Happy second day of spring, my friends!
Can you believe that the first season of the year has already come to a close?
While I'm sad to see the chilly months of winter go, I must admit that March has already been far more exciting and fun than February ever could have been. I haven't been sick once this month (Yay!), and our weekends have been filled to the brim with new and exciting experiences.
One of the more interesting things I have had the opportunity to do this month was read and review Germany For Beginners, a book written by expat bloggers that is complete with blog entries written on various topics important to expats living in or considering living in German-speaking countries. Of course, even if you aren't considering becoming an expat, Germany For Beginners is rich in the intimate details of the German culture which makes Germany both more and less familiar to Germany visiting travelers.
Despite the fact that my husband and I have gone on multiple trips to visit with German citizens whom we consider friends, Germany For Beginners still had a lot to teach us. Here are a few things that we didn't know:
• Wait at least 30 minutes if you accidentally hit another car in a parking lot or you can get heavily fined.
• Tithing goes through the government and is dispersed equally among churches.
• Your college path (or not) is decided in elementary school.
• German dogs must be trained. (It's as important as providing food for them!)
• You can irk a German just by opening a window on the train! ;) #ThingsToTry
• And no matter what, never ever ever go to a sauna in Germany. (Personal life lesson.)
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and was disappointed when I got to the end. Germany For Beginners doesn't flow, is far from concise, and feels a bit clumsy in structure, but it provides lots of useful information for Germany enthusiasts. I had fun comparing my knowledge of the culture to what was shared in the book.
Germany For Beginners is a great book for those interested in learning more about the German culture (albeit from the eyes of an expat observer), and for potential (or current) expats trying to make their way through the very unique life change that is moving to Germany.
While the book is not yet available for purchase, keep an eye out for it to become available later this year here. You can also check out the German-Way blog here to learn more about the authors and familiarize yourself with other topics regarding expat life in Germany.
So… what are your thoughts? Are you ready for spring? Are you intrigued about cultures different from your own? Do you think a book written by and for expats can be just as useful (in a different way) for travelers to foreign countries?
Thanks for visiting my blog, and to answer your question, no, we didn't get any olive oil because we didn't see any for sale there (wonder if they just sell it commercially).
ReplyDeleteGermany for Beginners sounds like a great basic book for those visiting. I like how the dogs have to be trained; could overt dog attacks and possible dog bites I think!
betty
Hmm. That's sad that they don't sell the olive oil they make on property. You'd think they could make a lot of money doing that. Who wouldn't consider buying some?
DeleteAnyway, Germany For Beginners is an awesome book. I'm not sure the focus is toward visitors, probably more for expats or people weirdly interested in the culture. It would be nice if dogs had to be trained in the states. I think you are right that dog attacks would happen less if more people would train their dogs.