Mar 28 2009
Living as an American in Germany: World Blog Surf Day
I’m taking a small detour from my Unique Accommodations series to participate in World Blog Surf Day, a fun adventure organized by Golden Prague (which is a great blog with information on Prague and the Czech Republic). Click through the link at the end of this post to travel around the world and explore the lives of expats everywhere.
I need to preface my post about living as an American in Germany by saying that I actually live in a unique juxtaposition of the two countries—I work for the US federal government in an idyllic resort town in Germany that has hosted the American military since 1945. So, I have access to a small American grocery store complete with favorite products from home like Jif peanut butter, Tide laundry detergent, and Crunch candy bars—and pay in dollars. I also have access to American TV channels (well, modified versions that the military provides) and work with Americans the standard 40 hours a week.
But, I also live on the economy in a foreign country which means I carry my own bag to the German market to get my produce, cook in an oven with Celsius temperatures, follow the many many rules about garbage and recycling, and reconcile my utility bills and payments at the end of the year (which I pay in Euro). I also watch the first season of Prison Break on German TV with bad dubbing (yeah, it’s a little behind) and work with Germans who only work 38.5 hours a week and have 15 holidays a year (but are very focused when they’re at work).
I’ve dealt with the adjustments of life in Germany—the seemingly cold reaction from the locals until you get to know them, the inability to purchase anything after 6 p.m. during the week and 2 p.m. on Saturdays (don’t even think about finding anything open on a Sunday), and the many many rules of garbage and recycling. It’s normal to walk down a street (or ride a bike, but rarely drive) and pass people in dirndls and lederhosen, to drive obnoxiously fast on the Autobahn, and actually enjoy oompah music while lifting heavy very full glasses of beers.
I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned…
- Fresh air is one of the greatest things—windows should be open, people should go for walks, and outdoor recreational activities should be a part of every country.
- Organic food is extremely important—and it should be enjoyed with friends and family.
- Football (or soccer) is an exciting sport with impressive athletes (but the Italians are all drama queens).
- Health care and education should be priorities for the government and accessible to everyone.
- Just because someone doesn’t smile very much doesn’t mean they’re not friendly.
- Sometimes many many rules of garbage and recycling are necessary.
- And, of course, much more. (How to drink a liter of beer was also an important one, now that I think about it…)
So that’s a little bit about my life as an American in Germany. Want to know what life is like for a German in a foreign country? Continue on your journey around the world with this German woman explaining her life as an expat in the Czech Republic (she knows a lot about the Czech Republic!).
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Thanks for a great post! I found it annoying that the shops shut at 2pm on Saturday when I lived in Germany too!
I haven’t been on a US base in Germany but did visit a British military base there once (I didn’t live there) and I couldn’t believe how English it was!!! It was like a little island of England in the middle of Germany, with English-style houses, English street names, a supermarket selling British food and a pub! I guess you have the best of both worlds!!!
Having easy access to some food and amenities certainly eases the homesickness
Look at me and my spices shopping spree when i was back in Malaysia! 
Switzerland too shuts down on Saturday afternoons (don’t remember the time, I *think* it’s after 2pm, but I may be wrong) and all day Sunday … coming from a country that has 24-hour eateries, and where shopping malls close at 10pm, I really can’t see myself living in Europe, for this among other reasons :p
(And yes, I’m only now making my way around the World Blog Surf Day… better late than never!)
*lynne*
It is funny to read about the experience of an Expat in my own birth country
I haven’t been much to Germany lately, but I remember that shopping was always very much a “timing” thing, especially as I worked full time 