Happenstance of Birth

I've never had any desire to go to Germany. Sure, I always wanted to go to France.....and England. And especially to Italy. But never to Germany. The stereotype that exsisted in my mind was of uptight, rule-oriented people. And there's the stain of World War Two and being responsible for the worst atrocities in the history of humanity. I think that's what really leaves a feeling of aversion towards Germany.

But since I've been here, I've only observed kindness and helpfulness....and never any snobbery towards someone who knows nothing. I actually feel sorry for the German people.....to have that stain, that permanent black mark of history to be living under always. It's just by happenstance of birth that anyone living here is actually here. Most of the people living in Germany now weren't around during WWII, or if they were, they were too young to be responsible.

The other day, Anna and I bought a "ride anywhere/anytime" pass for the tram....the Ubahn .....and rode all over the city. Just to see all parts of the city and to understand the public transportation. During that time, we witnessed a small set of kindness dramas that, I think, are important to note. A Muslim woman got on the tram with a stroller and a 4 year-old. A man got up from his seat so the Muslim mother could sit next to the stroller. The 4 year-old sat across the aisle until her mom asked her to move when an elderly lady got on and needed a place to sit. The elderly lady smiled and cooed at the groggy baby and smiled at his older sister. When the tram stopped and the Muslim woman and her family needed to get off, a different young man moved the elderly woman's wheeled-walker and then helped the woman get her stroller situated to go out the door.

None of these things is momentous, but in their own way show people helping each other when they need it. And with a graciousness that portrays an attitude of kindness and friendliness. I don't know what makes or allows people to participate in the kind of things that happened during WWII and I certainly think we need to be forever vigilant that it never happens again. But I think, for now, I'm going to try to get that piece of knowing about Germany out of my mind and concentrate on the goodness and beauty that's here now.

Oh how I Wish I Could Speak German!

I've taken many wonderful photos as you can well imagine. It's very beautiful. Everywhere I turn there's another picture. Twisty, turning streets, church steeples afar.

I really wish that I knew a least a smattering of German. I don't. And it seems way too hard to try....and I'll tell you why. It's a rule here that every word must have at least 4 syllables. There are only three words in the whole German language that are less than 3 syllables.....and they went to jail for it. I should learn those words, though. Of course, I exaggerate, of course.

I bought a box of tea the other day.....red bush tea! (I'm getting younger every day!) and there's a word on this tea....get ready now.....

"doppelkammerbeutel". Holy mackeral! My mouth can't even get around that when I'm looking at it.

But that's nothing. I saw this sign......

"Anderungsschneiderei".....yes, try to say that 5 times fast....or even once.

This was at a church......

"Stadtkirchengemeinde"......Ya, un-huh!

But this is the longest of all....well, so far....I'm on a hunt for the longest word out there, I'm sure it's there just waiting to trip up a poor foreigner's tongue.
This one is the 23! letter monster word, found just in a regular neighborhood, not even in a museum....

"Feuerwehraufstellflache"

So you see, what's the point of even trying. I think, actually, that there's a root word with adjectives and modifiers stuck on there. Where we might use 4 words, in German it's one long huge word.

I've included some photos of these words just to verify. I could send photos of beautiful sights, but oh well, another day.

Also, there's a photo of these kids at the tram stop. Oh man, they were cute! Imagine the little guy (in bulky snowsuit!) on the left end climbing face forward onto the seat with only 10" of space at the end of the bench, turning around and then un-sticking his leg out from under his other leg. Two minutes of concentrated effort. But he didn't fall. He did it. What persistance. He'll know all those German words in no time.....even the really big ones.