Many university students these days study abroad, and I am one of those many. Earlier this year, I had the privilege of studying in Germany for five months. Of course there will be highs and lows in any kind of adventure, but for me, life in Germany held so many more good memories than bad. It’s quite true that once you begin an adventure abroad, you really get bit by the travel bug. And I know I am not the only one that wishes most days I could go back to the country I had come to love so dearly. Whether it be Germany, Chile, Thailand, or any other country in the world, you’re going to miss those little everyday moments that made life there so great. Here are the things I miss most about Germany.
1. The true kindness of (most) strangers.
Germans have a bad reputation of being rude and insensitive. It may be surprising to most people, but I believe that Germans are the complete opposite of that. Now I can’t speak for all Germans, but I can speak from my experience. Never in my life have a met so many kind strangers on the street, on a train, or in a grocery store. It is the German culture to be kind and polite to strangers, like a simple little, “Hello, good morning,” when you make eye contact in the grocery store or on the train. As an American, I think it is more ingrained in our culture that it’s weird to talk to strangers, no matter the circumstances. I think we could really take a few pointers from the Germans on this one.
2. People that care about the environment.
Did you know that Germans have four different types of trash? And because each one is disposed of differently and picked up on different days, you actually have to make a real effort into taking care of waste? I’d call that dedication.
3. The old buildings and rich history.
I lived in a small town outside of Hamburg, Germany. My town was one of the few surrounding Hamburg that were still intact after the war. This means that there were many buildings, including churches and other establishments that had been standing since the 1200’s. That is just unfathomable to us Americans, because our country hadn’t even been thought of yet! Now this is true for many other European countries too, but Germany truly has a unique and rich history that’s one of a kind.
4. Ridiculously cheap and amazing food.
You can kind find every kind of food in Germany, unfortunately excluding Mexican. The best part is that it is so affordable! I could buy milk for 50 cents, and a fresh delicious sandwich from a bakery for less than four euros! That’s just something you can’t find in America.
5. And on that note, the bakeries that are literally everywhere.
Forget about fast food and your McDonald’s or Taco Bell addiction. The bakeries and coffee shops are around every corner. Not only is a lot of the food healthier, it’s not processed and it's made fresh daily. I’d call that a win for everyone.
