Things I'd wished I'd known...

More of a practical post today:
Things I wish I'd known before a) coming to Germany in general and also a few British Council Language Assistantship specific things as well.

Number 1:
Crucial this. Y'know how back in Britain (and maybe other places) you're the new kid on the block and you're in a room with one or two people you know and plenty you don't? Then your friend introduces you to the unknowns. It took me a while to realise but in Germany this doesn't really happen. It's apparently far more common to step forward, hand extended and introduce yourself. Makes sense really, and it's only a little difference, but it caused me a decent amount of awkwardness during my first few weeks when I'd have failed to introduce myself to a room full of people.

Slowly I got more used to it though (once I figured out what I'd been doing wrong), and it's actually pretty good for the self confidence in a foreign country, to step forward confidently and introduce yourself, German style.

Number 2:
Getting ill on your year abroad.
So I got ill (downside of working with kids) and  had to head to the doctors. This proved a little different to Britain, so I decided to mention a few things:

1) There are GPs, but there are also dozen and dozens of specialist doctors which you can book appointments with, if you feel its more relevant. I just went to the GP (Allgemeinmedeziner Artz) though as I had fluey symptoms.
2) They took my blood before asking me what was wrong. Not sure how normal this is?
3) The Deutsche Ring insurance will get a few raised eyebrows as it is private insurance, but hey, you technically work for the government.
4) You pay for stuff like antibiotics upfront but claim it back later.  Haven't actually done the second part yet, waiting for my doctors bill to send off.

Number 3:
When saying "Prost!" (German equivalent of cheers) you must look your fellow drinker directly in the eye when clinking glasses, or suffer the terrible consequences***

Number 4:
Ditto for always having the right change in shops. Oh and try and have it ready, after 10 seconds or so of fumbling in your purse the shop assistants become physically impatient.

Number 5:
Oh and you will spend the first 3 months (and counting) having a mild panic attack every time you buy food at a supermarket; the cashiers go so fast they practically chuck your food at you, then ask for the money before you have had a chance to pack more than 2 items into the plastic bags you remembered to bring with you. I have heard of 2 ways to approach this dilemma.

* Option 1: Do everything deliberately slowly whilst staring into the cashier's eyes as if to say "so I'm going British speed whether you like it or not".

* Option 2: not having the bravery to follow Option 1's advice, I get a trolley, chuck everything in as quickly as they scan it, pay, then move aside and pack everything properly. Pretty sure this method is the only thing keeping me from having a small heart attack.

Number 6:
If you spend a lot of time in the rural areas of Germany like I do get used to being asked in detail about your life, your family, your job, your pets, your opinion on HRH Queen Elizabeth the second, your tea preferences, what side of the bed you sleep on and your  thoughts on that dog over there.


I may have made a few of those up.

This is a good thing though, people are so friendly in the country, just curious.

Number 7:
Following on from #6, if you are Welsh (and congratulations on being so, by the way) come to Germany with a prepared opinion on your nation which you must be ready to deliver, in German, at a moment's notice.

Last weekend there was an awkward moment when a teacher found out I was Welsh, the conversation followed thus:

Teacher: "Oh, you're Welsh! Interesting. Do you want to become independent from England, just like the Scottish?"
Me: "Um, no, not really, I don't really mind...I mean...yeah, I'm happy being Welsh and British...I think...?"
Teacher:  "Well, that's a disappointing answer."

Sadly that's not the first time I'd let down an inquisitive foreigner with my laissez-faire attitude towards my welshness.

Number 8:
If possible, bring rectangular pillows with you. Square is just an impractical shape for a pillow.

Number 9:

Engage wholeheartedly in all German festivals (and there are a lot). Muchos fun to be had. And good food.

Number 10:
Take the opportunity to TRAVEL. Unless you are very lucky this is your one and only opportunity in your life where you have the time and means to explore one country in such detail. Don't waste it :)



I'll probably think of more as time goes on, these have been occuring to me slowly over the past few weeks. Usually whilst being sat on a bus/train and pondering over life in Germany, cool bean that I am.




***Ok, I lie, the consequences aren't terrible. You just get a friendly german who corrects you by opening his/her eyes widely, pointing first at them and then into your eyes and saying "look into my eyes".