Every country has its specific characteristics. Here are ten unmistakable signs that you’re actually in Germany: (Just in case you’re not sure.)
- If you see a long queue of spotlessly clean cars in front of a washing bay, you are in Germany.
- If you turn on the TV set and see commercials like from the sixties, you are in Germany.
- If a traffic jam arises on the autobahn just because an accident happened on the opposite lane and people are slowing down in order to gape, you are in Germany.
- If you build a house for you and your family and you’re indebted for the rest of your life afterward, you are in Germany.
- If you miss a train because it left at a different time at a different platform without the change having been announced, you are in Germany.
- If you hear people complaining about the weather, regardless of whether it’s warm, cold, windy, rainy or dry, you are in Germany.
- If you cross a street although the pedestrian light shows red and you’re cursed at by other pedestrians, you are in Germany.
- If people permanently complain about how little money they have but buy an expensive BMW and go on holiday three times a year just the same, you are in Germany.
- If you ask some children on the street what’s the capital of Romania and receive only a pondering silence as an answer, you are in Germany.
- If you ask some adults on the street how the German voting system works and receive only a pondering silence as an answer, you are in Germany.
- If somebody creates a list of German characteristics, you are in Germany…
Wow! If you wonder if there are more than two genders in Germany I have to let you down. Even in technically sophisticated Germany they still only have two of them. (Even though there are some people who seem to be something in-between…) And I can also calm you down concerning the marriage “for that purpose”: Even in the ultraconservative parts of Germany, nobody ties the knot only to go camping…
Wanted in Germany, the Bear
Normally, it should be good news: A wild bear was observed in the south of Germany near the border to Austria. It made its way from Italy towards Germany and is now the main topic of all newspapers and magazines. The animal lovers are happy and call it a “historic event”.
Maybe some of you are astonished why the simple appearance of a bear is such startling news, but you should know that the last observation of a wild bear in Germany has been noticed more than 130 years ago.
But not everybody is happy about this animal. The bear seems to be used to live in a close neighborhood to human beings and is not very timid. It already killed two sheep and demolished a chicken shed. The afflicted farmers are upset and call for the government to take measures.
Scientist analyzed the behavior of the bear and found that it’s not what they would call “normal” but “problematic”. So they created a new expression: “The Problematical Bear”.
It sounds funny, doesn’t it? But at least for the bear itself, it’s not funny at all, because now professional hunters are on its trail and try to shoot it. At the moment it seems like the animal has got a good chance to escape because the hunters are not experienced in bear hunting.
Well, I will follow the news and give you an update if anything interesting should happen…