Things That Really Threw Me Off in Germany
I've lived in a foreign country about three times now, so I should get used to the fact that each country is completely different, right? Not sure if it's the language barrier, but Germany is the country that makes me do a double take most frequently.
I have Korean tastebuds, which means I enjoy fiery, spicy things. But I used to live in London as well, and love the flavour of gravy, yorkshire puddings, and chips with malt vinegar. So I thought adjusting in Germany would be a piece of cake. Little did I know, the flavours are quite different. Obviously, I can't cook German food myself, let alone choose what wurst tastes nice... So automatically, I didn't (and still don't) know where I'd go to get great German food.
My goal here in Munich was to save money. So I ventured through the grocery stores to find ingredients I know how to cook. As I was starting to gain weight with fried food, I decided to make delicious salads that would convince myself that it's okay to not eat KFC. And this is where my list starts.
1. THEY SELL KALE IN A FREEZER
And not only that, IN A FRIGGIN BOX. Size is very small, the it kinda fits in my palm. For fellow Canadians, it is smaller than a 10 Timbit box. Apparently they sell it at Viktualienmarkt in Marienplatz, and thank god I live near it, but what about the people that don't?!
2. They do the same with butternut squash. They chop 'em up and store them in the freezer.
3. They rent out flats with no kitchens installed.
So one of my friends told me this when I first moved here. They warned me to look closely at the "miscellaneous" fees that come with the flat when renting. Either the previous tenant charges you 3000 Euros so that you'll have a kitchen they built, or you come into a flat with no sink/oven/microwave. yeah. you'll need to start the fire on your own.
4. Subway tickets are rarely checked.
But don't be fooled! You might think "oh I don't need to buy it" and get on the train, and once the doors close, a stranger next to you will demand you show a valid ticket. Once you get caught, it gets recorded and you owe them 60 Euros. 3 strikes and you're completely banned from the U-Bahn and S-Bahn system.
5. There is a 19% tax at restaurants and cafes.
My first meal here was at an Italian restaurant that seemed to be flooded with people. With great excitement, I ordered my food. The taste was revolting, and service was even worse. That evening I promised myself that I'll cook more often to avoid such horrible tasting food and a 19% tax included on activities that are categorized as "leisure".
I hope to find things that will make me do a double take because it's SO amazing. Only time will tell... I wonder if others found the same things difficult to understand!
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