Shallow Pockets Brimming with Rain-Soaked Tenting

When I first found out I was moving to Germany I was really excited about the hiking potential.  It's such a hilly, green country and I couldn't wait to lace up my boots and explore.  A few weeks after arriving, Jonny came back over for a weekend and we decided to recreate our little 'annual' camping expedition.  Unfortunately, Germany is a bit different than the States, or England for that matter.  Remember when the marine took me rustic camping in the Midlands? We were planning on doing something similar- but with a tent this time- and just finding a spot in the wilderness to make camp. I spoke about it with some of my coworkers and they were very quick to assure me that this was not okay in Germany! You camp at campgrounds, otherwise it's illegal.  Maybe that's true in America and the UK too..? I've never asked before, just done it. But I didn't want to chance it with German authorities when I'm trying to keep my new residency squeaky clean!

So I googled a campsite we could reach easily by train, Jonny brought the essentials, my roommate was kind enough to let me borrow a backpack, and then we were off.

Europe's 'Appalachian Trail'

The most beautiful way to honor loved ones.

It was already past camping season according to Germans, so we were the only ones 'dumb enough' to use a tent instead of a temperature-controlled RV.

Wurst.

A ferry was the only way to get across the Rhine.

Our little campground was just to the right of the 'island' in the river.

Stumbled upon a little Oktoberfest!

Germany, you are bezaubernd.

Shallow Pockets Brimming with a New Zip Code

I have neglected this blog yet again on my return to the States.  A lot has happened in (almost) a year. The most notable, I think, is that I am no longer a college student. Georgia Tech, I got out!! And, after getting out, I found a job and relocated. To Germany.

Say hello to Köln (Cologne):

Kölner Dom

  Love Lock Bridge- similar to the one from Paris!

I know the pictures look a little dark and dreary in contrast a typical Atlantan Summer-Fall period but Koeln truly is a beautiful, lively city.  I have now been here for one month and I've hit the same point I did in England, where it stops feeling like a vacation and starts feeling like a lifestyle.  As an outsider who speaks not a lick of German, I am constantly living on observations, processed mainly based on the differences between my culture and this one.  I've compiled a 'Top 10' list. This list is not meant to offend or degrade or question or any other negative thing- they are simply observations from this American frame of mind about the tiny piece of Germany I get to call home.
In no particular order:

1. Fashion. To me, Europeans are the picture of trendsetters in the fashion arena. Daring and bold and always on top of the trend-wave before it makes its way across the Atlantic. However, my experience in Cologne has been that people approach clothing (and their general appearance) in a much more practical than stylish way. And oh my goodness I have never seen so many sneakers worn at one time! All the better for the traversing the cobblestones, I suppose.
2. Pizza. So we all know Germany is not known for its cuisine. And Italy is the king of pizza (oh hush New Yorkers and Chicago natives). BUT. Cologne has some amazing pizza. Not from Dominos (which is alive and well in Germany, btw) but everywhere from quaint restaurants to pop-up food kiosks... delicious. And the cheese!! My roommate swears by Dutch cheese (he studied in Amsterdam) but Germany does well in this category as far as I'm concerned. Mmmgoudainmydreams.
3. Trains. For the most part, the underground/subway/metro/what have you is based on the honors system when it comes to payment.  There are no barriers where you have to scan a card before entry like in London or New York- you simply walk on and off of the train.  Occasionally, train workers will walk onto random train cars and ask people to show tickets- but this is rare.  I have coworkers who brag that, in five years of living in the city and not paying for transportation, they have never been caught. (I am unlucky and was caught within my first two weeks here so I pay...)
4. Quiet. I know I mentioned this with Stockholm and I mention it again for Cologne- it is a very quiet city. There are plenty of people (I think Cologne has a little over one million inhabitants?) but there is virtually no noise.  People speak with indoor voices, if they speak at all, and there is very little small talk occurring between strangers.  Does it happen? Of course! People are people! But it is so rare compared to my South.
5. WWII. Okay, it's a touchy topic but I know you're all thinking it. I spoke to one of my German friends about our perception that what occurred during WWII is largely hush hush in Germany but, at least in his experience, that is not the case. In fact, the opposite is true; schools revisit the topic every year, time and time again and, if you look, there are plenty of reminders/monuments all around.
6. CV's. I'm helping my company with some recruiting tasks and I have discovered how moderately invasive German CV's appear compared to our resumes.  First of all, they require a picture of the applicant.  Second, it is common to list a birthday.  Third, it's a requirement to address any gaps in one's work/school timeline, even if the reasons are of a personal nature.  I think there were more but those were the details that stood out for me.
7. Religion. When I registered with the government I was asked if I practiced a religion, which I thought was maybe for census purposes or something of that nature.  I found out afterwards that identifying with a religion in Germany requires one to pay additional taxes.  Apparently this is something that is leftover from Hitler and has remained with the government ever since.
8. Milk. They don't refrigerate it.  At least, not before it's opened. I asked a coworker about this and he told me that the cartons in Germany are designed to preserve the contents no matter the outer temperature but once the carton is opened that ability escapes and they need to stay refrigerated to stay fresh.
9. Sundays. Everything, and I mean everything, is closed on Sundays. Well, some restaurants/pubs are open.  But besides that everything shuts down starting at 10p Saturday night. I think my roommate said it was because after that hour employees were required to be paid double?  Anyways, that means Saturday is a madhouse in every shop because, for a working person, it is the only day to get any sort of errands run. I appreciate America's 24/7 establishments so much more now...
10. Cash. Cash is king here.  It is fairly rare to see people paying for most anything with a card. And Visa? Forget about it.  Germany doesn't accept Visa anywhere (not even IKEA!)- Mastero is the card of choice. They also have the chip cards, like in England. And credit cards of any type are rare- debits only.

And that is my list of rambling thoughts that have struck me strange in this little city. I'm sure there are more significant things but it's past my bedtime. Until next time, friends. I do promise to keep this (semi-)updated.
Gute Nacht!