Learning to love Germany

There’s no denying it: I love the UK!

I love tea; I love red double-decker buses; I even love complaining about the weather. But, for now, I’m working as a language assistant at a school in Lemgo, which is a small town in Germany. Although there are many things that I definitely miss about my home in England, there are many fun, interesting, and even brilliant things about Germany too. So, since I will be here for six months, it’s time I started finding things to love about this country!

Here are just a few things that I have grown to love so far:
Cycling
So many more people ride their bikes here than in the UK. Even old ladies do it! I am not a very sporty person, but I absolutely love cycling. It’s easy, free, and just as healthy as walking, even though it’s much quicker.

Food and drink
The Germans are not well known for their cooking skills (unlike the French or Italians), but I still love it. Who doesn’t love Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake), or Bratwurst (sausage) with potato salad? I certainly do. The beer in Germany is great too. My favourite type is Altbierbowle, which is a kind of beer cocktail made with beer, fruit syrup and pieces of real fruit! Delicious.

Language
Learning the German language is the main reason that I came here. Many people say that German is a harsh-sounding language, or that it is needlessly complicated. I disagree. Although there are some things that are tricky, once you have mastered the basics it’s very rewarding. I especially enjoy finding the words that don’t translate into English. For example, fremdschämen means to be embarrassed for someone else, and Suppenkoma is the feeling of tiredness after eating. Why don’t those words exist in English?

So, there is a very short list of things I am growing to love about Germany. We British still make the best tea, of course. But the Germans are good at a lot of things too! I’m sure I will discover more throughout my stay here.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my experiences. See you next time!