Hayes Family Odyssey: December 2011

Well, I started something a while back about things I like and now this is the opposite end. I would rather not say I don't like these things - they are just different, and things I will have to get used to here.

1. The shopping carts - I wish I had a video of my first time attempting to use these carts. I cannot describe it to you well. The wheels roll in all directions, all the time. I literally pull and push this thing from the side. I have come very close to hitting an Audi, a Mercedes, and a Porsche - none of which would have been pleasant. Now, I just make sure it is not too full, and I have a good handle on it. German engineering isn't doing us any favors on this one!

The offensive cart!!

2. The laundry - My washing machine holds 5kg, my dryer 6kg. That is equivalent to 2 sheets for a double bed. Or one good handful of clothes. Or 2 thick large bath towels. That is right. For our family of 5. Although I should not complain. Our neighbor(who is German) has 5 children and no dryer (which is pretty common here in Germany - they use a lot of energy - which is EXPENSIVE!) Also, one load of wash takes close to 2 hours - to WASH. So, laundry is an all day, every day proposition. Especially with 2 playing soccer in the cold, wet, nasty, muddy weather.

3. The horn honking - Okay - I know I am from the South. And we don't honk our horns some times when we should (ie. to save a life, etc) To demonstrate this, once, at the light coming from Clemson House at the President's house intersection(the back way from our house) onto 93 I sat in a line of cars through 2 lights. I then got out (no horn was honked during this time AT ALL), walked to the front of the line, and helped the sweet little old lady up to the line she needed to drive to in order to trigger the light. We then all went on our merry way. Here, in Deutschland, I think honking the horn is taught in Driver's Ed or something. Even if you have absolutely no control over the traffic hold up, they will honk at you. Turning left into the school a couple days ago I was in a line of cars. I scooted as far over as was possible, but I was still blocking the cars behind me - for approximately 5 seconds. The man behind not only honked his horn at me(when I could do nothing and was at the mercy of traffic) - he communicated thru gesture as he was passing me. I waved and smiled back! And if you do not have your foot on the gas as soon as the light turns yellow (it turns yellow before it turns green or red), they will also help you along with a honk. I am adjusting, but at times it still feels really rude.

4. The prices - everything, and I mean everything, is more expensive here. Well, except for potatoes and carrots - they are not more expensive, they are cheaper. And flowers - they are much cheaper. But clothes, gas, food, restaurants are all significantly pricier, thus limiting our family of 5 from eating out very often. Even to eat out at a basic Italian restaurant will run us about 60 Euro ($80.36 today). The only places cheaper - Subway and McDonald's. And that runs us about 30 Euro ($40.18). And don't get me started on gas. 75 euros to fill up our little mini-van's tank on Diesel. ouch.

Yes - you read that right. Equivalent to about $6.70!!

5. My tiny kitchen - once again something I must adjust to - and I am getting there. But I have VERY little counter space, and basically can only have 1 person in the kitchen at a time to get things done. Which makes cleaning up after dinner together too difficult. We have had to adjust our chores accordingly, but we are figuring it out together!

Tiny kitchen in the morning. I have to use my stove top as counter space!

There were so many more things, but I cannot remember them right now and I said only 5 to start with - so there you go! Here are some pictures of various things/happenings: