Why does Lou Vega exist? Why am I taking off-brand German cold medicine? Where am I?
The number 6 thing I like about Germany is their precise and particular and perplexing language. It's true: Even though German grammar is so hard, and I'll never understand a sentence like Ich wasche mir die Haende mit guter Seife (literal translation: I wash myself/to me the hands with good soap. Real world translation: I am washing my hands) I keep trying because it's so hard that it becomes fun. Maybe this is how it feels to play chess or something. I also love the words because they are so literal. Let me illustrate with some words from advertisements in the latest issue of the German fashion magazine Brigiite: Protein is "Eiweiss" (egg white); oral contraceptives are "die antibabypille" (the anti-baby pill); vacuum cleaner is "Staubsauger" (dust sucker); mittens are "Handschue" (hand shoes); gums (from a toothpaste ad) are "Zahnfleisch" (tooth meat). But my favorite is one of the first German words I learned: "Nacktschneke." It means naked snail, in other words, a slug.
And while we're talking about tooth meat, I'll bring up number 5 which is the pretty rockin' German healthcare system. I'm not going to get all political on you, but I have to say going to the doctor for a sinus infection (sorry, that's gross) earlier this year was shocking for two reasons. 1: My doctor had a red 'fro and 2: The cost of the visit plus 18 Amoxicillian pills was only 20 Euros!!!! That's just plain unbelievable. The proof is in the pudding, or my clear sinus cavities.
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