Things in Germany, Volume III

Self-priced Produce
Pricing your produce yourself didn't seem like that much of a woo-hoo at first, but then I realized how nice it is to know exactly how much you are going to spend before you get up to the check-out counter. Curtis and I have an almost-unhealthy habit of pinching pennies. And to see exactly what your produce costs either helps us put that juicy tomato back or helps us decide to keep it anyway.

Trash Can Covers
It's really a small thing, but it makes a huge difference in the overall feel of the city. I never see an overflowing trash bag on the side of the road. No rusty dumpsters in the parking lot. The trash here is generally concealed to make the streets and neighborhoods look as orderly as possible. (Curtis told me that paying for trash service is very expensive here, so it's common to lock your trash can so that no one can put extra garbage in your bin. And since Germany has such an elaborate trash sorting system, you don't want to get fined for someone else throwing dirty diapers in your paper recycling.) I just think it's rather nice that people care enough about the way their streets look to build a wall (or a house) for their trash cans!

Bicycles
In addition to being pedestrian friendly, Germany has proven to be extremely bicycle friendly. We supposedly lived in the Bicycle Capitol of America, but even our small town in Germany puts Portland to shame. Even though Portland has bike lanes and bike trails, I don't feel like I saw an abundance of people—ranging from kindergarteners to seniors—riding bicycles. Bicycles seemed more popular as recreation in the States, but in Germany it's a viable mode of transportation. Businessmen will ride a bike in their suits. Grandmothers with pull their grandchildren to the park. Even the mail is delivered on a big, yellow bicycle! Riding a bicycle to the grocery store or to work doesn't mean you are "too poor" to have a real car. Riding a bicycle means that you protect the environment, build your endurance, manage your time, and value your body.

Curtis in particular has been inspired to bike to work when we get back to Portland in January. He's excited to make his lonely commute into a healthy and de-stressing habit.

Small Living Space
I don't think it's bad to want a large house and lots of things. Most people do. But I have always thought that if we were to have a large house, I would have to clean that large house and would actually have to buy those things. It's been refreshing to see that a small home in Germany is not equated with poverty or college life. Rather, a small home is a sign of maintaining order and understanding priorities.

Regulated Quiet Hours
That's right. They close things during nap time. I may not have noticed this if I were to live in Germany at any other time in my life, but there are understood (and posted) quiet hours for parks and services.

Non-business hours, nap time, and Sundays are designated quiet hours. For example, if you call maintenance to come fix your shower, they won't knock on your door between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. There is no vacuuming, no lawn mowing, or other noisy work during the evening or on Sundays. I can see that it would be difficult for some to adjust from most stores being open 24 hours, but for us it was a welcome surprise.