It’s true that German’s are always “fahrt”-ing.
No English-speaker with a proper sense of humor can visit Deutschland without having a bit of a laugh. It’s hard to avoid fahrting when entering (einfahrt), exiting (ausfahrt), and wishing one a good journey (gute fahrt)!
Owns smartphone? Check. Drives BMW? Check. Buys food at traditional markets? Check. Eats like her great great Grandmother? Check.
I also enjoyed that most cute little German villages have avoided fading to faceless anywhere-villes — the unfortunate fate of nearly every small town in America. Perhaps it’s the German proclivity to stick to one’s roots — foregoing many of the cheap, shinny baubles of modern-day global capitalism for tried-and-true traditions, foods, and lifestyles?
My theory: as corporate proselytizing encouraged U.S. citizens to beat a steady path to Wal*Mart’s front door, we collectively turned our backs on mom-and-pop storefronts with less-subsidized prices and less convenient shopping. But, we also turned our backs on a lifestyle. We slowly lost the deep sense of identity that comes with doing things the way they’ve been done for generations. Unlike Germans, we aren’t shopping at the village butcher the way our grandparents did. Americans aren’t eating the things our predecessors ate, or at the time of day and in the same places that they ate them, or drinking beverages created from centuries-old recipes. And we don’t really care.
Somehow, Germany manages to dig its heels in when it comes to some cultural facets while selectively pursuing landmark progress in technology. Germans manage to consistently roll out some of the most well-designed and top-functioning products and systems in the world – all while living lifestyles with deep cultural and historic roots.
The above, of course, is my subjective opinion stemming from multiple visits to said country, experiencing everything from rides in zippy BMWs at 200 km/hr on the autobahn, to failed grocery store shopping attempts on Sundays/holidays/late evenings, to on-schedule train-rides through gorgeous valleys and farmland, to eating myriad dishes like Schweinshaxe and Maultaschen (pork knuckle & huge German ravioli) in centuries-old restaurants.
Cute path in my friend’s neighborhood leading to the town center
My 2014 visit to Deutschland kicked off with a train trip from Frankfurt through Stuttgart and into the German countryside carpeted in yellow canola blooms. My good friend from university recently moved out to a well-connected village with an adorable center surrounded by a fortified wall. Her husband, nearly two-year-old daughter, and a live-in au pair came, too!
Eighteen months earlier, I had poured over blueprints with said friend, envisioning her yet-to-be-constructed new home. What an amazing feeling to walk through the front door and actually see the results of the tweaked plans!
In honor of our visit, the German springtime showed up a few weeks early. Blooming apple and chestnut trees, along with myriad spring flowers, decorated our runs and stroller adventures through the surrounding farmland and parks. My college amiga keeps a roster of local hiking opportunities. On Saturday, she picked the perfect trail for a toddler hike: plenty of cute carvings and forest fun for the wee one, but mellow enough to accomplish after a Friday night fiesta during which we properly celebrated our reunion with good German beer and wine.
Given that the month previous to arrival had been spent living out of a cheap hotel in Bangkok, being “at home” was delightful. Bonus: after a year in sticker-shock Australia, the 1€/kilo ($.75/lb.) gourmet cheeses and meats made me dizzy with happiness. We also got to meet their au pair, an amazing, young, American woman. While nurturing her budding career as an opera singer, my friend’s childhood-friend-turned-nanny also changes diapers, feeds the baby, and keeps her entertained as needed. The baby (er… toddler) is smart, engaged, funny and loved Boyfriend. And the pigs at a nearby farm. Well, until the pigs approached the fence at which time she was both riveted and terrified – ingredients for long-lasting memories, right?!
Did I mention friend’s daughter *loved* Boyfriend?
Before we left, I got to solidify my Thai-massage training on two very willing models (sorry, Boyfriend — not your turn anymore!) and make the most amazing double-chocolate cookies I’ve ever tasted. Boyfriend and I also spent a gorgeous, sunny morning walking the cobblestones of the village, enjoying the classic architecture, and drinking excellent Italian coffee. We even fit a group day trip into the nearest city (Stuttgart) to see the sights and eat my all-time-favorite German food — buter brezel! Not bad, Germany. Not bad. ♣
Salami pretzels, Easter egg trees, and tons of toddler time in this facebook album.
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