Our Last Days in Germany
Heidelberg is our last stop in Germany, which means this is our last week here. Next we go to France, then off to Belgium, and finally the Netherlands. It’s been an amazing couple of weeks in Deutschland. I learned so much about this country in such a short amount of time and have gained an appreciation for the vibrant and varied cultures and histories each city we visited had to offer.
Some important things I learned about Germany are:
– Hauptbahnhof means the same thing in every city and is usually a good place to start if you are lost
– Germans always want you to pay with exact change, so you need to actually save your coins
– Train station food is actually pretty good
– It’s okay to drink beer anytime, anywhere
– All German meals will include some form of meat and potatoes, just warning you
– Lederhosen are a completely acceptable form of casual attire
– Nothing in Germany (or Europe for that matter) is open past 8 pm on weeknights or on Sundays
– Personal space is not a thing; not on the street, not on the train, not in shops, not ANYWHERE
– If you don’t speak, everyone assumes you’re German: I was a big fan of this one
– Beer gardens do not necessarily have anything to do with a garden
– Cars to not care a bit about pedestrians; neither do trams or buses
– German time is not a joke; 5:30 means 5:29.59.
Germany is a wonderful place to visit. The people are friendly, the cities are beautiful, and the atmosphere is fun. I think the most interesting thing about Germany is being able to see the rich and varied histories of each city, and by extension each province, just by looking at the architecture. It’s so obvious that these cities are a mix of so many influences over time and it seems amazing that such a diverse range of cultures and ethnicities were unified under a single German state. The autonomy of each federal state can still be seen, but so can the unity of the nation, which I found really awesome.
I have definitely fallen in love with Germany and plan to return. But I plan on learning at least a basic amount of German first. It’s hard to feel like you’re integrating into a culture when you don’t even know how to say simple things like “thank you”, “excuse me”, and “I’m sorry.” I feel like sometimes Americans have a tendency to assume that since most people speak at least some English, they shouldn’t be responsible for learning some of the language of the country they’re visiting. I find this to be untrue and unfair; as a visitor to another nation, it’s your job to be as respectful to their culture as possible, and the easiest way to do that is to take the time to learn some simple phrases, to convey an acceptance of the superiority of their language within their own country. This is a lesson I’ve learned only after travelling, but one I think is very important and that I try to apply to all of my journeys.
