Simple Beginnings

Friends and family are swimming in Atlanta - literally. They wear shorts and t-shirts, picnic at Piedmont Park, and have pizza parties outside under the trees to celebrate the end of the school year.

Here in Bensheim, however, it's 50 degrees and raining (again). Tina and I hope to climb the Kirchberg this evening, and I expect we will press on regardless of the weather. A true-ism about Germans -- weather? what weather? -- come rain, come shine, come blizzard, come high winds and storms...we walk! It's actually quite nice.

When you are in relationship with a German person for several years, have traveled to her home country a few times, immersed yourself in a German family life, and have learned the language with devotion, you might be tempted to think that you have a  pretty good grasp on German culture. Enter Bensheim. Wow. Ich bin ein Kind hier! So as a child, I have broken down my initial observations in simple form: the important B's.

BIKES -- We are not in Amsterdam, but to a car-obsessed American we might as well be. Why drive when you can bike? And you must have gear: a seriously fortified bike lock, a second lock contraption on the wheel, a basket or rack for whatever you tote, a bell, and for various necessities such as a wet seat (see above), you have bags. That brings me to...

BAGS -- Plastic bags, canvas bags, camping bags, backpacks, school bags, hand bags, lunch bags, bread bags, bags for your shoes, bags for your fruit and vegetables, bags for your bags. Need I say more?

BREAD -- The French have nothing on the Germans in this category. German bread is dense and has gravitas. It's fresh, natural, and prolifically available.

BABIES & BUGGIES -- In 2012, Germany had the second lowest birth rate in Europe. So when babies are born here, it's a BIG deal. Amongst other things, what follows are generous family leave policies, a preponderance of wooden handmade toys and organic baby food, and the opportunity to travel in style in a top of the line baby buggy.

BANKS -- Everything is online here, but that doesn't mean one can just get an account. In common German fashion, one must show this and that document, stand in this and that line, and pace through this and that step in order to be verifiable. 

As I learn, Germans are highly procedural but not legalistic. And once it's done, it's simple and fantastic. It's true for the immigration system, for education, for registering as a citizen, for daily life. The United States seems quite the opposite: highly legalistic (you are in, you are out, this is okay, that is not okay, do this, don't do that, be this, don't be that, etc.) but not highly procedural.

Today I met Sophia, who is from Finland. Her husband is Egyptian. They have two children, and have lived in Germany for 13 years. Tomorrow morning I will go to Sophia's German class at the Casalenguas to see if it's a good fit for me.

Outside of the Sprachschule building, I asked her why they chose to live here. She said that her father is German, and she wanted to be close to him in Bensheim. Will she ever go back to Finland? I asked. "No," she said. "My work is here. My children and husband are here. Their school is here. Our home is here. Your life is where your family is."

I am thankful to be more fully in my life now. So glad we are together, and eagerly look forward to Gavin's arrival soon.