It’s the “Little Things,” Part 1 August 17, 2010

When one moves abroad, there are a lot of adjustments to be made. You leave behind friends and family, for example, and have to accept that you’ll only be able to see them occasionally. You change jobs or become a student, and adjust to these new circumstances. And there are usually language challenges that affect daily life, too. The list goes on and on. There were a lot of things that took some getting used to back in Scotland. Some differences I grew to love, while others drove me bonkers up until the day I left (the totally unpractical, split hot & cold water taps, for example…that’s right, taps – I’m referring to you and your evil ways of burning me with scalding hot water!)

I cope with the big stuff pretty well. It’s actually the “little things” that make me sort of crazy when I move to a new country.

So I thought it might be fun to share my list of the top three things in Germany that are currently driving me bonkers with frustration. I’ll share number three today, then number two in the next entry and finally, number one. At some point, I’ll do a list of the top things I’m loving about Germany, too, but let’s first pick on Deutschland a bit

No. 3: Drugstores without Drugs

Shopping in Germany is a very different experience from shopping in the US. There are things I like about the experience in both countries. In the US, we tend to have superstores where one can get just about everything in one stop. This is very convenient. I also really enjoy the experience of browsing around a Super Target, for example, and having a look at everything from the electronics to the pajamas to the food. In Germany, there are some superstores, but they’re not nearly as big or as well-stocked with goods as ones in the US. There’s a Toom, for example, within driving distance that is a little like a Wal-Mart, but is mostly a big grocery store with only some clothes, electronics and appliances. What I like about the German system (and this probably outweighs my own selfish indulgence of appreciating the convenience of a superstore) is that it means smaller, local businesses actually have a shot at survival. Most people in Germany go to different stores for the different products they need, and this gives everyone at a chance at having a business rather than making a ginormous company like Wal-Mart or Target even wealthier and more powerful. Family run local businesses are in serious danger in most cities and towns in the US, and I think that’s pretty sad. But I’ll also be the first to admit I do enjoy shopping at a Super Target when given the opportunity. I’d like to believe that the two can co-exist and both thrive, but that’s probably naïve on my part.

Anyway, I’ve gotten way off track from my no. 3 frustration with Germany: Drugstores without Drugs. Here’s the thing: I’ve adjusted pretty well to doing my shopping in various stores rather than one superstore like back in the US (I was basically already living this way in Scotland). I don’t mind buying my tea from the tea shop, my sprouts and other organic goodies from the bio store, or my camera from the family run camera shop. But what gets me is that drugstores here sell everything that a CVS or Walgreens would sell back in the US, like hair products, snacks, toothpaste, toilet paper, vitamins, make-up, etc., but they don’t sell any actual drugs. You won’t find any aspirin, ibuprofen or cold medication in a German drugstore. Where will you find these items? In an Apotheke, or pharmacy.

A typical German Apotheke

So add yet another stop into yet another shop to your shopping trip. But that’s not what really annoys me. What really annoys is the price you pay for products in a pharmacy. The Mr. warned me about this when we first arrived in Germany. We were out walking around, and I really needed an aspirin but didn’t have any on me. I asked the Mr. if we could pop in somewhere and buy some. He explained what I’ve just explained above; that we would have to go to an Apotheke to get it because a drugstore wouldn’t sell it. He warned me that it would probably be expensive, too. Back in the UK, I think I paid about 60p, or less than a dollar for a packet of basic aspirin. We went into the Apotheke and I can’t remember the exact price, but I think it was around 5 euros for a packet of basic aspirin. My jaw dropped and we walked out. When I was back in the US in June/July, I bought huge bottles (100+ pills) of aspirin, ibuprofen and Tylenol (paracetamol). I’ve figured out a way to get around the Apotheke’s high prices, but I still find it annoying.

(As a side note, I stumbled onto this article and found it interesting as I think this author would probably argue that the Germans have actually done things the right way when it comes to where your drugs should be sold: http://trueslant.com/tinadupuy/2010/02/22/drug-stores-are-totally-unethical/) Not sure that she’d be happy with the high prices either, though….

Good to the Last Drop May 29, 2010

I’ve been back at my parents’ house for a few days now, and I have to admit I haven’t been terribly productive thus far on clearing out my things and preparing for the yard sale. I’ve just been having too much fun doing other stuff. The good news is that I purposefully made this visit to Indiana an extra-long one because I know me (and my tendency to procrastinate) pretty well. But honestly, I’ve been keeping pretty busy doing anything but work since I arrived in Indiana.

At my brother’s, there was a grueling schedule of baking, watching movies and playing games with my niece and nephew during our stay.  My parents and I also decided to visit nearby Conner Prairie one morning while my niece and nephew were attending school. An interactive history park, Conner Prairie recreates what life was like for Indiana settlers in the 19^th century and is established around the historic brick home of trader William Conner.

Is it just me, or is that guy wearing a sack on his head?

And those children are wearing very peculiar shoes for the time period....

When we visited, we had apparently chosen one of the busiest days of the year at the park for school group tours. There must have been at least 400 school kids, but thankfully there were also plenty of parent chaperones keeping the peace. Mostly. The weather was an absolutely perfect 72 degrees, with blue skies. Hard to believe it could get that nice that quickly since the previous day must have been in the 50s or lower 60s, but hey – that’s Indiana for you. (Now we’re in the upper 80s – shorts and tank top weather – for those of you not local).

Then yesterday my mom and I went to a friend’s house to help her with a luncheon she was hosting. In addition to getting to stuff my face with her tasty homemade chicken salad and lemon cheesecake, we played Mexican Train dominoes which I must say, is becoming a new addiction (I came in second after a mighty comeback!)

Choo Choo!

And today was my first big US shopping spree since being home. Well, okay, technically I had one in Whole Foods while I was staying at my brother’s house. Whole Foods is a grocery store, however, so I don’t think it counts as a shopping spree even though the receipt might indicate otherwise….Anywhoo, I spent about 4 hours in a super Target today and it was retail heaven.

The fluorescent lights cast a celestial glow

I think I must have spent a solid hour just in the card and wrapping paper aisles. It’s pathetic, but I have a real addiction to cute paper products. That was only the appetizer, however, before moving on to the main course of my shopping excursion: gift buying. It felt a little bit like Christmas today as there are so many people to buy for at the moment. In total, I had to buy gifts for a wedding, a baby shower, multiple birthdays and Father’s Day. That’s a heck of a lot of gift buying. But it was fun. At one point, I took a break and had a coffee at the Starbucks in Target (now that’s convenience!) before diving back in. I saw many, many things I would like to bring back with me to Germany, but forced myself to leave anything heavy or big on the shelf. It’s always a difficult choice between what I want (the cool driftwood-looking serving platter for only 35 bucks) and what’s practical (5 Oral B flosses for 97 cents each when they cost 2 euro-something a piece back in Germany). Usually practicality wins, but I do give in sometimes. Okay, more than just sometimes. But the problem is I still have so many things here in Indiana that I want to take back with me, and only so much luggage space.

Anyway, tomorrow I’ll head into Plainfield later in the afternoon to browse Barnes & Nobles (another one of my favorite US pastimes) and will then catch a movie with my mom. On Monday, I’m getting together with friends to celebrate a birthday; we’ll eat pancakes and play miniature golf. Well, this life of leisure can’t last forever, but I sure am enjoying it for now.