So here I am living in Germany now for the last 8 months... I have never been this happily (and... not so happily) lost before in my life!!!!
The food here... one word LECKER!!!! (that one word literally translated: delicious, yummy, scrumptious, delectable, luscious, lovely, toothsome, palatable, mouth-watering, savory, savoury, appetizing, nice. - yes... i shit you not... that one word means all this!) You haven't had saurkraut until you have had bavarian saurkraut! And the Wurst (sausage) here... OMG!! I am not a beer girl... I like my irish wine :) but here... there is Weißbier, Weißen, Rauchen (smoked beer! yes please!!!), Dunkelweißen. My Deutsch blood seriously loves the BIER!
The people... hmmm.... it depends... mostly warm and friendly. Being an American who speaks English is a plus for most people I meet. They ask many questions about America and love to hear the spoken English (I imagine it is the same when in the U.S. and I hear an accent from another country, I am drawn to it). One the flip side of that coin... some people find out I am from America and they try to avoid me like I have the plague. LOL Oh well.... win a few lose a few.
The climate is EXACTLY like Washington State... the seasons, the landscape... all of it! Now I know why my forefathers picked Washington!!!
The politics and social systems are basically the same.... I haven't delved too deep into the politics but from what I have seen so far, the problems are smiliar... with a few exceptions of course. Germany is democratic and the people here actually have a voice.
but THE GAP
I am experiencing two major gaps in life right now...
1. I am not able to have a complete and intellectual conversation with anyone because of language. My social life is limited to broken conversations with loss in translation. It is VERY hard and VERY frustrating to not be understood nor understand completely. It's down right depressing! I never knew how much a social life is important to mental health.... don't know what you got till it's gone?
2. Knowing what is going on... On October 23rd, 2013 my life in America stopped... since that day I have no idea what is really happening over there. Not like I really knew to begin with but I could watch the news and read the paper and catch up on majors and be able to have an intelligent conversation over selective topics. Now my life in Germany?? I know some major events in history but I DO NOT KNOW Germany, I don't know it's quarks or its sayings. From October 23, 2013 I get to learn a condensed form of history and if I am lucky I will get to know the intimate German way of life before I die. Not likely but I will give it my best go.
These are things people don't understand when someone is from another country.... They expect you to know everything! And speak the language immediately (well some do anyway). And I know it can be frustrating on both sides.
I don't blame Germany for wanting people to speak German... after all... I live in Germany!!! I have that same principle for living on the other side of the Atlantic (or any country for that matter). Yes, I believe I must (and will) speak German... yes, I believe I must (and will) learn about Germany, living in Germany, the history of Germany. But it's been 8 months... 8 fucking months to learn EVERYTHING?!? NO, stuff that exactly where the sun won't shine (oder auf Deutsch - Leck mich im Arsch)... you have had your ENTIRE life to learn it all. Give a girl a break! It will come... it will happen. And at least I am actually trying!!!
So to sum it up... I love it here! I don't completely fit in but it will come. All I need is time (and to find a way to close THE GAP).
:)
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