June 23rd, 2009
Earlier this month there was heated discussion on defining the difference between a “German” vs. “German national” on the German Way Forum. This debate hits close to home as my husband and I have lived seemingly parallel lives as second-generation Koreans. The difference being that I was born and raised in the U.S. and he in Germany. More than geographic though, the greater difference is that I grew up in a culture where I was eventually encouraged to embrace my American identity as both an American citizen and an ethnic Korean while he remained a Korean citizen till he was in his late 20s and considered himself Korean rather than German for a long time. While he has since resolved his internal debate, it’s the external one that continues to ensue.
Debates relating to the German vs. German national difference abound as we have seen in the Forum discussion. To name a few more which I have witnessed while living in Germany: I was astounded to learn that a good friend of mine here, who was born and raised in southern Germany to Croatian parents, chooses to have a Croatian passport rather than a German one. (more…)
Categories: Expat issues, History and culture |
Tags: ethnic identity, immigration, Korean German, multiculturalism in Germany, race | No Comments
June 15th, 2009
The big day had come. We were nervous. My wife was busy cleaning. The house was spotless, which is certainly not normal for us. Cleaning was something that we both hate doing. We had all the windows open to air out the place, even though it was only about 60 degrees (Fahrenheit) outside.
Frau X was sitting at our kitchen table. She was wearing a black sweater and faux pearl necklace to go along with her black rimmed glasses. Her perfume wafted through the kitchen. A big folder of papers sat in front of her, not unlike that big book that often sits in front of a preacher during a sermon. Our file was in that stack somewhere.
(more…)
Categories: Daily life, Expat issues, Miscellaneous |
Tags: coffee, dogs, Geoff, pet adoption, pets | No Comments
June 8th, 2009
The traditional Baedeker guidebook, like this
1911 English-language edition, sports a red
hardcover with a golden embossed title.
In both German and English, the term “Baedeker” (BAY-day-ker) is synonymous with “travel guidebook” (Reiseführer). Although the German Karl Baedeker (1801-1859) did not invent the travel guidebook, he certainly perfected it. After publishing his first travel guide (Rheinreise/Journey along the Rhine) in 1838, Baedeker went on to refine his product by being meticulous about the facts and information he included (with carefully detailed maps), and inventing the “star” ranking system for outstanding attractions (1846). The German word Erbsenzähler (bean counter, nitpicker) is said to have originated with his method of counting the exact number of stair steps in a cathedral tower by leaving a dried pea on every 20th stair as he went up, and collecting/counting them on his way back down.
Kings and governments may err, but never Mr. Baedeker.
- A.P. Herbert, in his 1929 English libretto for J. Offenbach’s operetta La Vie Parisienne (1)
The red Baedeker books (2) are still published today, and still have a reputation for sober factualness and lack of embellishment, especially compared to most contemporary travel books. And it is the Baedeker and other tourist guides that bring us to my main topic: German Reiselust (love of travel). (more…)
Categories: Daily life, Expat issues, Work and employment matters |
Tags: Baedeker, Erbsenzähler, Fernweh, Germany, Hyde, paid vacation, Reiseführer, Reiselust, travel, vacation days, Wanderlust | No Comments
June 1st, 2009
Today is another public holiday here in Germany, Pentecost Monday, or Whitsuntide. May and June are good months for public holidays, what with May Day, Ascension Day, and Pentecost. Unlike public holidays in the US, where sometimes it seems that only the post office and bank are closed, in Germany pretty much everything is closed, just as it is on Sundays. There is usually one bakery in smaller towns that is open for 8-11 so no one is without their fresh bread, but other than that, you better break out your bicycle or go for a walk like everyone else if you don’t want to be cooped up in the house all day.
All of these days off is another one of those benefits of living here. Only a few months of the year have NO holidays whatsoever. December and January are packed with them, what with Christmas and Boxing Day and New Year’s and the one I like to call “We Three Kings” (January 6). February has none, March or April have Easter, which of course also includes Easter Monday and Good Friday (again in contrast to the US, where there is no such thing as Easter Monday). The list below is for the state of Baden-Württemberg, which, with 13, has more public holidays than some of the other states. Nordrhein-Westphalia, for example, only has nine. (more…)
Categories: Expat issues, History and culture, Tips, advice, suggestions, Work and employment matters |
Tags: 3, church and state, church holidays, gesetzliche feiertage, pentecost, religion and schools, Sarah | No Comments
