Off the Map

Life in this Country

The longer I live here, the less I know.

Germany has so many layers - just as I work thru one and think I've got it all figured out, there is another peel of the onion to remove to reveal another quirk, facet or deficiency. For example: myself and a number of expat friends here have finally had, within the last couple months, some measure of success with the Germans on a romantic level. That was a huge breakthrough. We were on top of the world! Or so we thought. To give us some credit, it certainly was a step in the right direction - but not the earth shattering "Everything is going to be alright" gestalt we'd been hoping for. Within a couple of weeks we had all been derailed just as fast as we'd gotten on the train.

Since then some have figured things out a bit better, while others like me are left scratching our heads.

that's all a little vague, but to go into detail in this case would be exhausting. To be honest with you and myself, I can't yet properly articulate all the observations and feelings I have about this Western European country. Sitting down with you over a beer or coffee for a few hours might make a good dent in what I know, which is only scratching the surface of the real situation.

Though I suppose its all a matter of perspective. When a German male walks past with his jeans rolled up to his upper calves (because its sunny out) while still wearing dress shoes and top, I shudder. When I walk past in flipflops, cargo shorts and a light longsleeve t-shirt (as we in Boulder often do on a mild spring or fall day), Germans shudder. Ok, I'm sure others shudder too, but that's aside the point. The point is that I and any other internationals in Germany might very well be just as much of an enigma to the Germans as them to us. We just tend to forget that lesson when, for example, we are left befuddled by someone who one week acts like a great friend, the next week is cold, and the next two weeks warms right back up... Now that I mention it, many of us have experienced a Hot/Cold relationship with several Germans. Perhaps we just agitate them on a regular basis and that's our punishment. Then again, that would make entirely too much sense.

posted by Jason @ 6:19 pm