All of the blog posts, from those on life as a student in Germany, to photography collections, to posts about everyday life as an American living and working in Germany, are listed here! Check out the latest posts!
Why is there no ice in my drinks? Why can't I find ice at the grocery store? Where on God's green Earth are the ice trays to be found? Hi! Welcome to life in Germany! Here in Germany, most people don't have their drinks with ice in them unless it's a cocktail at a bar that specifically calls for it, and if you're looking to make it to keep it at home, you may be in for a surprise.
Read MoreGermany is not the biggest fan of open door plans. Okay, let me clarify: every room has a door, every door has a lock, and Germans like to make liberal use of both. Regardless of whether it's the living room, kitchen, or even two parts of a hallway, the doors are there and likely closed. If you're going to an office or university building, even during "open" hours, the doors will be closed and likely locked up as well. What do you do about this?
Read MoreYes, you can drink in public in Germany. Whether you are walking down the street or riding in a train, you are free to drink whatever you like in public. Depending on whether or not a soccer game is going on, the number of people doing so however is often rather low, and most noticeable near bars and clubs at night.
Read MoreIf you've spent any amount of time in Germany, walking the street, going grocery shopping, or passing by a farmer's market, you've undoubtedly noticed that there seems to be a love affair with flowers over here that far exceeds what is found in most places in the U.S.. It's true! In general, flowers in Germany are cheaper than their equivalent bunches would be found for in the U.S., and flower shops selling arrangements or making custom arrangements are everywhere, even in small neighborhoods. What's the big deal?
Read MoreGermany is stereotypically focused on order and following the rules in day to day life. While in many cases this can be overblown, with regards to obeying crossing signals and jaywalking, this stereotype is completely true. In Germany, crossing when the signal is still red, or failing to use a crosswalk (Zebrastreifen; Fußgängerüberweg) when one is reasonably available will result in anything from icy glares by fellow passers by, to a call to "think of the children!", to a talking to by a police officer if one sees you. While jaywalking is legally not allowed in the U.S., in many cities, it's something of a common joke to describe jaywalking as a sport. Why is it so different in Germany?
Read MoreYesterday in Germany was Himmelfahrt (the day of the Ascension), and a national holiday, where all businesses, universities, and schools closed for the day. For the average American, the concept of having a national holiday on Thursday that's anything other than Thanksgiving is a bit weird, as many of our holidays are intentionally set to Mondays (Presidents Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Labor Day). Having these holidays fall on Mondays means an automatic three day weekend, and (probably) helps to ensure that the work week is relatively uninterrupted by people taking extra mid-week days. Instead of working the one day between the holiday and the weekend, in Germany, many people take a Brückentag.
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