Goodbyes Are Never Easy

“Schreiben ist küssen mit dem kopf.”- Gut Gegen Nordwind

If I were to write a list of the things I will miss about Germany, I think I would title it, “The Never-ending List.” The people, the scenery, the way Germans spread a minimum of 2 centimeters of butter (or Nutella, or cheese…) on every piece of bread before eating it… I’ll even miss the things I don’t like about Germany, like how seemingly nobody has tried burritos before, or how Germans seem to drive faster than the speed of light. Germany has become home, and watching my exchange student friends go home one by one… reading on Facebook that they’re home safe, and thinking they’re no longer a train ride away, has been one of the hardest parts of exchange. When I left California, I had no idea who or what was waiting for me in Germany and I knew I would return to California’s presence in a year so it was ‘no biggie’ to leave, I was ready to experience the world. But I don’t know if I’m ready to remembrance California again. But that’s too bad for me because I don’t have choice.

Saturday was the district conference in Göttingen so all the exchange students still in Germany went down to the south of Lower Saxony where we all got together one last time as group. We sung two German songs at the conference for the Rotarians, gave speeches about our exchanges, and had one last night together. It’s weird to think how crazy we all are… but it’s a bond we have. We all individually decided to take a year away from ‘our’ lives and go to a country we’ve never been to, with people we’ve never met, and a language we didn’t speak, but it was still the best decision of all of our lives.

Sunday night I went out with my Rotary Club President (dankeschoen!!) and his lovely wife to dinner and to see the hilarious well-written play “Gut Gegen Nordwind” (“Love Virtually” in English). After seeing the play, I read the reviews about the English version, but I’m really curious as to how they could have been so outstanding because the play was based basically on German wordplays. If nothing else, it will be something to read when I get back.

This week was actually rather exciting, Tuesday was the ‘Sportfest’ at school (where of course my camera was acting up so I didn’t get any pictures out of it), and I got ice cream with an old friend on Wedneday and went rock climbing. Of course there are more details from these events, however; I should be getting back to packing my suitcase. I move to my fourth and final (surprise!) host-family on Sunday (no worries, I’m still on great terms with my 3rd family!), but before I do, I simply have to add, GERMANY IS UNDEFEATED IN THE EUROPEAN SOCCER CUP SO FAR AND PLAYS TONIGHT AGAINST GREECE! If the caps there don’t show it enough, I am beyond excited… not to mention I love how patriotic everyone in Germany has become since the start of the tournament!

“Writing is kissing with the mind.”- Love Virtually

You Know You’re in Germany When…

• NOBODY has heard of Dr. Seuss.
• everyone around you is speaking German.
• trucks are not allowed to drive on the freeway on Sunday mornings.
• all the cars are abnormally small.
• meeting someone who does not drink is shocking.
• public transportation actually functions.
• bread rolls are a common meal for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and for a snack.
• vending machines carry things other than food.

• wearing leggings under your jeans is very necessary in October.
• you take your shoes off before going into anyone's house, no matter how long you will be staying.
• no house has a front yard, but everyone’s backyard is huge.
• it’s normal for a house to be three stories.
• it’s normal to “live in a village.” 
• it’s seemingly impossible to find wifi in public.
• 65 degrees Fahrenheit is ‘too hot’ for a lot of people.
• everyone dresses like they are going to be in a fashion show.
• it takes longer to put on your raingear in the morning then it does to do your makeup.
• Starbucks virtually does not exist.

  Angie: Do you know where the Starbucks in Hannover is?

  Erik (from Sweden): What’s a Starbucks?

• everyone swears in English, whether or not they actually speak it.
• classes are cancelled when a teacher is sick or has a meeting.
• school usually gets out around 1.
• there are several types of “special parking places.”

• it’s normal for teenagers to get home from a night out by “taking the first bus back” at 6 a.m.
• teenagers go clubbing.
• DVD cases don’t have the movie rating on the back.
• everyone wears a watch.
• asking “how are you?” as a greeting is a foreign concept.
• bakeries fill the streets.
• there are bars in the train stations.
• scarves are not only a fashion statement.
• amusement park rides are based on height and age.

• grocery stores are part of the malls.
• all the cashiers sit in big comfy chairs behind the checkout counter.
• chocolate and beer are really cheap.
• it’s normal to see a group of 16-year olds walk out of a grocery store with a case of beer.
• bus drivers stop in the middle of their route for a ‘smoke break.’
• you have to pay FOR EVERYTHING (even things like shopping carts and going to the bathroom in public).
• Fabia and Felix are extremely common names.
• cutting potatoes with a knife and eating with one hand under the table are improper dining etiquettes.
• Nordsee is EVERYWHERE.
• it’s perfectly acceptable for dogs to be on the bus/train, on school campuses, and in the mall.
• it’s considered impolite for guys to stand while peeing in people’s houses.

• McDonalds is a huge deal, and sometimes even a ‘sit-down service’ restaurant.

You Know Your From California When…

• Everything on the Germany list is a foreign concept to you.

(Friends in California)