I have just moved to Germany, my husband will be working here for the next 18 months (maybe more!) and so I took the plunge and decided to leave my 'Big Girl Job' (more on this post here) and follow my dreams! I went to India and trained to become a Yoga Instructor and now I'm here and setting up my own classes. It has been a lot of hard work and at times very unsettling but I'm here and loving it and it really is such a great big adventure.
So I decided to put together a little list of the things I find amazing about my new home and things that also will take a bit of getting used to! Just to give you all an insight into my life at the moment!
Great things in Germany:
Diesel is only €1 a litre! Jackpot
The vegetables are all un-sprayed, mainly organic and so cheap. They last only a few days but that just shows their freshness and lack of chemicals.
Everything works and is on time. Like Everything!
The supermarkets sell anything you can imagine. I spent 2 hours doing the supermarket shop on my first day. There was an entire aisle of different types of Olives. Fact
Everyone speaks English and it's getting embarrassing at this stage. German lessons here I come.
The walks and outdoor areas here are beautifully preserved and brilliantly accessible for everyone. They lead a healthy, outdoor life here!
The kids, as young as 5 or 6 all walk to school on their own. Dressed in their onsies and hats and scarves, all wrapped up they can be seen toddlng along the street to the bus or train. No messing or running away. Just well behaved and adorable and totally unsupervised!
Schnitzel. Mmmmmm
They sell Kerrygold butter!
You can get a train to anywhere in Europe!
It's great craic trying to guess what items are in the supermarket. Cooking them and realising what they actually are!
There are cycle lanes everywhere, it's all flat and easy to use. They don't have lanes that just end for no reason or lead you into a pole (what's that about Cork?)
Eating out is cheap and relatively healthy.
The Germans know how to party!
Things that will take a bit of getting used to:
They drive on the other side!
Their supermarkets don't sell drinks there is a separate shop for all beverages attached to the shop! Bizarre!
You could have a green light at junction but pedestrians will have one too. So you need to be on the look out at all times!
Listening to the radio is like being in a permanent Eurovision Contest! Great fun
Cheddar cheese here is about 3-4 times more expensive than other cheese! Edam it is then!
All shops close about 3 pm on Saturday and no where is open Sunday! Like nowhere!
So that's been my life for the last 3 weeks. Getting the house set up (thank you Ikea) and exploring and getting lost in this wonderful city. Meeting new friends and joining groups. I think we are going to like it here!
When I first came to Cork in 1991, it was the same for buying booze - completely separate (and very expensive in comparison!)
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