"Culture... Adjustment" Day 27 - Mainz Germany

I don't like the term culture shock, I think that for most people it's a cultural adjustment.

If it's a bad adjustment then it's culture shock.

Over these last few days 100 some volunteers have arrived. It's been a beautiful chaos as God continues to moves despite us. As I take these people on their jet lagged tours I get to see through there eyes what I saw only a month ago for my self. There really are a lot of different things worth mentioning about Germany, so I thought I'd take some time to talk about it.

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As I read the other Blogs of my amazing friends who God is using to do outrageous things right now like Andrew http://www.andrewinindo.blogspot.com/ and Jonathan (and Sarah) http://wellofbethlehem.blogspot.com/ I feel influenced to write deeper more reflective and informative blogs.

... but I'm way too tired.

Because at the end of the day I get on and read their blogs instead. Ha.
So instead of summoning thoughts deep from my heart I bring you... this. (In no special order)
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1.The German Shelf. This is a special one. Apparently some time ago there was a widespread sickness in Germany that was easily identified in the early stages by examining ones poo. This influenced the German toilet design. It's like an American toilet in every way except that a porcelain shelf is built in to hold your poo on display until you have examined it. Then when you flush it is hopefully swept away into a tiny hole. Moral of this story, Germans must like looking at their poo. This toilet is especially hard for us men because any attempt to stand and pee will result in a violent splatter. Thankfully a "do not stand and pee" sign is posted above the toilet as a reminder.

2. The signs. This brings me to another point. German signs are very graphic. Perhaps to help communicate in a multilingual world; most everything is drawn. This was most graphically displayed by the "no dog poop sign" (sorry it comes back to poo)

3. Beer. Drinking is as much a part of the German culture as you have heard, which was an unusual adjustment. It's very different to see a teenager drinking a beer in a public place.

4. Closed?!?! Many stores close at 8pm every night. Only restaurants, bars, and gas stations (maybe something else.) The same places are also closed all Sunday. I think I like this a lot. It's hard for an American to see such a thriving economy with so much leisure time, isn't relaxation a third world thing??? Taking Sunday to spend with your family is a beautiful thing, I don't care if I can't go shopping.

5. Small Cars. Here I thought my SUV was small...

6. Fast Cars. How do small cars go that fast? I love autobahn system. It relies on people being GOOD drivers instead of SLOW drivers for safety. If you're caught driving too close behind someone or weaving between lanes you will likely loose your license. BUT - you can drive fast, and in some areas as fast as you want. Statistics suggest that the German Autobahn is rather safe compared to the American highway.

7. The garbage system. I need to learn more about this. Germans claim to be hard core environmentalists. I have some theories as to why this is, but that's for another post. From what I hear they incinerate the waste they don't recycle... and I don't know how I feel about that. But they do recycle - a LOT. Oddly enough I've pretty much done the German trash system for the last two years at my house by recycling. The usual, glass, plastic, compost (Thanks Paul and Andrew) paper, aluminum. The one difference is that Germans separate and recycle "packaging" The trouble in America is that packaging is usually recyclable but it's impossible to separate because it contains plastic, paper, and aluminum. I.E. a juice box. So, I like this.

8. No Beef, but the pork and lamb makes up for it.

9. Festivals… at least in the town I’m in there are a lot of festivals for very little apparent reason. I love it. It’s summer, so let’s fill the streets with tents and eat brats and on the last night we’ll have fireworks! Then wait a week until the next festival.

10. Churches. I ran into a couple from the states and they asked what I was doing. When I told them I worked with a group that helped start new churches they laughed and with sarcasm said “I can see that there is a real need for more churches.”

They had a good point. There are a lot of churches, and they’re beautiful. More like museums than houses of worship they tower their historic peak high over the city. Every night at 6pm the bells brashly bellow out echoing the walls Mainz, they are impossible to ignore.

When we explain to Germans what we do their reaction is quite different. “Oh! Are you a cult?” For most Germans Christ and the church is a thing of history; a thing to be explained and gawked at, a thing to attract tourists and snap pictures of.

So there is a long post for you all… and hopefully it made you think and laugh! The list goes on and on, and I love it. Now… back to work.