Fasching

This is apparently the German version of Mardi Gras. Celebrating Fat Tuesday and going crazy the weekend before Ash Wednnesday and the forty days of "fasting" begins. But instead of everyone wearing beads, they wear costumes. Just like Halloween. It was a bigger deal than Halloween. There were kids in adorable outfits, growm men in onesies, matching families, parades of people and tradition bands, and many more crazy sights. There were carnivals and parades everywhere. I took Luka to a parade in a near by town and it was really fun. The big and famous carnival is in Cologne.  But in the north, the carnivals are called something different. It is supposed to be quite the party scene because this is Germany so of course there is plenty of beer.

Same Kind of Different as Texas

So, living in Germany is pretty darn wonderful. There are so many things I miss about Texas but there are some amazing things here as well. There are a lot of things that are crazy different, but there are a lot of things that are similar which I have been surprised about.

12) Whatever language they speak, kids are always doing something entertaining.

11) The Deutsch Post is delivered on yellow bicycles here. Even in this crazy cold weather...

10) In Texas, a scarf is just an accessory, but in Germany it is a must have to keep warm necessity.

9) We are fond of morning walks and bike rides here, too. Forests here are actually green (and white now from the snow).

8) Here is today's gas price (in liters haha not gallons). Not everyone has cars or even a drivers license. It's really expensive and apparently pretty hard core to get your lisence here. You can get your license at 18 years old. Highways are really different too. I think in the States, the highways are the primary place for businesses and McDonald's. But here, the autobahns are on the outside of the cities and towns. So there aren't any stacked up over passes. There is normally a gas station only every 20km. So it makes car rides nice and scenic. Everyone also has a bicycle. But public transportation is completely different. It's easy to get into the city and around the country to travel. It's what most people use. I take the SBahn into the city and it takes me about 30 min to get to Munich city center and, it is such a pleasant ride. 

7) The supermarkets here are no H-E-B. There are several separate fruit shops and meat shops and backeries (which are hard to resist) and the pharmacies are a separate shop too. I know what you're thinking, how inconvenient. But it's not bad. There are bigger markets to go too, but it's not in a giant warehouse that sells furniture too. It's smaller and surprisingly efficient. ALDI is the popular supermarket and that's the one I go to. Do we have those in US?

6) Most people here wear their wedding ring on their right hand. So my Aggie ring often times gives off the wrong impression. I bet you're glad to hear that Dad.

5) They brew some great beer, but the South makes better whiskey. (Beer is on a whole different level of greatness in Germany, in Bavaria. That's why in the majority of my pictures with people, we are drinking beer :)  But I am looking forward to having a Shiner when I get home.)

4) Germans wear trachten outfits and we wear cowboy boots.

3) All of the garbage trucks and work trucks and most of the taxis are Mercedes. Fancy, hey?

2) Germans don't like spicy food. Isn't that odd when Germany is known for sausages? I think sausage, I think spicy. But not to Germans. They also don't like peanut butter which is just as heartbreaking to me. The kids get really grossed out when I eat peanut butter on my pancakes.

1) They have castles, but we will always remember the Alamo.

How Cold is Cold?

This week has been rough outside. It is an all new kind of cold for me. And those of you who have seen me in winter time (in Texas) know I hate the cold weather. This is a little bit more intense than a Texas winter. It's quite alarming actually to go outside and immediately have your eyes fill with cold tears, your nose run like a faucet, all of your muscles tense up like someone just popped out from behind a corner, and your lungs adjust from the scare while you catch your breath. You also have to be careful playing a hopscotch style of walking on the sidewalks to avoid all the ice patches. Never felt something like this before. It's even too cold to snow? What is that? A girl born and raised in Texas is not prepared for these conditions. I think it was all those summers working at camp, being outside in the 40 something degreeC weather. That I could get used to (even miss), but this I cannot. I was smart enough to buy a new winter jacket though, so I think it reached the status of a life saver now. And don't forget a hat and gloves. Necessary. Yikes. I'm still alive for now though :)

And this is degreeC...

Hope you all are staying warm :)