Living in Germany, Still

Boy, there's a lot of complaining back home. All the anger seems to be directed at one man: the U.S. President. It's his fault people can't feed their children; it's his fault they have to pay for medical insurance; it's his fault they have no job; because of him, they can't possess guns (even though that is not the case!); it's his fault that life sucks in general. Everything that is wrong with their lives is attributable to Barack Obama. When and why did the U.S. become a country with so much vitriol? Why do its citizens whine and complain so much? Why aren't things getting fixed? Why is there so much dissatisfaction, which spreads from person to person in epidemic proportions? Obama can be blamed for those problems, as well, I'm sure. It's all his fault. Poor guy -- he's just one man!

In Germany, there are also complaints about the government. There are complaints about everything, just like in the U.S. In fact, I find that certain Germans beschweren und schimpfen more than anyone I've ever met. However, now that I've been here for 18 full months, I can say that living in Germany is really pretty good, and I'd recommend it to anyone. Let me tell you about some benefits.

Vacation Days. In the U.S., the standard is 10 vacation days, or two weeks, per year. I'm a teacher, so I get more free days no matter what, but in Germany, people with "regular" full-time jobs get at least 30 paid vacation days, or six weeks. It's higher in certain other European countries and the longer you are at your job. My 26-year-old friend Alina is the manager of a drugstore -- a normal job, you might say. She just got back from a trip to the beach in Turkey; after that, she was able to travel to Luxembourg for an overnight stay. In the summer, she went to Croatia. It's really beneficial to mind, body and spirit to be able to take several two-week vacations per year. It helps deter burnout. 

Health Insurance/Tax Benefits. First of all, the system here works. Before I came over, I heard rumors that taxes were exorbitant, and I would be going to a socialist country (however terrible or true that is, I can't tell). Just over one-third of my pay, or 37%, goes to taxes and retirement. However, when I go to the doctor or dentist, visits are free, unless I need something extra (like a higher-quality filling than the insurance will pay for). Eye doctor visits are free as well. Medications only require a small copay of 5 or 10 euros. 

Further, sales tax on purchases, including food and clothing, etc. is included or non-existent. Therefore, I know exactly how much I am spending. There are no surprises at the cash register.

Other wonderful benefits come from my tax money, including the maintenance of and free admission into national landmarks, parks, castles and ruins, and very clean streets and efficient transportation and government. 

Over the summer, I was jobless, so I was encouraged to apply for unemployment, which is a given in Germany. I received enough to live on for three months, even though I was only working here for one year before I applied. 

Groceries are cheap! and food is fresher. In most case, it doesn't travel so far to get to stores, and there are what we would call "farmer's" markets almost every weekend in most towns. You can read on labels where your food comes from, and Ursprung: Deutschland means it was grown right here in-country.

A beautiful selection of pumpkins and gourds at the Weinheim Markt

When I first got to Germany, I was poorer than I am now. The economy in the U.S. was pretty terrible. My job there had pooped out, and I couldn't find anything else substantial (thus the move overseas for work). After selling almost everything of value, I still had to borrow money to get to Germany. Then I had to borrow money here for housing. I didn't get my first paycheck until almost two months after I started my first job. Therefore, I had to live on a budget of about 20 to 30 euros a week for food, after all my other expenses were paid.

However, that amount is plenty to buy coffee, milk for your coffee, toilet paper, good bread, and apples, which are mostly grown locally. Milk purportedly comes from the Alps (there are beautiful black and white cows on green pastures in the mountains on the cartons), bread from the bakery around the corner, apples from Süddeutschland, and the toilet paper comes from recycled products (see recycling below). You can go to the butcher and buy sausages and more sausages freshly ground that day and spend only a few euros. Leberwurst -- a mainstay in my diet -- ist cheap and delicious. Bakeries are even billiger. If you don't get food from Germany, it usually comes from sunny countries nearby such as France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Beef is expensive, as well as corn tortillas, which are difficult to locate. If you want good Mexican food, it's costly if you cook it yourself with "imported" items from the grocery store, such as black beans and taco shells. But alas, I digress. Those are negative aspects about Germany.

Recycling. I always thought that if I went into politics, the first thing I would do is make recycling mandatory. It's so beneficial for the planet, and it creates lots of jobs. In Germany, we recycle paper, containers, food, and plastic bottles. You get 15 or 25 cents for each bottle you return, including glass beer bottles in many cases. There are paper, "Bio," and Restmüll bins out on the street, which are picked up regularly. Even your used paper towels can go into the paper bin, and your orange peels and other organic stuff go into the Bio container. At home, we have less real garbage than recyclable containers-- such as tin cans and milk cartons, and these go into "yellow sacks" and are placed out on the street about once every two weeks in big piles all over Germany. You need a lot of space in your kitchen or storeroom for all the items you recycle, but it's worth it. I feel ashamed when I am too lazy to walk my Apfel core out to the Bio bin, because in our house, we don't have a container for that. 

Banking. To handle bills in Germany, you use your bank account. You pay and get paid electronically. It saves a lot of paper and is very efficient. Since I've been here, I have also acquired a German credit card where my monthly payments are 10% of my total balance. That works for me. They just doubled my credit limit! I don't think I can get into too much trouble financially, because I just don't have the expenses I had back home. So far I don't have an automobile, because I can walk, ride a bike or take a train most anywhere I need to go, so that eliminates hundreds in payments, insurance, and gas. I would like a car, but right now, it doesn't make fiduciary sense. 

Ich vermisse mein Auto, aber...

Public Transportation. For reasons stated above, public transportation is very beneficial. Sure, it's like riding the bus; sometimes people stink, babies cry, and others talk too loud, but for economics and efficiency, it's great. Bring a book and an iPod, and you're all set. I can travel in a streetcar ("tram") to work and back home without much hassle at all -- the biggest worry is getting to my stop on time. If I want to go to Berlin or Hamburg, I can do that, too, on a bigger, faster train with comfier seats. I miss my car and my car stereo, but in Germany, it's hard to find a parking place sometimes, so you have to consider that. And walking can keep you fit, if you don't eat too many sausages and scrumptious Brötchen.

I'm sure there are more benefits to life in Germany, but for now, that's enough. It was a big adjustment living here at first, but now, I kinda like it. 

Come visit anytime!

Dictionary

der Apfel - (the) apple

beschweren - to complain

billig(er) - cheap(er)
die Brötchen - (the) rolls

ist - is

die Leberwurst - (the) liverwurst

der Restmüll - (the) garbage

schimpfen - to "bitch" or swear
Süddeutschland - southern Germany
Ursprung: Deutschland - origin: Germany

How to Learn a Foreign Language

Because I am a teacher of and an avid learner of language(s), I may have a few tips for those who are trying to tackle a foreign tongue. These are simply my own recommendations, taken from personal experience and no yellow-bound coursebooks or language-learning websites.

First, listen AND look. Though we are all grown up now and think we know a lot, we have to really concentrate and open our ears when listening to a foreigner speak the language we want to learn. When we are children, our ears "detect" more sounds, because the language centers in our brains are more open and not yet fully versed in the phonemes of language. As adults -- especially adults who have known only one language their whole life -- it is oftentimes difficult to perceive or even hear different sounds in different languages. We cannot discriminate sounds we have not been exposed to before. Therefore, if you think you don't hear something correctly the first time, ask the speaker to repeat, and really watch their mouth move. Do what they do.

Speak! This is the most important, I believe, in language learning. You have to try out your new language, even if you're speaking the words incorrectly. Sure, there may be foreigners out there who are offended when you try to speak like they do, but I have encountered very few in my lifetime (and I consider myself almost old).

In American television and film, the French are portrayed as snubbing the foreigner -- especially us Americans. Perhaps the trick is to avoid France completely, but that is not the answer, because all French people are not bad, just like all American people or all German people -- all people anywhere -- are not bad. The snooty French women I have encountered in shops were either "aloof" (a nice term for rude) because they are snots no matter what, and not because I speak bad French (though I do, because I'm still learning and always will be). You will find such unhappy people everywhere.

For a laugh, check out the French waiter scene from "European Vacation":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iXGbJKjNxU

On a recent trip to Strasbourg (a beautiful Alsatian city very near the German border), I met several of these types, but on the whole, no one was rude to me because I spoke more English than French. They might have been unfriendly because I was with a German (longstanding animosity), but I don't think that was the case either. It didn't bother me. I attempted French anyway, because I try to ignore stereotypes, and how else to torment a brusque person than to needle them until they cave?

At one lovely little shop near the Strasbourg Cathedral, the handful of things I wanted to purchase were piling up at the cashier's desk. The beautiful and kind clerk/owner was very friendly and helpful, running upstairs to find me the scents I wanted when I asked. When it was time to pay, my credit card did not work, so I tried my debit card. It also did not work, for I had no money in my account (that can happen). Finally I gave her cash. The French woman didn't balk through the whole transaction, but rather smiled continuously and was very nice. She even gifted me a beautiful cloth bag with her shop's name on it. We spoke French to each other, and when I left the store, I felt not only proud, but as if I had made a lifelong friend. Hers will be the first store I visit for gifts or souvenirs the next time I am in town. And I will make sure I put more money into my account ahead of time.

Most people are helpful and are happy to give you pointers when you make a mistake in their language. Don't be intimidated. Try out your new language out as much as you can, even if you don't need to use it. When you make an effort, the people to whom you are talking shoould appreciate that at least you try to speak their language. They might start talking to you so rapidly they think you already know a lot more, and that is a compliment. Good job! You gave the impression you know what you're doing. If that happens and someone is speaking to you too quickly, know the word for "slow" or "slower" in their language, so you can ask them to slow down a bit. In German, you can say, Wie bitte?, which politely means "what?"

Play. When you are relaxed, you learn more. Try learning language with a foreign friend by playing games with them, drinking a beer or glass of wine, or simply making friendly conversation. Don't worry so much about the content or quality of your language output. Your counterpart will speak many words that you will learn while in your comfort zone, and during this time, language seems to penetrate the brain better. When you are tense and worried -- even about whether you're speaking correctly or don't know a word -- the language absorption rate won't be as high.

For example, when I was 16 years old, my good friend Jill and I began our high school beer-drinking education with Adrian (R.I.P.) and Modesto, two fun Mexican busboys who worked at Los Compadres Mexican Food where I had my first job. Jill's stepfather was Mexican, so she already had a foundation in Spanish, but I had only learned my ABC's and a few other words in first grade. For some reason, I always remembered the word zanahoria ("carrot"), but that was about it. However, because we were having so much fun with Adrian and Modesto, it didn't take long before I was thinking in Spanish and churning out Mexican colloquialisms just like un hombre del campo. Adrian became my lifelong friend, and he taught me more Spanish than I could learn anywhere else, even in a college language course. One of my fondest memories is of playing the game Catch Phrase in a hotel room in Rocky Point with my sister Karen, Adrian, and several other English and Spanish speakers. Adrian and I were able to get most words right, because I could give him hints in Spanish -- then he could give the right answer in English. Being bilingual pays off more often than you think!



Adrian (right) taught us gringos lots of Spanish. We miss you, Ese!

It has been proven that having fun while learning works. Many tried and true language-teaching techniques involve the use of games in the classroom. Playing, relaxing and having fun while learning a foreign language help you gain many new words.

Social language is probably the most important aspect of initial language intake. And don't forget pillow talk, if your language learning takes place with a lover. You will at least learn the names of body parts, and perhaps the most important word: love.

Use a dictionary. When I don't know a word, I look it up. Then I try to make sense of that word, especially if it bears no resemblance or relation to anything I know in any other language. Make sure your dictionary is as fat as you can carry. Mini-dictionaries are good for travel, but they won't have all the words you need to learn. Google Translate is also a great tool for finding words.

A good friend and fellow ESL teacher told me once that most people need to see or hear a word 12 times before it is committed to memory. Write the word down somewhere and review it when you can. Try to use it in a sentence.

For me, seeing the word in written form is very important, because I am a visual learner. This also helps a person learn how to spell it correctly, and see its individual parts, so you might find commonalities with other words in the same language. For example, in the word die Wahrheit ("truth" in German), the -heit means "-ness" in English. Therefore, I know that any word ending in -heit in German will be a state of something. I can also assume that any German word ending in -heit will be feminine, with the article die. Another example is the German word/suffix Zeit meaning time; a word ending in -zeit will be some kind of event or type of time, i.e. Mahlzeit (mealtime).

With today's smartphones, you can access apps for translators in many languages. Use them if you can, but more importantly, use them and try to remember the words. Sometimes there is nothing more frustrating to a foreigner or language teacher than a pupil who needs to be told simple words over and over again. Try to commit foreign words to memory.

When learning language, use everything and anything that works for you. There are many free websites out there for children and adults. Livemocha.com teams you up with language partners and gives you written and oral exercises in many languages, and you can make friends overseas as well. BYKI.com ("Before You Know It") has virtual flashcards and different tests that make learning simple and straightforward. Buy magazines or watch television in the target language. 

Again, don't forget to speak the language you are learning. You'll cross cultural barriers and show the world you care.



Dictionary
die Liebe - the love
die Mahlzeit - mealtime
die Wahrheit - truth
die Zeit - time