It's American and I Like It

Living in Germany was a wonderful experience. I got to see and do so many things that I never would have been able to experience had I not lived there. But there are things about the country that I just never fully understood, like the no closets thing.

Today's post is dedicated to some of the little (or not so little) American things that I have been enjoying since I moved back to the states:

• Storage. I love having closets and cabinets and shelves built in to every room. It certainly made unpacking and setting up the house so much easier.
• A kitchen. German apartments don't come with kitchens -- the renters bring in their own. Since we knew we weren't going to live oversees forever, we has our landlord put in a small kitchen for us. It included the smallest sink ever. (My brother-in-law claims he couldn't brush his teeth in it, much less was the dishes.) Now I'm back to having all of my big ol' American appliances, and I love them.
• The clothes dryer. Even though we were one of the few people we know who owned a dryer, it still sucked. Instead of being vented to the outside, as most American dryers are, the one we had in Germany drew the moister out of the clothing and deposited the water into a drawer in the machine, which needed to be emptied before each load. The biggest complaint I had about this process was that it took forever. Now, I can't express the pleasure I get when -- 36 minutes after going in -- my clothes are dry.
• Big parking spots. I never really liked to drive in Germany. One of the chief reasons was the microscopic parking spots. Going into a garage in Germany made my heart race. Not only did I worry about getting into the tight spots, I also worried about getting out of the car without hitting another car.
• Stop signs. Sure there are stop signs in Germany, but not that many. Instead, you have to learn that the car on the right always has the right-of-way. This was counterintuitive to me when the car on the right was pulling out of a small road and on a bigger one. (The German's claim this keeps people from going too fast in residential areas.) To me, however, it is much clearer to put a stop sign up. That way, there is no question about who has the right of way.
  

Movin' Out

Moving just plain isn't fun. Even though we didn't have to pack ourselves (the moving company came and did it all), my last week in Germany still consisted of a lot of work. Taking everything off the walls, cleaning out the pantry, selling the rest of our 220 volt appliances, organizing what would get packed in the shipping container and would we would need for the next six to eight weeks took most of our time.

Then, once the movers started their work, the house was in total chaos. Thank goodness there were only two days of that. The worst part about the German movers was the dueling cell phones playing really bad head-banger music -- in German! Even though my husband works in the cell phone biz, I really can't support the use of mobile phones as stereo systems. (Though, in his industry's defense, I have heard some very good speaker systems that hook up to mobile phones.) By the end of their first day of packing I was tired, weary, and ready for this project to be over.

The second day went much better. After everything was wrapped up safe and sound -- and I mean everything, even the sofa was boxed -- the movers started loading the container. Here is where German efficiency really came through. Instead of carrying all of our boxes down three flights of stairs and into the truck, the movers used a portable contraption that looked like a cross between an elevator and a crane. This cran-o-vator was raised to our balcony. The movers loaded it with boxes at the top and lowered them down to the shipping container on the street.*

With everything loaded on to the container safely, it was time to say goodbye to our Bonn apartment. It was a good apartment and served us well. I certainly will miss it. But, also, I was ready to go home.

* I have a video to post of this machine, but have to first figure out how to get it off my cell phone. (The charger for my camera was mistakenly packed.)

Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

For our first Thanksgiving in Germany, Kevin and I invited over some of our new friends. For our second Thanksgiving in Germany, Kevin and I used the holiday to invite some of those same friends over for one last hurrah. It was amazing to consider how much had changed in the year.
I remember how hard it was to plan the dinner in 2007. Would I be able to find cranberries? Where could I get a turkey? Could I find enough sweet potatoes?

Though my mother mailed a package of cranberries in 2007 just in case, this year I knew that they would show up in the larger supermarkets by the end of November. I have developed a relationship with my butcher, so I knew I was able to order on from him and pick it up on Thanksgiving morning. (And, even though we purchased a bigger fridge, it still wasn't large enough to store a turkey and all the other fixin's.) Also, I knew that the halal shops in Bad Godesburg each would have a few sweet potatoes. It would be no problem to gather enough.

Because my family was visiting the week leading up to Thanksgiving, I prepped all of the desserts ahead. This meant - much to the surprise of some - there was no pumpkin pie since the custard doesn't freeze well. Instead I made a three layer pumpkin cake. It was filled with a rum raisin and walnut filling and iced with cream cheese frosting. The Germans generally really like cake, and this one was a hit. I also served a classic apple pie with vanilla ice cream (it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without at least one pie) and chocolate pecan bars.
One of the best parts about Thanksgiving this year was that I had three kitchen assistants who helped me get everything prepped and in the oven on Thursday morning. I even had time to put up my feet for a bit while the turkey cooked.

All of our guests really seemed to enjoy the evening and everyone claimed to have eaten too much.

Home Sweet Temporary Housing

We arrived in Raleigh safe and sound on Saturday night. As I expected, we were a spectacle at the airport. Picture this: Kevin with one pregnant lady, six suitcases, three carry-on bags, and a cat. But we made it safe and sound.

Starting tomorrow I am going to finish writing the posts from the week I spent with my Mom, sister, and niece. Then I'll get to the move posts. Then I'll be up-to-day and will start back with daily posts.

What a Week

Months ago my Mom and sister planned to come to visit over Thanksgiving weekend. My Mom wanted to see my pregnant and help set up the nursery. My sister too thought the trip would be all about getting ready for the baby. When I found out I was going to be moving back to the states, however, their trip changed into something entirely different.

Instead of helping to get ready for the baby, we spent the week traveling around and trying to see as much as possible. That meant, a trip to the castle in Bruhl, two days in Amsterdam, the cathedral in Cologne, a Thanksgiving feast with lots of German friends, a pilgrimage to the town where my grandmother was born, a concert by one the biggest Carnival bands, and the Christmas market in Cologne, Bonn, Bad Godesburg, and Seigburg.

After dropping them off at the airport on Sunday morning, I returned to my house and took a nap. I will write proper posts about all that we did and saw in the coming days, but now I have to start packing the house for our trip back to the states. I can't believe the movers come that day after tomorrow.

A Multicultural Experience

One of the things that I have enjoyed most about my time in Germany is that I have gotten to know people from all over the world. This was an unexpected surprise for me, since before coming I assumed that Germany was not a very diverse country. Through Kevin's job, my language classes, and volunteering we have met people from Africa, all over Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

And of course, because I love to eat, having a group of friends from all corners of the earth means that dinner invitations are a delicious way to try authentic international cuisines. Last night we were invited to a birthday dinner for an Indian friend from South Africa.

The menu included two types of curry: one with chicken and peas and one with lamb and potatoes. Tanya starts with her own, homemade curry paste, which includes spices mixed by her mother and specially delivered to Germany. Both were spicy, but not overwhelming. (Though they did tell us that they tamed the dishes a bit for our more-sensitive pallets.) Accompanying the curries were basmati rice and three chutneys. The lime and mango chutney added a lot of flavor as well as some more heat.

For dessert we had bread pudding with coconut and apricot jam. The sweet creamy pudding was a perfect counter balance for the spicy entrees.

The whole meal left me wishing I could pack up my international friends and bring them with me back to Raleigh.

Obama!!!

I have to postpone my next Prague posts to take the chance to relay the German take on Obama's victory.
For weeks I've been walking around with my Obama pin. In general, it has gone uncommented upon. Today, however, people on the street started talking to me, which in itself is a very un-German activity. They told me how happy they are. Many of them had stayed up late to watch the results on German T.V. or woke up in the wee hours to turn on the radio.

Upon walking into the office today, I was greeted by pats on the back and handshakes. Everyone was so happy for me. They congratulated me. They were happy for themselves as well. When I saw one of the Americans in the office we hugged and all day long talked about what a great day it was.

(Photo (c) The New York Times)

Life as an Expat: Easier But Still Not a Breeze

I've been in Germany now for over one year. Time certainly has flown. It seems like just yesterday that I was getting off the plane, not knowing what to expect.

Day-to-day life, of course has settled down into a series of repeatable routines. Small interactions no longer cause the panic that they once did. I can now understand the postman when he's asking me to sign for a neighbor's package. I can order in a restaurant and ask a shopkeeper for help. I can figure out which train ticket I need to purchase depending on where I am going. (I only recently learned that I was buying the wrong class tickets. For a year I have been getting by on cheaper rides then I should have.)

But, I am still constantly surprised by what I still don't know. Our T.V. receiver was out for the past few days since I couldn't read the instructions about how to replace the card that determines what service I have. I still don't have voice mail set up on my cell phone or have a home answering service. And how the medical system works is still a complete mystery.

The Benefits of Blogging

I had a number of reasons for starting this blog.

I wanted to recording my travels and experiences abroad. The fact that a blog post is posted for all to read makes me want to keeping it updated. Knowing that people log on inspires dedication that I never has to writing in a journal.

Sharing what's happening with friends and family back home was another incentive for starting the blog. One blog post is more effective then e-mailing the same stories over and over. Of course, I still keep in touch with friends and family, but the blog gives then a baseline for what has been going on in my life. (I also know who never reads the blog, based on what they don't know.)

One thing that I never expected has turned out to be one of its greatest benefits: Connecting with a community of other expats. Initially, this community was a strictly virtual one. Reading other expat blogs and getting comments from them quickly made me feel like I wasn't as alone in adjusting to life abroad.

I have also been lucky enough to meet a few wonderful people in my area through this blog. Sharing my story online has widened my real-life social circle and introduced me to my neighbors.

Not Debatable

This photo was on the home page of the Irish Times' Web site today. Thanks to my sister for sending the link. It totally made my day. I hope you enjoy it too.

Ah, The Quite Life

It's been a busy few months. I don't really know where September went. And let's not even talk about October. It's half over and I didn't even realize it began.

We've certainly had a great time. Greece, Austria, and France. Big cities, small towns, and everything in between. Weddings, birthdays, and wine festivals. Churches, museums, and monuments. Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. It's all a wonderful blur. Thankfully I've been taking photos all along and updating the blog. Without them, I don't know that I'd be able to remember everything.

But now, for a few short days anyway, I have nothing planned. And I'm loving it.

Come Join Me in Germany

Hating your job? Looking for a change of pace? Well, maybe a move to Germany is exactly what the doctor ordered. And the best part is, I could be your neighbor.

At IFOAM, the place where I have been volunteering there are two openings: the Executive Director or the Communications Manager. Go to their Website for more information. It's a fun place to work with good people supporting a good cause. If it weren’t for the fact that my world is going to change completely in January I'd apply for the communications job myself.

With my help, your move could be super easy. I already figured out the hard stuff. I know, for example, that you'll have to purchase all of your light fixtures and hire an electrician to install them. I could help you do that. And, I know where you can go to purchase a wardrobe. I know lots of food-related vocabulary, and could help you navigate through the grocery store. I even know where to find the English movie schedule.

So, what do you say? Why not become my neighbor?

Beer School on Hiatus

I've decided to take a break for writing my beer school posts. Kevin hasn't been trying a lot of new beers lately. He's lost his best drinking buddy: Me.

That's right. For five months now I haven't has a drop of brew. The reason is because I'm pregnant.

Our search for the best beer has been replaced with trying to find a crib (they are all so low), testing strollers (are four wheels or three wheels better), and wondering how easy it will be to find a birthing class in English speaking (I think it's not going to happen).

Over the next few months, I'll still write about exceptional beers that Kevin comes across in our travels, but I can't promise a weekly post. Also, you'll probably discover more posts about how we navigate our way through pregnancy "auf Deutch."

Quiet Hours

In most neighborhoods in Germany there are official quite hours. Sure, it's nice to life free of excessive noise pollution. But still, these rules are a little over the top for my individual-rights loving, my-home-is-my-castle believing American.

The official quiet hours in Bonn are between 1:00 and 3:00 PM and after 10:00 PM daily. Though it is not listed on the town's guide for renters, it is also generally accepted that quite hours are extended to all day Sunday and on German holidays. During these times, residents may not use lawn mowers, operate power equipment, play loud music with opened windows, wash their cars, or let children play outside unattended.

I have to admit, I've vacuumed on a Sunday, but I always feel surprisingly guilty for doing it.

Other regions in Germany have even stricter laws. The State of Hesse for example, has quiet hours from 8:00 PM in the fall and winter and 9:00 PM in spring and summer to 7:00 AM. What's more, there you're not allowed to use a lawn mower between 7:00 and 9:00 AM or after 5:00 PM! According to these rules, when can a working person care for their yards? Saturdays, and then they have to split their time with any shopping that needs to get done since everything is closed on Sundays.

Despite these crazy regulations, I have been woken up every day this week with construction noise in my apartment building's garden! I guess the stroke of 7:00 is officially okay in these parts.

A Day Without a Connection

Today's post comes super late because my Internet connection was down for most of the day.

I just returned from a barbeque on my neighbor's wonderful terrace. It's a fabulous night here in Bonn, and I was so happy be able to sit outside with good food and good company. Already the sun is setting so much earlier then it did all summer. Since I don't know how much longer the warm weather will last I'm going to take advantage of it whenever I can!

Banking in Germany

For me, banking and bill-paying in Germany fluctuates between love and hate. In the U.S., I paid all of my bills with a check or online. Accounts paid online were always attached to my credit card — and I paid each vendor on their site. Sometimes this is a hassle since each payment requires setting up online accounts, IDs, and passwords.

In Germany, you pay everything directly from your bank account to theirs. No credit card middleman required. No unique account for each bill to be paid. That's where the love comes from.

Some of my monthly bills are automatically deducted from my account. For others, I have templates set up in the bill-paying tab of the bank’s site. When I get the energy bill, for example, I simply log on to my bank account, pull up the energy template, and input the payment for that month. To execute the transaction and provide security, there are special "TAN" codes, which the bank sends you in the mail and you input at the end of the transaction.

Giving out your bank's code and account number is standard practice. Many companies have this information printed on the bottom of their letterhead. And, this method of payment doesn't stop at the business level. Let's say you lend money to a friend. They can then simply wire money back into your account.

All this is great, but, with so many account codes flying around, what happens when someone inputs the wrong number? Usually, if money is sent to the wrong account number, it is rejected by the recipient's bank and returned to your account. But, as is the case that we're now dealing with, sometimes that money just disappears. And, once the money has been removed from your account, it's difficult to track down. Especially when the recipient never received it.

Our bank had to send a formal inquiry to the other bank. Apparently, banks are supposed to have a lost-funds account, where money with incorrect account numbers is sent. We now have to wait a couple of weeks for the other bank to respond. That's where the hate comes in.

Customs on Packages Mailed to Germany, Part 2

Last week I wrote about a package that I received with a very expensive custom's fee attached. What was in the package? A Florida thank-you package, including sunglasses, t-shirts, and magazines. The problem was that my very generous and honest friends documented what the actual retail value of the package.

According to German customs, any package with a value over $70 (40 Euros) is subject to a tax — even if it is a gift. My best advice is to reduce the claimed value of the items, and remove any price tag just to be safe.

Customs on Packages Mailed to Germany, Part 1

Receiving mail is one of life's little pleasures. Obviously I'm excluding all bills, notices, and official documents from this statement. When I talk about mail, I'm referring to notes, postcards, invitations, and of course the occasional package.

That's why, when the buzzer rang this morning and I hear "post" announced on the other end, I excitedly slipped on a pair of shoes, grabbed my keys, and ran down the stairs to see what treat was in store.

You can image then, my shock and disappointment, when the postman said, "Sie haben 134 Euro zoll."

"One-hundred and thirty four euros in customs," I thought. "That's unbelievable!" At today's exchange rate of 1.56, to get my package I'd have to hand over $208.55.

Instead of taking the package then and there, I asked the postman to deliver the package to the nearest DHL location. I need to find out what could possibly be in the package that it merited such an outrageous custom's fee. (Stay tuned, I've contacted the sender and will post part 2 of this saga.)

In the meantime I also did some research about what's what in terms of customs fees on mail from the U.S. to Germany. We’ve had plenty of other packaged delivered since arriving here, including golf clubs for half of Kevin’s office shipped directly from an online retailer, and have never had to pay one cent in taxes or tariffs.

On the German Consulate to the United States’ Web page, I found the following information:

Packages to Germany may be mailed free of duty if their value does not exceed 45 Euros.

On Toytown.com, and expat message board, this is also a hot topic of discussion. They suggest that anyone mailing a package should make sure not to claim a value in excess of 45 Euros, or $70. That way, customs will not be applied. Also, they claim that it is best not to identify the package as a gift, but rather that you are sending personal items that belonged to the recipient before they left the states.

On the German Consulate site I also found a section that talks about duty-free personal effects. It states:

Articles intended for your personal use during your trip may be imported free of duties and taxes...If you are a resident of Germany, this exemption applies only to articles in your possession when leaving German territory.

Maybe it’s a long shot, but if I pay to duties now, can get reimbursed when I return to the states?

Good Work for a Good Cause

I really enjoyed my first day volunteering for IFOAM. It was nice to get out and meet some interesting people who are trying to accomplish some ambitious goals.

I almost can't believe I'm saying this, but I also really enjoyed going to an office, sitting in front of a computer, and putting together a PowerPoint presentation. Most people I know, people who have to get up and go to an office every day, may question this statement. But, even for a year before I left the states I worked from home. For me, it was a nice change to work outside of my house, with the normal flutter of office activity, people around to answer your questions, and colleagues to walk to lunch with.

I'm going back today. Two days a week should be enough to enable me to enjoy going to an office, without it losing its appeal any too quickly.

Expat Food Post

Looking for a post about life as an American expat in Germany? Read today's post on The Apron Caper, "Robbed by the Cob."