My parents are visiting us in Berlin for their…sixth time? We are lucky that they have visited so many times and come to (grudgingly) love our city and our place in it.

But even after all of these visits, there are still things that throw them off. There are still things that we think are weird! And it is interesting to hear what strikes them as odd. Here are some top observations on Germany from frequent visitors.

Grandparents arrive in Tegel Airport Photo: Erin Porter

Animals in Germany

My parents are bird watchers. I could care less. So I never noticed that the crows (Krähe) are different here. Apparently they are “hooded crows” (also known as Scotch or Danish crow), have gray shoulders, and are bigger than the crows we are see in the Seattle area.

The squirrels (Eichhörnchen) are also different. Orangey-red, petite, and with pointy hair around their ears. Berlin’s many parks are the perfect place to observe their antics.

The last animal observation is about German dogs (Hund). They’re everywhere, and may be muzzled. This is partly because of the prevalence of canines and German liability, and there are also laws about breeds that require a muzzle and some restricted dog breeds that are not allowed in the country. My mom was amused there was even a lhasa apso with a muzzle.

One of the only places dogs aren’t is the…

Grocery Stores in Germany

I’ve written extensively about grocery shopping in Germany – including  a complete how-to. I find this daily activity abroad endlessly fascinating. So it is enlightening to get my parents fresh take each visit.

First up, my mom often marvels that grocery carts have wheels that allow them to go every direction. A marvel! Also, the coin deposit required to use a shopping cart, and subsequent return of all unused carts, is always a appreciated as a particularly efficient system. This is a rare instance of Germans living up to their reputation.

Moving on to the actual groceries, we stopped again at the colored Easter eggs. In November. Here, I have no answers. Why would you want pre-colored eggs, year-round? Who is buying these?!

Colored Eggs in Germany Photo: Erin Porter

They also noted everything comes in such small amounts. You can get flour, sugar, etc. in cute 1 lb bags where the minimum in the States is 5 lbs. This is probably because most Germans, like us, are responsible for carrying  groceries home without the help of a car.

Housing in Germany

I can hear my parents coming as they trip over the ridges at every doorway. Apparently, I have gotten used to stepping over them in our funny Altbau apartment. That and the creaky wood floors, and the ancient double windows, and the windows that vent at the top as well as open wide.

On the outside, they both cringe and ohhh! at the house colors. A garish orange has found its way onto many noble homes, while soft blues and greens provide an elegant exterior. There are much less earth tones than in the States.

Driving in Germany

We rented a car and they immediately noticed one on my husband’s pet annoyances. Why no yellow center line? In a country with exceptionally well-marked roads, it seemed bizarre that a simple white line divides the two directions.

My mom also white-knuckled it as we drove down smaller lanes. Lucky she hasn’t driven in Germany’s older cities, or Italy.

Children in Germany

For an American parent, danger can appear everywhere in Germany. We went out to Karl’s Erdbeerhof – a children’s playland – and we said “You would never see this in the USA” all day.

The playgrounds had exposed cords to trip over, there were thorny bushes dangling over the benches, and a giant inflatable yellow bounce thing which our daughter climbed high into the air. I was thrilled by her daring as my parents merely held their breath.

Danger! Photo: Erin Porter

People in Germany

My mom will never get over the lack of smiles on the street. And the black and grey clothes. And the complete inability to say “excuse me” (entschuldigung) versus pushing past someone.

She’s not wrong. They are all of those things. But either I no longer notice or no longer care.

Berliners really are nicer than they seem.  They may not say hello on the street, but the country’s determination to care for one another at a national level is much more important to me. That’s caring that counts.

Noting all these little differences is an interesting check-in on our assimilation, 8-odd years in. We’ll never be fully German, but we’re not fully American anymore either. We’re something in-between. And that’s not a bad place to be.