After living in America for the last four years, it was time for a change. Three days ago, I moved back to Germany. Don't ask me how I managed to get all of my stuff from one side of the world to the other because I didn't.
If you just recently bought something at the secondhand store, I am pretty sure it is one of the clothing pieces I just dropped off there a few days ago. No worries, it looks good on you. (Not as good as it did on me, but anyway, I am getting off topic).
When you are living in the same place for a long time – and I do consider four years as a long time – you start to take some things for granted, just because they are always available.
Now imagine my cultural shock when I came back to Europe and suddenly realized that the things I couldn't imagine my life without suddenly weren't available anymore.
1. Free water at every restaurant.
Oh, you didn't know? There is no such thing as free water in German restaurants. If you ask for it, people look at you like you've lost your mind. We don't do tap water. It comes out of the bottle, and you can choose between still or sparkling. And guess what? Oftentimes the water is more expensive than the soda products.
2. No free refills.
Re-what? People in Germany don't even know what the word refill means. You want a second drink for free? Nice try. You have to pay every single time. Don't ask me why, I didn't come up with it.
3. No iced coffee.
What a cruel place Germany is when there is no such thing as iced coffee. When I came back from the States and tried to order an iced coffee, I quickly realized my mistake. The waitress looked at me in disbelief and asked why anybody would ever put ice in something that is perfectly fine without it.
We do have some type of iced coffee. It comes with vanilla and chocolate ice cream and whipped cream.
4. The music and film selection sucks in Germany.
The first time I turned on the radio in Germany was shocking. They played songs that were titled as "new" that were on the American stations a year ago at least. It was the same with the movie selection. Netflix in Germany can not even be closely compared with the American version. Germany is way behind, and they have been for a good amount of years, not that they would ever admit that.
Also, Pandora doesn't work in Germany, and I mean, come on, that says a lot.
5. The language
American English is so much more pleasant to hear than High German. No wonder everybody thinks Germans are rude. Even when we are trying to say I love you (German: Ich liebe dich), it sounds like we just told somebody we absolutely can't stand them and never ever want to see them again.
