heavy luggage and without access to a car. Luckily, because of Germany’s trains and buses (and a little help from my friends), I was able to get from Munich to Erlangen, then from Erlangen’s train station to my apartment, quickly enough to be completely moved in by about 2pm. The Cleveland airport is closer to Bowling Green than Munich is to Erlangen, but an international student landing there would have a MUCH tougher time covering that distance without a car than I did here in Germany. While there can be delays or some routes may get crowded, having any public transportation is better than little to none. My only obstacle without a car in Germany is the weather, but even then, I have adopted the German mindset of “Wir sind nicht aus Zucker!” (The rain won’t stop us because we are not made out of sugar). This video captures the sentiment entertainingly.

Recycling: From what I've noticed, Germans take recycling seriously. Walking through a neighborhood, it’s normal to notice four or five different colored bins at the end of every driveway. I haven’t seen a plastic straw since landing in Germany. It’s not that Germans inherently care more about the Earth and climate change than Americans do (well, maybe some); rather, recycling is socially encouraged and systemically supported, making it possible and simple for every single person to compost, separate their trash, and reuse or recycle most of what they buy.

Repurposing Buildings: Rather than knocking down old buildings and rebuilding new ones in their place, Germans tend to use existing buildings for new purposes, leading to the creation of the fanciest McDonald’s I’ve ever seen:

Sidewalks and Streets: Sidewalks are wide, with plenty of room for both cyclists and pedestrians. Streets are narrower and cars are smaller than in the States. Speed limits are painted on the ground and traffic lights are usually lower and stationed at street corners rather than hanging over the center of the intersection. I think cars are being discouraged in favor of public transportation due to their environmental impact and the rising cost of fuel.

Tip: When waiting at a crosswalk, even if the streets are completely empty without a hint of a car horn blowing faintly in the wind, Germans typically do not cross until the signal changes to green. Crossing while the signal is still red, no matter how safe, is frowned upon.

Smoking: From what I’ve noticed, smoking seems to be more common here in Bavaria than Ohio, especially with young people. Almost every outdoor restaurant table and trashcan has an ashtray.

Street art: Stickers on poles and graffiti on walls or electrical boxes are common, often with political motivation. Here are some examples of the street art I’ve passed:

The Forrest Gump sticker (which translates to “Life is like a box of chocolates…too much plastic.”) and acronyms like “ACAB” (not pictured but frequently spotted) seem to be small examples of the influence that American pop culture and politics have had on Germany.

Sundays: In Germany, Sunday is known as the day of rest. Most shops are closed and public spaces are not as crowded. People are encouraged to relax rather than go out. I love the idea of an official day of rest because it feels like society is asking me to slow down, or maybe it lets me give myself permission to take a break.

Travel: In my experience, the average German seems to be more internationally well-traveled than the average American. Foreign countries are much closer and transportation within and between countries is efficient. The United States is a BIG country and there are plenty of unique, spectacular places to visit domestically. Unless you are planning to visit Canada or Mexico, international travel can be difficult and expensive, and according to the BBC, only about 40% of Americans have a passport (I read a few more articles from other news sources and the figure stayed the same).

Water: At every restaurant in America that I can remember, water is free with your meal. However, that is not the case in Germany. Water costs money, and if you don’t want sparkling water, you must request “stilles Wasser” (still water, basically tap water). Free water at American restaurants is something my German counterparts have expressed a bit of jealousy about!

    Overall, I am slowly adapting to life in Germany. I will probably notice even more differences throughout the rest of my year here, and I’m already planning to bring some of these changes (like regularly composting) back home with me!