Dreaming of You

There is so much about Germany that I love. Fresh baked goods being very high on that list. And no, I'm not kidding. Their bread's the best everrrr. It's been a great five months here (yeah, five months already, can you believe it?). But I must confess, I do miss America. A large portion of my day dreaming, aside from hot German men taking me on fabulous vacations, is spent thinking about home. Since this takes up a lot of my thoughts, I figured I would give you a list of the top American things on my mind. My American friends and family will laugh at most of these for sure, knowing that they get to enjoy the awesomeness that I am missing out on (love you guys too...). As for my German friends, you don't realize what you are missing out on. At all. And for that I apologize. And invite you to come to my neck of the woods, if you ever decide to go to California, where I will treat you to the best burger ever. EVER.

1. Disneyland
My home away from home. Things are a little less magical when one can't go to Disneyland at least once a week. Sigh. But the magic lives on... in my dreams. I seriously have a ridiculous amount of dreams about being at Disneyland doing various things. The great tragedy is waking up to my alarm clock.

Rainy night with the girls walking down Main Street U.S.A.

2. In-N-Out/Taco Bell/Subway/Jamba Juice/Terri House/Lucille's BBQ/Every other restaurant I love
Food, glorious food! Americans just have so many freaking choices when it comes to food, especially in Southern California. It's amazing how one little smell or thought can trigger an intense craving for a food item I have long been deprived of and then last the whole day (or week). I drool just thinking about an In-N-Out Burger. Mmmmm...

Amy and I comparing burgers at In-n-out.

3. School
I will admit, I'm quite the nerd. I love school. I love being in a class, taking notes, doodling, getting lost in my own thoughts, learning lots of nerdy things.... being away from college means I don't get to fulfill my nerdy needs. I am stuck making due with online classes. Which are evil soul sucking creations of doom. I need a classroom pronto.

4. Watching T.V.
Although there is a T.V. in the apartment, I don't ever watch it (unless it's the kids channel with my girlies). Why? Well, it's being all in German is a major factor. Also, we don't have a bunch of channels. And I really don't have the desire to watch it. I mostly catch all my T.V. shows on iTunes (yes, I actually pay to watch things), so I don't feel the need to suffer through only understanding half a T.V. show. But I've come across a problem... how am I going to watch the Olympics?! I love the Olympics, and will be tremendously sad if I can't get some coverage of it in English online. This, along with not watching Top Gear every five seconds on BBC America, makes me really miss my American T.V. channels.

5. Target/The Mall
Target, my love. I pretty much live at Target. Lived. I haven't seen the interior of a Target in far too long. I miss going just to look at all the things I wish I had money for or running around the aisles trying to get all the things I can afford. There really is no place like Target here in Germany. Which is tragic. I also miss American malls... here malls are a relatively new thing, and they are slightly smaller and more compact. I get all claustrophobic and want to leave as fast as possible. Shopping is great here, I just miss my typical stores.

6. Talking
I love to talk. So not being able to be understood all the time drives me bonkers. Most of the people I talk with either speak in German or English (a lot of them know other languages). My German isn't so great, but I can get on well enough, especially when the people I talk to can't speak English. But on the whole, I know quite a bit of people who speak English here. Which is great (and not so great for practicing my German). But, I really miss talking to native English speakers. Many American idioms and many of my strange words ("sassy" being a prime example) are lost on people here. To their credit they often just nod and smile haha.

7. Rhonda the Honda & Road Trips
Here, if I want to get somewhere, I either walk, ride my bike, or take a train. That's just the way things are. Not everyone has a car. And if they do have one, they don't use it as frequently as Americans do. I can count the amount of times I've been in a car here on my fingers. It's such a rare thing, and I pretty much get giddy when anyone mentions a car ride. I miss my Rhonda the Honda desperately. I love getting around how I do here, but there is just something so wonderful about having my car to take me places (I have a huge list of reasons, I won't bore you with them). And taking trains to other cities is great, but they take all the fun out of a "road trip". I need a road trip through the desert like now.

Rhonda the Honda and I chilling out in Niland, CA.

8. Reading
I get really excited when I can perfectly read a sign these days. Sound pathetic? It's not. When you live in a country where everything is in a different language, suddenly being able to read signs is difficult. Being able to read them and feel like a normal part of society is pretty freaking exciting. Same goes for walking into a bookstore. There's nothing more horrifying than seeing thousands of books that I am unable to read.

9. "No Weather"
Ahh I never realized how spoiled rotten I was when it came to weather. I mean, I "knew", but I didn't really "know". When cold to me means throw on a sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers; it's a real shocker to suddenly find myself wearing three pairs of socks, boots, leggings, jeans, an undershirt, shirt, sweater, coat, scarf, gloves, and hat. Long, cold Winter to say the least. The other day it was warm enough to wear just a skirt, shirt, and jacket and I told freaked out. Why? I felt naked.

10. The Beach & Ocean
Oh how I long to feel sand between my toes and frolic around in the waves. So Cal girls aren't meant to be away from the ocean this long. My inner mermaid is having some serious withdrawals.

The girls and I striking a pose on the beach in San Diego, CA.

11. Coffee Shops
Gone are my long afternoons and evenings spent pouring over homework (and facebook) while slurping up ridiculous amounts of good coffee with friends. For something that was such a big part of my weekly routine, it's strange not to have it happen anymore. I miss it so.

Jarae and I at It's a Grind pondering one of the big questions of life: Face in a book, or Facebook?

12. American People
I've met people from all over the world the past couple months. I've seen many cultures in action, and it's fascinating. I love meeting new people. But as much as I love all the people I've met, I miss my Americans. There's no one quite like us. We are weird, but I love our weirdness. And it would be really nice to be able to say I'm from California and not have it be in the least bit interesting or exciting. Just once.

All that being said... these may be the things and places I miss, but I mostly miss my friends and family. Because these places and things wouldn't be so awesome without them. Can't wait to tackle you all with hugs when I get home. Until then, I continue to bask in the awesome adventure that is Germany. Even if that means six more months of no In-N-Out Burgers.

I Spy With My Lil' Eye...

Having lived here in Karlsruhe three weeks; I have come to notice the many things that make Karlsruhe different from Long Beach. Mostly I get the biggest giggle out of the differences, or I like them. There are very few that I don't like. I thought I would give you a list of some of them. Tell me if you find them as interesting or different as I do! Here they are in no particular order:

1. Language. I thought I would start with the most obvious. This is the one cultural difference that is giving me a run for my money. I have never been very good with picking up languages (see my 3 years of Spanish in high school for affirmation of such). But I am a very stubborn and driven person when I want to be. I really enjoy learning, and I must push myself to learn and become fluent. I will do this... It is just going to frustrate me to no end for quite some time.

2. Food. Bread, meat, and cheese. That is my diet these days. Along with organic fruits and veggies, coffee, beer, jam, and dairy products. I love it! I just really miss American food. Don't get me started! I have been dying for a bean and cheese burrito...

3. Fashion. This one is a sorta different. There are elements of American fashion here. But there is something that makes it all uniquely German. I can't quite put my finger on it yet. But I like it, and I plan to give my wardrobe a mini style makeover while I am here.

The morphing of my style has begun!

4. Smoking. People smoke so much, everywhere! Christiane tells me only recently they made smoking and non smoking restaurants. As a So Cal girl I am so spoiled with all the rules about where and when people can smoke. I really don't like the smell of smoke, and I'm also allergic to it a bit so it makes my eyes all red and itchy. Blah.

5. Plugs/Light Switches. The plugs are all circular and have two circular holes in them. It's so strange. I need an adaptor for anything (like my straightener) that I need electricity for from the States. The light switches at my house (and other places I have been to) aren't the flick up and down ones, they are big flat squares buttons that you push to turn the light on or off. They do have the same type of dimmer light nobs here though!

6. Curbs. There are pretty much no curbs. They are like an inch tall, or there isn't any at all. Which also means the gutter system here is different. And from what I hear it handles water and snow much better than Long Beach's gutters do and doesn't flood. Just sayin' haha.

An example of the drains and no curbs.

7. Church Bells. Every hour on the hour at least one or two church bells can be heard across the city. Certain hours (like 9, 12, 6) get more bells ringing. I adore this! It makes me feel like I am in a fairytale/back in time. It also makes me think of Christmas, which makes me very,very happy.

I can hear the bells from this Catholic Church from my house!

  8. Sundays. Absolutely no stores, except the Bakers, is open. All day. It's the Lord's day and that is that. (I imagine it as... No Ashley, buying that pair of shoes is not more important than going to church. And just so you don't get tempted, I am closing all the stores!)


9. Politeness. The Americans and Germans are kinda flip flopped here. Germans don't know the meaning of bubble space. For example: standing in line at the grocery store tonight I wanted to turn around and tell the person behind me to take a step or two back. They also don't concern themselves with how tightly they squeeze past you if you are shopping or walking. And man, do they walk and bike fast! I am so not fierce enough; often times I have to just stop and get out of their way. They are friendly, but not in the way that Americans are friendly. Usually we consider people we just met as friends. But here it takes awhile to be considered an actual friend and not just an acquaintance. But, they are super friendly in so many moments where Americans would be rude. Ahh, these are little examples, it's hard to explain the widespread difference of it.

10. School System. In 4th grade kids (along with the parents) choose their future. They have to choose between three different "high schools" and only one of those leads to going to a university. Oh the pressure. I don't envy this school system all too much.

11. Finishing Your Plate. In America it's considered pretty rude to gobble down your whole plate for several reasons (including that people will think you are a fatty). In Germany, it is considered extremely rude to not finish your plate. Why? Because you aren't accepting the wonderful generosity of whoever made the food/it makes it seem like you didn't like the food.

12. Size of Food Portions. The plates, cups, spoons, etc are actually smaller here. The bowls are more shallow. It's so strange! But it's crazy how quickly I have gotten used to these portions. I can no longer eat as much as I used to (thank God) but it is kind of a problem when we are out at restaurants. The portions are bigger there. What would have been an easy plate to clear three weeks ago, is now a monumental amount of food that I struggle to finish. I have tried and failed each time we have gone out.  Remember, it's super rude not to finish your whole plate. I am try my hardest to not come across as rude, but I just can't eat it all! (Never thought I would say that!).

13. Modesty. I almost jump out of my skin everytime I see a naked or half naked people in advertisments. And I thought we were scandalous! Pff. I never realized how modest we Americans are. I blush at these ads. When did I become such a prude?!

14. AC/Heating. I have yet to see anything A/C related so I am guessing that is very few and far between; it might not even be used here. I can see why, considering it doesn't get very hot. Heating on the other hand I have seen a lot of. But not like the central heating most of us have at home. In Germany "old looking" wall heaters seem to be what is used. And when I mean old, I don't literally mean it's age, I mean they look the same as they have been making them for the past hundred years or so. I like them though. I have four in my mini apartment.

15. Cars/Transportation. To start, the cars are smaller (this is how it should be America! Step away from the SUVs and drop your keys now!). They are also used with less frequency. With trains being able to take you somewhere almost every couple of minutes, why would you take a car? And who needs to drive down perilously narrow streets when you can get around much quicker with your bike or on foot? (The fellas at Top Gear would be so ashamed of my no car promoting). Of course cars are still useful. Especially to get places that your feet, your bike, or a train can't get you to. And then of course, there is the Autobahn. You can't miss out on such a fabulous opportunity. I can't wait to learn how to drive stick shift! Then I can drive on the Autobahn (insert manical cackle here).

My bike! His name is Sebastian.

16. Houses. Most people live in apartments. It is super rare to live in a house. When you live in a house that means you have a lot of money. But the apartments here have a different vibe than the ones in California, so I don't think that everyone living in apartments is in anyway demeaning.

17. Household Appliances. It's all about actually being "green" here. So that means energy saving appliances to the max. It takes the dishwasher like and hour and a half to do one load. And it's not a very big dishwasher. The washer and dryer take almost two hours each. And they are really small too. What used to take me three loads of laundry at home now is about six loads.

18. Closets. Built in closets are not a very common thing. Most Germans buy closets for their bedrooms. How strange.

19. Beds. They are much lower to the ground. Also they don't use sheets, its all about down comforters and pillows. Which is just fine with me!

20. Sidewalks. Almost all the sidewalks I have seen have some form of cobblestone going on. Which is so neat! It makes me feel like I am stepping back in time. Of course, its deadly if you wear spiky high heels. Thank God that's not an issue I will be dealing with.

The cobblestones on Helmholtzstraße (my street).

So that's my list! There are many more I assure you. And there are a lot of similar things too. But differences are much more interesting to point out aren't they?