Reflection

I started thinking today about how excited I am to go home, and then I started thinking about all the random things I've noticed about living among Germans. So I wrote them down, in case anyone cares.

Things I miss, in no particular order (most of these are really shallow, I know, so don't judge):

Family; friends; our bed; our deck; my car; my favorite restaurants; English; small talk with strangers I meet; small talk during the work day; eating lunch slowly; going out for lunch; American keyboard at work; American movies; tv; our Wii; my Chi hair straightener; our shower; our bathtub; our bath towels; having a scale to weigh myself; the water purifier; dry sheets (it's always damp here); using my cell phone; text messaging; having parties; buying in bulk at Costco; Southeast; Southeast; Southeast; did I mention Southeast?; free public bathrooms; American outlets; kitchen counter space; a huge refrigerator; ice cubes; free refills; iced tea; dollars; our washer and dryer; free gym at, where else, Southeast; people who don't think I'm crazy for not loving Obama.

Things I've noticed about Germans:

They do not give free refills; water is not free, in fact it is more expensive than ordering beer; they love beer; they never cross the street until the walk sign is green, even if nothing is coming, and they look offended if we cross on red; everyone says bye ("tschüss") in the exact same high-pitched voice; they seem to all use the same phrases, such as "alles klar" (all is clear) and "genau" (exactly); they eat really healthy; they snack on things like fruit at work, not vending machine items; they are skinny; celebrating something at work with champagne in the middle of the work day is perfectly acceptable; pork is their meat of choice; sometimes when they are calmly discussing something in German, it sounds like arguing to me.