It has been about a month and a half now since I have arrived in Germany, and it has been pretty incredible so far. For the most part, I have been adjusting better than I thought I would be living in a different country. However, like most international experiences, I have been hit by cultural confrontation from time to time. For example, the other day, I took the bus to town on a Sunday to work on my schoolwork at a Cafe. However, once I got there and ordered, I realized that there was no Wifi at the cafe. I stayed and worked on what I could, but I kept getting odd stares from others in the building. I ended up leaving after an hour and going back to campus to work on schoolwork. Since then, I have realized that it is not as common for cafes here to have Wifi or to have students working there on Sundays. For Germans, they like to take their time at Cafes and sit down to relax and enjoy a good meal. Restaurants and cafes are seen as a place to escape daily life. Sundays are especially seen as a day to take things slow and care for oneself. Since then, I have learned to like this aspect of German culture. I am reminded to let myself take a breath once in a while and enjoy my surroundings and daily moments of peace. I have also found a Cafe in town (with Wifi!) where many students go to work on schoolwork or just meet up with friends to talk. I am actually headed there today, and I am excited to potentially find a new spot in town. However, I plan to also enjoy my weekends, and I am excited to take a break and go to Oktoberfest for the first time this Sunday!
