(Created 7/22/2017)
I have mixed feelings about our first week in Germany, though I am loving the experience. While touring the museums, the amount of history concerning the holocaust and the Nazis caught me off guard. Obviously this was a huge part of modern history, I failed to understand how the Germans felt about it. I also didn’t expect most of the exhibits to be in English as well as German. Aside from historical Germany, the present culture is much blunter than I had anticipated, but the people are still nice. In the city, I was surprised to find that almost all residences are gated and there are not that many lawns.
Also within the city, I think that not having to worry about whether I am standing on a bike path or not is certainly something that I miss. In addition, I prefer the security of knowing that small children are not trying to steal my wallet. On a lighter note, I miss the baseball fields which are strangely non-existent at the parks we have encountered. Switching sides, I would love to have a couple brat stands dotting the streets of my home town, especially for such great prices. They usually have a variety of ways they prepare the brat instead of just a hot dog along with other food items. I also enjoy the architecture around here, but I am not sure that I want lots of it in my hometown because I like the American style as well. Speaking of America, are we the only ones with free bathrooms? So far I have avoided this trap but we shall see how long that record stands