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01/26/2007: "Doing Well in Deutschland"

Just a short post to let folks know that I am hanging out here in Germany and doing well. At some point I need to compile a list of things that are stange to me over here. Now I understand that Europe has been here many times longer than we have existed as a country , but they just seem so different.

I am talking about doors that swing outward to the street. Cars that look like you wouldn´t fit inside. Elevator doors that you have to open yourself. Gasoline at $7 a gallon (probably why the cars are small). Greetings that include a kiss instead of our customary hug. Breakfasts of cold cuts and cheese. Restaurant bills that are added up at your table after the meal from memory and then you add the tip and tell the waiter the total where he makes change from that. Oh, in his language of course. And prolonged staring at something different is normal.

I could go on, but that gives you a taste of it.

Auf Viedersehn