Becoming a German - Jaywalking

German is famous for not jaywalking. I am becoming a German. I don't jaywalk and if I see someone doing it especially on busy road, I tell myself why you risk your life unnecessary..haha..

After living and driving for 7 years in Germany, I understand why jaywalking is dangerous. The road system is very different. Cars and pedestrians and cyclists have different traffic lights. Yes...3 sets of traffic lights for each direction! Even if the traffic light is green for cars, it doesn't mean you can go without watching out. The pedestrians and cyclists are also green and they have higher priority than the car. I know - very complicated. 

You see no car in sight and jaywalk. Suddenly a car or cyclist come from nowhere. Why risk it just to be a few seconds faster.

However, this does not apply in Malaysia or most part of Asia. I will be waiting for the cows to come home if I wait for the pedestrian lights to turn green.

Becoming a German --- Reading Labels

 I will start a series of becoming a German, how living here has changed me for better or worse. It will be interesting when I read this later...

Firstly, I read labels on almost everything. When I buy clothes, I always check for the material and in Germany, it is mandatory to have that label. I don't buy synthetic material as it attracts static. During my last trip home, I was in Isetan buying clothes. The fabric felt soft and I searched for the label. There was non on the material composition. I asked the sales lady and she said she didn't know. The German in me said how can you not know. Anyway I bought it and will find out soon if it is synthetic. 

I also read labels on frozen food on the preparation - how many degrees and how long. Previously I used my eyes. If the color looked right, then the food is ready. However, I do not have my eyes on the expiry date and nutrition labels. If it doesn't look spoil or rotten, then it is edible. Unfortunately Lucas and Chloe have hawk eyes on expiry date. They won't touch the food after expiry date even though the food looks perfectly good. To workaround it, I throw the packaging with expiry date and said the food is still good. 

I read manual instructions on most gadgets no matter how simple and small. To find out how to clean and how often, what does each button do. 

I take note of the measurement before buying. Buying chairs, tables, bags, shoes, household gadgets etc to make sure I don't get surprises.

Would you say this is change for the better?

Heatwave

 As published in the news worldwide, Europa is in a heatwave now. When the temperature is above 35C, it is considered 'extreme high'. On Thursday it was 35C and it just gets higher until 41C on Sat and 40C on Sunday. That's 4 consecutive days. It is rather rare for June. My German neighbours and Malaysian friends  commented that I should be able to handle the heat. The answer is not exactly. In Malaysia we don't walk more than necessary. It is usually from house to/fro car. All houses or buildings are air-conditioned. The exposure to heat is just for a very short time. In Germany, hardly any buildings are air-conditioned. I read only 6% of the houses in Germany have air-conditioned(AC). You will be surprised that most shops, clinics and public transports (yes, trains)  are not AC. The sure AC places will be supermarkets and shopping malls. My neighbour jokingly telling me she will be going the supermarket and walk every aisle for 2 hours. 

How do I keep myself cool? I hibernate at home. I have to keep the shutter down before the sun shines in. When the temperature outside is lower than inside, I will open the windows to let the cool air in. I am becoming a German. I do my 'Luftung' (airing). We being Asians, we naturally have fans. Few Germans own a fan. Germans go for a swim when it is hot. All the water surface is filled with people. Ice-creams and ice aisle in the supermarkets is often empty. 

You will wonder why not just get an AC. Well, the Germans think AC is a big polluter cause it emits hot air. Not many companies can install AC as it is a specialised machine. Electricity cost is very high too. Now with the longer hot days and it gets earlier and earlier, I think the mindset may slowly changed.

Should I get one for my room? Then Lucas and Chloe will surely want one for their rooms too. Then it will be too many and too expensive.

Private Space

 My children do sometimes host parties at home. They invite a few close friends over, cook a meal together, play some games or watch TV. I am definitely for this. I think it is great that they have a free (no entrance fee) and safe space to have fun, especially for Chloe. It is better than hanging out in public park late at night and drinking. Mind you, the legal drinking age in Germany is 16.  The friends also take turn to host. Usually it happens when the parents are not at home. You see, they want their private space without parents spying on them. I always say to Lucas and Chloe, as long as you clean up after, it is fine to have friends over.  They never disappoint. They cleaned up so well that I couldn't tell a group of young adults were just here earlier cooking, eating, drinking. 

Sometimes the parties happened when Dominic and I were at home. Since we have to be out of their way, we usually take the opportunity to eat out. But that doesn't take that long. Then we spent the remaining time in our room with our alcohol :)

Some parents have been saying their children are waiting for them to move out so that the children can have the space. I can relate to that.