Thoughts of an American in Germany

I’m sitting here in a Chinese Imbiss right next to my apartment, waiting for my food to be prepared. It’s cheap food but rather good. And the owner speaks English quite well. And Chinese. And German. That always amazes me. I wish I spoke more languages. English gets you pretty far, but there’s something to say about being able to say something in another country and blending in. I’ve decided that I want to learn a language and spend a year living somewhere whose primary means of communication is that language. I figure my best bet is Italy since I have the most experience with the language. It’s been a while but, as far as countries go, I could do worse.

The thing about foreign countries is that it’s real easy to get pissed off at them for not doing things your way. Why would anyone in the right mind yield to the car on their right when coming to an intersection, especially when you’re on the main road? You’re not turning, the other car is, yet you have to yield for them. We don’t do that in American, why would they want to do it that way in Germany? Why do I have to pay for a glass of water (more than a glass of beer) when I can get all the water I want for free in any restaurant back in the U.S.? Who the fuck came up with that idea?

But that’s the rub, isn’t it? That’s what makes them foreign, love it or hate it. If everyone did everything the same way across the globe, the tourism industry would take a nose dive. What’s interesting is that common sense has an accent. It's more or less the same where ever you go, but every region, every locale, every little town, has a slightly different way of looking at the world and suiting it to fit their way of life. That's why there will always be conflict in the world. Differences will exist and, as we all know, it's more fun to pick on the different kid. It's just a matter of human nature. Fortunately, for all of us, most people embrace the differences as oppposed to rejecting them. It's just more fun that way.

My train of thought has run out of steam. Had a late night last night due to conversations with a certain member of the female gender. I think she's upset that I never mention her here, so here you go Amira. You've now officiallly made it into the blog. Now everyone knows you exist. Congratulations:)

One that note, I shall bid you all a good night and happy dreams.

The sun set over the spires of the Dom hours ago but my feet were still looking for their destination. Hard to find, really, in an unknown city with darken streets full of ridiculous looking cars, almost too small to be believable. All I wanted was a beer. No, not just a beer, a Koelsch beer. Disregard the fact that every block in this city has at least three bars that sell one particular label of the unique beverage. A centuries old tradition that has remained constant as the city has changed. The rules were set a long time ago and the beer has been set in its ways. Not a bad thing considering how delicious it is.

My last entry was month(s?) ago. Hard to believe how hard life has bitch slapped me when it comes to taking up my free time. Is ‘free time’ an oxymoron? It’s a simple matter of economic supply and demand. As demand increases, so do prices. It’s only those things that we really want (not need) that increase astronomically in price. Water is still incredibly inexpensive if you get it from your tap (I do). I can buy clothes second hand for virtually nothing (I don’t). These things exist in great abundance. So does time, yet nobody seems to have any. No, time isn’t free. If McDonalds could find a way to market it they’d make millions.

I’ve been living in Koln for over a week now, but it feels like my time has just begun. For a week I had my coworker Stephanie living with me. Or, rather, I was living with her. She had exhausted her six months in Koln and it was my turn to take over. Having lived her for some long (relatively speaking) she had absorbed a certain bit of knowledge about the city. Compared to me, she could have been a tour guide, and a tour guide she was during our overlap here, pouring an unending amount of information into my head which quickly got lost in a mire of jet lag and terminal bewilderment that only comes about when immersed in a city that doesn’t speak your language. She left on Saturday, leaving me on my own to fend for myself in a world of strange traffic laws and menu items.

I miss living in a city. Kind of.

I have had every opportunity to live in downtown Houston. Or midtown Houston. The only things holding me back are the commute and the money to rent an apartment there. And the subconscious knowledge that my location in Houston probably won’t make any different. No matter where I live, I still have to drive to get anywhere interesting. Not Boston. Not Koln. I have a car here. Rather, my company is renting a car for me to drive while I’m here. It’s a black VW Golf, but not what you’d expect in the States. A little larger. That’s not saying much in a European city where the largest car is could fit in the trunk of your average American SUV. That’s what I like about Europe. They refrain from being absolutely ridiculous though, in all fairness, it’s more out of practicality than anything. The streets and alleys just aren’t big enough to support a Ford Expedition. Or a Chevy Tahoe. Or a Cadillac Escalade. They’re forced to be sensible. It’s a nice change. These streets, they probably used to be grazing lanes for cattle and sheep and goats. Anything that could produce milk or meat or some other substance that could provide sustenance to a farmer. Kind of like Boston. Houston’s streets where meant for rolling oil barrels. I could get used to Koln.

The move to Boston wasn’t difficult, but it had been some time since I had to start my life over. Living in a big city was a first for me though I eventually teamed up with my fellow grad students to overcome the fact that none of us had any friends in the city. Friends by circumstance, really, but it got the job done. We were no longer lonely. Kind of. In retrospect, Houston was a cake walk compared to Boston. My coworkers have been amazing from the start and life in Houston has never been lonely. Now I’m in Koln. Briefly, of course, but still the source of a new beginning. Life is inherently lonely in a city that doesn’t know your name or your language, although it probably knows your name in its own language. That’s not to say that no one here speaks English. In fact, quite a large portion of the population here does to some extent. I just haven’t found any of them yet. Either that, or they get some kind of deranged pleasure out of watching me squirm my way ordering some pad thai. Whatever gets your rocks off.

I used to spend days at a time in Boston not saying a word to another human being. Wandering the streets, with camera in hand, I would do my best to blend, to walk among the walking, and become part of the city. If that didn’t work, I always had the life line of being able to open my mouth and communicate. Of breaking free and becoming a presence in the city. It’s a much different experience sitting at a café, listening to people speak, and not having any idea what they’re saying. Not a single word. Loneliness is unavoidable, a simple side effect of the situation. Uselessness is the much bigger problem. Not being able to communicate what you are thinking, that’s even worse.

I wouldn’t trade this for the world.

I’d give my left leg to be here with a friend. Make that an arm (I want to be able to walk). I’ve always been that kind of person, drawing excitement from those around me. I like exploring, but only if I get to share it with someone. You’ll see the pictures, some better than others, but it’s not really the same. You can find them at my photo website: www.alwaysgoodtimes.smugmug.com. I suggest you check out the Cologne, Germany area. No promises on quality yet as most of them have been taken with my brand spanking new point and shoot which has a rockin’ 6 megapixels but the quality, of course, of a point and shoot. Still, not too shabby. I think they’ll get more interesting once I get myself together and start traveling. It’s taking more effort than I expected, partially because I’m still so turned around from being in a new place.

Here are places I’d like to visit or been told to visit: Belgium, Berlin, Aachen, Portugal, Athens, Prague, Budapest, Istanbul, Morocco, Grenada, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Amsterdam, Brussels, Oslo, Copenhagen, various cities in Italy, and Paris. Those are the ones I can remember. The trick will be narrowing it down. I’m not used to being a world traveler. This should get interesting.

Who would have thought that, after this long break, my resurfacing would result in such an introspective entry. That’s not like me. Blame it on the Koelsch. Being here has obviously not affected my email status so please send me a note (in English) telling me how you’re doing. It’ll help me feel a little closer to home. Until next time, tscheuss!