Category Archives: Culture
Getting lost the old-fashioned way
Points of the compass help in an American city, but how does a North American....
Sep
Emotional baggage – why I pack too much when I go home
I used to feel sheepish whenever I took too much baggage home on a trip....
2 Comments
Sep
Home sweet home – only better
I fantasize about taking my kids back to where I grew up to show them....
2 Comments
Aug
9 things you didn’t know about Chicago
Chicago was named by French fur traders who founded the city, which was destroyed by....
6 Comments
Jul
The French revolution you’ve never heard of – in your backyard
France’s national holiday is Bastille Day, July 14th, which sparked a revolution that sent shock....
3 Comments
Jul
Don’t look now, but there’s a shark at your feet
Everybody has their idea of a perfect vacation. I enjoy the ocean, but I don’t....
Jun
Munching my way to Munich, one chaotic airport at a time
There’s a lot to be said for approaching challenging situations with the right attitude, which....
3 Comments
Jun
The queen turned out to be a football
If all the Germans are rushing with glee to a public viewing, there's no need....
Jun
Are you sure that’s what that sign means?
A sign in a foreign country may look like a word you know. But looks....
2 Comments
May
The trillions of cicadas last seen by Thomas Jefferson
It’s been over 200 years since these two broods of cicadas hatched at the same....
4 Comments
May
Aren’t you glad you got the orange car after all?
One thing Germans hate is a dirty car. But there's no escaping the fine dust....
4 Comments
May
The strange cult status of white asparagus
If you are in Munich and see people jostling for a spot in line at....
2 Comments
Apr
Cozy? Let’s sabotage that by opening a window
Once you're comfy and cozy, a German is bound to open the window to air....
Apr
The Superbowl is super in Germany, too
Football may be America's favorite sport, but it's gaining ground fast in Germany, too. I....
7 Comments
Feb
Better than bread: The best excuse to fatten up
Germans are now confronting the fact that Christmas is over but winter is just getting....
2 Comments
Jan
Talk better—talk like a dog
We train dogs, but they have much to teach us. Babies are fluent in body....
2 Comments
Jan
Ring in the New Year and fire the firecrackers
The New Year means more than resolutions. All of Germany sets off firecrackers at midnight....
Dec
‘Twas the Night Before Weihnachten
On a trip to a Christmas market in Munich, I was inspired by The Night....
Dec
Christmas cookies: Good, better, German
I loved Christmas cookies growing up and thought they were pretty good, but have since....
Dec
What happened to Santa Claus?
Santa Claus, St. Nick, or the Christ child? The figure we associate with Christmas takes....
3 Comments
Dec
Hot wine and cold toes
Christmas markets are popping up on every corner in Germany, including the medieval town of....
Dec
The 37 Days of Christmas
Germans don’t celebrate Thanksgiving but they celebrate Christmas half the winter. Starting at the end....
Nov
If this is punctuality, my watch is broken
Germans have a reputation for being punctual, but trains are a different story. During a....
Nov
What happened to my pumpkin pie?
It's not a holiday without pumpkin pie, but what I bake is a far cry....
3 Comments
Nov
Celebrating St. Martin from the comfort of the couch
Americans celebrate fall with Halloween, but Germans have St. Martin. Children carry lit lanterns in....
2 Comments
Nov
No Halloween? No way. My sneaky and successful plot
Some Germans celebrate Halloween, but not all of them. I was determined to find a....
2 Comments
Oct
The nightmare of motherhood in Germany
School has started, a good moment to consider the burden on mothers with children in....
2 Comments
Oct
The library, the monk, and the sandals
This stunning Baroque library tucked away in a monastery in a Bavarian village is the....
2 Comments
Oct
Germans put the fun in fungi
My experience with mushrooms was confined to cans as a kid. In Germany, collecting them....
Oct
‘Tis the season of the Wiesn: The Oktoberfest for locals and tourists
What some probably don’t realize is that while the Oktoberfest is the biggest folk festival....
4 Comments
Oct
The tiniest stars of the Oktoberfest live in a drawer
The Oktoberfest is synonymous with beer for most people. Yet half of the fairgrounds consists....
2 Comments
Sep
Get those escargots out of my lawnmower
You know Fall has arrived when the leafblowers start blasting through the open window. But....
Sep
Protesting technology by battling bikes and coning cars
Munich had a run-in with e-bikes once a few years ago. They successfully battled the....
2 Comments
Sep
Not teaching foreign languages will make America more insular
Do you speak English? This question is often answered with “Yes” all around the world.....
4 Comments
Aug
What’s in a name? More than you think
People’s identities are tied up closely with their names. But even when you are careful....
2 Comments
Aug
Getting lost the old-fashioned way
Those of us who predate GPS know how to get around without using technology. Knowing....
4 Comments
Aug