Love Hate Relationship

Things I love about Germany:

1. They speak German

I had moments during our Laval BBQ (where somehow I ended up being the only non german speaker there…not planned that way, I swear) where I was delighted to hear, for the first time, my friends speaking their first language. To see the difference in how they spoke, and especially how much, was quite fun. Sometimes I joked with Valerie (quebecoise who speaks very very good german) that sometimes I couldn’t believe that german was actually another language. It was almost surreal that they could just talk. Awe and amazement I tell you.

2. They drink A LOT of beer

I kid you not. You might think that beer drinking is a stereotype, but oh no, they actually do drink it throughout the day. They drink it at beergardens (that open at 10AM), at local breweries or on terraces to watch their famous fussball, or even for breakfast with weisswurst (white sausage) and pretzels. I myself had this famed breakfast, and I attest to the fact that it was quite delicious. In Bavaria, do as the Bavarians do; drink beer, not water.

3. Fussball

Perhaps I am just staying with a stereotypical Bavarian who loves beer and fussball (he plays at least 3 times a week), but I think he is the norm, and not the exception. Right now the pressure is on- who will win the championship. All 18 teams will play at the same time next Saturday, and only then will they know who has won (their championship is cumulative and they do not have playoff’s like we do)

4. Englischegartens

It is one of the biggest parks in Europe, and I believe it spans 12km by 2km… It is outstanding.

5. Amazing transit system!


Although you can virtually get anywhere on the S bahn, the U bahn, the bus or the tram, you are gorged for your buck (or euro in this case). Although to be fair, Vancouver is almost the equivalent, but with far less options…


Things I dislike about Germany:

1. There are no vegetables and potatoes don’t count!

I think that the diet in Bavaria consists of lots of meat, lots of potatoes, and perhaps a little bit of cabbage on the side. Yesterday I had a salad and it was amazing. I don’t think salad has ever tasted so good.

2. Expensive expensive alcohol

All I ever hear about germany (and Europe) is the cheap alcohol. But what they fail to mention is that yes, you can get cheap beer, wine and hard alcohol in the store, but once you enter a bar, you pay A LOT! Of course, it hurts especially when I convert it to Canadian dollars.

3. Leading me to my final point: the euro

I have officially stopped translating what I spend into Canadian because otherwise, this would merely be a downward, spiralling slope into a dark abyss. Ok. Perhaps that was a little melodramatic but the euro does not make me feel warm and fuzzy inside…