Funny Differences That We've Been Getting Used To...

It's funny how some of the "little" things in life can be so different and really become "bigger" when you no longer do it the way you're used to!  Here are a few examples...

First off, the beds!
Do you notice something unusual?  It almost looks like it didn't get made, but in fact it is!!  In Germany, you have a fitted sheet, one very large and flat square pillow, and one comforter/blanket that is folded in half on top.  There are no sheets!!

 The bathroom doors don't lock.  They have a key hole, but we don't have access to the key! :)  That can get interesting...

 The light switches not only look funny, but are on the OUTSIDE of the doors!!

 The only advantage to this is that when I want to find out if someone is in the restroom, I just flip the switch.  If I hear a scream, that means I better wait. :)

The toilets also can be a little confusing and to a little guy like Sayer, a bit overwhelming.  The first day we were here, he came up to mommy saying "I just don't know what to do!".  So you may be wondering what the problem was.  Well, you'll notice the too buttons above the toilet?  The little one is for if you go pee and the big one is for if you go (yes, I'm going to say it...) poo poo.  I guess it's supposed to save on water that way by adjusting the flushes accordingly.  I hope this isn't to uncomfortable of a conversation :) 

 Now on to the trash...

When we assigned new "Germany" chores, one of the things I got was the trash.  It certainly is not as simple as it may seem!!  Over here, recycling is not an option, it is a rule.  If you don't do it right, they don't take your trash!!  You can imagine the adjusting one has to do!!  So you'll notice above the three containers.  From left to right: 1) What we've deemed "Garbage - Garbage" which includes anything yucky that you truly want to throw away (food scraps, diapers, dirty kleenexes, etc) 2) you have the compost, which thankfully is pretty much like what we do back home for our garden! 3) you have "Clean Garbage (recyclable)" which includes clean or washed items such as washed out milk jugs, clean (washed) paper plates, any clean napkins (minimal use) etc.  Glass doesn't go in any of the trash, you have to wash it out and take to a special location yourself.

Once you fill up a bag inside you take it to one of three dumpsters.  Blue is the clean paper, cardboard, etc (but NOT what you use the yellow bags for.  Those are separate, even though they're similar).  Black is for the "Garbage - Garbage".  Brown is the compostable. The yellow bags just sit by the curb.  Now this wouldn't be too bad if we weren't so good at filling up the "Garbage - Garbage", or if they picked it up more frequently (only once per month), or if you were allowed more than just what fits in the dumpster.  The other catch is that our dumpster is only the "two person" dumpster because they charge per person over here and the size for our family would be REALLY expensive!!!  Pick up days are confusing.  But when in doubt you can do what I do - Look out the window each night and if you see dumpsters by the road, just do as the neighbors do!! :)

This post didn't include talks about how German washing machines run for 1 and 1/2 hours or how our hot water tank is so small that it takes strategy if you want to get a hot shower - but I'll leave you to imagine that for yourselves!!  Also, originally we thought they drove on the wrong side of the road, but we were mistaken.  That is in England I guess.  But the driving sure is different!!  Some of the roads (actually most of them) are so narrow that driving gets interesting at times.  Mommy was saying the other day how we should figure out a way to hook a camera on the front of our van when we're driving to show to people back home!!  Another thing that we found interesting is that Germany has established "quiet hours" - meaning you can't mow your lawn, be noisy outside, etc.  They are from 1-3 every afternoon and all day on Sunday.  Its been interesting learning how other countries do things!