- I think there are more bikes than cars in Germany. Everyone has a bicycle, maybe even more than one, but not so many people have cars. I've told people that not only do I not have a bicycle in America, but I don't think I know anyone else who has one either. They think this is SO strange. But I have gotten more comfortable riding a bike (not to mention my sore bum), and I'm planning on my first purchase back in America to be a nice new bike for myself, equipped with a basket, of course.
- The refrigerators are so small. It's typical for a family of 4 or 5 to have a fridge the size of the ones American college students have in their dorm rooms. But the size doesn't seem to be a problem at all, and it's much more practical and consumes less space, so why not?
- I have now been to at least 5 different houses or flats, and I have seen a total of 2 televisions. What do they do with all their free time? Ride bikes, read, and talk to others of course. Interesting concept..
- To accomodate all of the bicycles, there are lanes on the roads just for them. There is the normal lane for cars, a sidewalk for pedestrians, and a lane in between the two just for bicycles. The first day in Berlin, I nearly got run over because I was walking in the bicycle lane which is also on the sidewalk. I guess you learn best from experience. I will never walk in the bike lane again, even if there are no bikes in sight.
- Mitfahrgelegenheit. This translates roughly to 'a possibility to ride with someone'. It's sort of a pre-arranged hitchhike. It's completely normal for people to post on the internet if they are driving from one city to another and have space in their car for others. You chip in a bit of money for gas, and it's much faster and cheaper than public transport. So geil (one of my first and favorite german words).
- Breakfast. Everyday for breakfast is rolls or bread and various toppings. Everything is laid out on the table, and you choose what you want on your piece of bread. Maybe your first piece you eat with cheese, your second with jam, and your third with nutella, and then circle around again to the cheese.. the possibilities are endless!
- Pfandautomat. The recycling in Germany is intense. I thought I was doing a good job by separating my recycling from regular trash. This is nothing compared to Germany. They have one container for glass, one for plastic, one for paper, one for compost, and one for everything else. But the glass doesn't stop there. You separate the colors of glass. White, Green, and 'Braun' (my favorite of course). And these containers are on the sides of streets throughout the city. In addition, you can get a refund for some bottles. So after a party, it's best to take your bottles to the Pfandautomat, which is the machine that takes the bottles, and then gives you a slip that tells you how much your refund will be. This is attached to the grocery store, but in a separate entrance, and the machines remind me a bit of the washing machines in a laundromat.
- The showers are also quite small. They are generally just the stand up kind, without a tub. Some people have tubs too, but they are separate from the shower. Not so strange, I guess, but it's just a trend I have noticed.
- There are no screens on windows or doors. The windows are often kept wide open, even throughout the night. I asked a few times 'didn't you ever have a bird fly inside?!' and they say no. I guess maybe American birds are more stupid, because I'm sure birds would fly inside a house in America if the doors and windows were wide open without a screen.
Now I'll leave you with a few photos:
