texans on the autobahn

The Top 10+ Things We Miss About Germany!

We have been back almost two months now, and it is inevitable that we start to think about the things we miss in a life that seemed much simpler in spite of the language barrier, especially for me. This list started out as a Top 10 list, but grew, so it is now the Top 10+ list! Enjoy!

Top 10 things we miss about Germany
1. Cooler temperatures. . .we have had 40+ days of 100 degree temperatures here in the Dallas area.
2. Bike rides with beautiful scenery. . . I can barely ride here because by 9 am it is already 92 degrees!
3. Biergartens. . .a new retail area is being developed here called the Croatian Village. . .I think Robin and I should open a German biergarten there! Any investors interested???
4. German pretzels. . . .the American version of the German pretzel is just wrong.
5. Obazda. … I have attempted to make this German cheese recipe once, but it was wrong. I’ll try again now that I have found a place to buy quark!
6. Crusty and crunchy bread. . .all American bread is way too soft!
7. German bier in a real German bier glass. . .give us a liter of bier anytime!
8. German alps. . .these little mole hills in our little town of McKinney are nothing to look at, but hard as heck to bike on!
9. German architecture. . .see above about development of Croatian village. . .that’s the closest we come to European architecture.
10. Road rules on the autobahn. . .people here drive way too fast in the wrong lanes. .. I’d love to have the same road rules here as in Germany!
11. Good friends. . .our houses are not close together like in Germany, and you don’t know your neighbors as well, therefore no “open door” policy!
12. Public transportation. . .it doesn’t exist in our town!
13. Small restaurants. . we have them, but you have to search them out, and they are still not quite the same as in Germany.
14. Walking or biking to our favorite restaurants. . .risking your like on the road isn’t my idea of a relaxing way to begin or end a night out.
15. Restaurant employees who don’t bother you while you are eating. . .I never paid much attention before, but the waiters and waitresses here really do interrupt you a lot when you are eating dinner! Just leave us alone!
16. Close proximity to many different countries. . we’ll be traveling by car soon for some of Sam’s soccer games. . .4 hours in the car and we will only be in Austin, Texas! 3 hours in the car in Germany and we can be in Austria or Italy!
17. German youth soccer and how inexpensive it is. . .you don’t want to know the amount of money we paid for Sam and Joe to play soccer here this year. . .and that doesn’t include the travel to San Diego and Orlando for Joe and places to be determined for Sam!

posted by stuckinthemiddle @ 5:52 PM