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Microcosm of a Truck Stop
I think I will add “visit a truck stop” to my list of recommendations to people coming to travel the US and want to see the “real stuff.” In the travel world this idea of “authenticity” comes up often....
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Are Germans Any Fun?
Germans are orderly and efficient. “Alles im Ordnung” and all that. There are rules and restrictions for all possible activities. So in an environment that is so regulated, is there any whimsy left in...
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Germans and Birthdays
Spring seems to be a popular time for birthdays, mine included. The Germans have some unusual traditions, for me anyway, around the celebration of the annual day of getting older. In short, you buy for...
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Culture Flows Both Ways
I write a lot about the culture of Germany from an expat perspective. The things that I have learned and absorbed. Being from another culture living here, although such cultural knowledge flows both...
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Dogs in Public in Germany
Despite the industrial and technological bent of society, Germans love nature and animals. This includes dogs, which are often treated better than children in public. This is fair though, as they often...
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Eurovision – Guide for the Ignorant Expat
The Eurovision song contest is so well known all over Europe and yet I had never heard of it until last year. This year we decided to have a bunch of friends over to just hang out and watch (and laugh...
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The Mensa: More Than Just A Hot Lunch!
Eating and food are so intertwined with culture. German food is one thing, but how they eat is also a good way of seeing how society functions. Mandi is an American native of Seattle who lived in New...
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Guten Appetit
Culture always has a tons of different layers. Some things are very obvious and some things are far more subtle. Take for example the German cultural habit of wishing anyone else who is eating “Guten...
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Making my Peace with Ikea
Over the past few years, I built a life in Germany from the stuff I brought in a pair of backpacks on a boat to having a comfortable (but thankfully not full) home. I try to avoid materialism as I can,...
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A Story of Sperrmüll
Ali wrote about how to separate garbage in Germany a while back. This is the next story in the line. When you have things too big to throw in the black or other classes of things that are specially...
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