Friday, September 26, 2003

Best Things About Living In Germany The autobahns:  Nothing better than going over 100mph on your way home from a grueling day at work and not worrying about getting pulled over for it. The weather:  Sure it’s a little nippy in the mornings this time of year, but having a high around 70F and sunny skies is fantastic compared to what it must be like back in Texas. The food and drink:  Germans like their food and plenty of it.  Only drawback is that nearly every menu looks the same no matter what restaurant you go into.  Variety isn’t necessarily the spice of life here unless you seek your variety in the hundreds of sausages and brands of beer they have available. The scenery:  This is one beautiful part of the world.  Drive in any direction for a few minutes and you’ll find something worth turning into a postcard.  The other day I got lost trying a new way to get home from work.  I didn’t mind, though, because the drive was so damn pretty. The cars:  I’m getting used to not seeing very many Fords, Pontiacs, or Toyotas.  Plus being able to get a nice BMW for half of what I’d pay in the states does not suck one tiny bit. The neighbors:  The folks who live on my street are polite, keep to themselves, and are very quiet.  The noisiest people on my street are the Americans living next door, but even they are next to silent compared to most families in the states.  Germans by and large appreciate a good amount of peace and quiet in their day.  I appreciate their appreciation  of quiet. The location:  Germany, and especially the part I’m parked in, is very centrally located if you want to explore Europe.  I haven’t quite taken advantage of the place, but that is about to change.  I'm gonna to be like Napoleon circa 1806. The history:  How many of you can drive past an 800 year old fortress on your way to work everyday?  It’s great to live in a place that the Romans also got a kick out of about 2,000 years ago. Did I already mention the autobahns? The language:  I can’t speak or read much of it yet, but it’s more fun than you imagine trying to read the road signs or menus.  These people love their words long and with plenty of strange sounds.  Even my town’s name is a tongue-twister:  Bruchmühlbach-Miesau. 7:11:10 PM     |

© Copyright 2005 Alex L. Mauldin.