Expat to Expat Q & A August Questions

So each month Belinda from Found Love Now What and Bailie from The Hemborg Wife have been doing an Expat to Expat Q & A.  Sounds like fun, so I think I will join in on the August questions!

August Questions:

1. What is your favorite food store in your city and why?

Well, I live in a really small town in Germany.  There aren't too many stores here at all.  We have our grocery store and then a few local restaurants.  So I suppose I pick the local grocery store, called the Netto, which is pretty great for trying new foods.  I may not be able to read the instructions for making any of the food, but I guess that's half the fun right? No?

2. For your answer to number 1 is it ok to buy the store brand items or do you pay extra for a name brand?

First of all, I'm not even sure what the store brand name is called (or probably how to pronounce it) anyways, I just buy what looks good and is healthy (okay not always healthy).  I do think Americans would  be surprised to know that the store Aldi's is a German grocery store.  Yea, Aldi's, that store in the states that makes you bring your own bags and pay a quarter for a grocery cart.  That one.  Most Americans might be a little put off by that store and think the quality of food isn't good but truthfully, they have Aldi's all over Germany and the brands in Aldi's even stateside are from German companies.  So the food is great!  It might be weird to Americans, but all grocery stores in Germany make you bring your own bags and most make you put a quarter in the slot for a cart (way to be green!).  I did know this before I came to Germany, but a lot of people don't realize this.  Go out and try some of the German foods at Aldi's!

My little town

3. What do you think is the best way to get about your city? i.e. bus, bike, car, etc

You can't live in my area and not have a car.  I've personally had a car since I was 16 and all through college so I can't imagine not being able to get around on my own time.  Plus, I've experienced not having a car for a few months and it sucks.  I hate begging for rides!  If you want to do anything here you need a car.  But beware of German gas prices, oh my lord.  I'm not exaggerating.  It takes double the amount of money to fill your car in Germany.

4.. Which store do you turn to for basics like toilet paper or cleaning supplies?

Cleaning supplies?  Never heard of it.  Toilet paper is weirdly cheap at German groceries stores.  Which makes me think, why is toilet paper so expensive in the first place?

5. Where do you think is the best place in your city to get a cup of coffee (or beverage you prefer) and catch up with friends?

Coffee is definately different here in Germany.  My family came to visit and they kept complaining about how small and not strong the coffee was here.  Americans are used to supersized cups of coffee to get them through the long shi**y workdays.  Here, a cup of coffee can be sucked down in two seconds and my mother kept telling me this! There is surprisingly one coffee shop in my little town that I like to take my Frenchie to on walks because A) this coffee shop is weirdly open on Sundays which is an anomoly in Germany and B) most restaurants are Hunde (pooch) friendly. 

Plus these questions from Emma, at Adventures of a London Kiwi:

• What was your “eureka, I’m practically a native” moment?

Haha, I don't think I'll ever feel like a native here.  I mean, I get by, but it's pretty obvious to others that I don't speak German.  But I guess compared to other Americans in my community, I do feel like a native.  When another Americans asks me questions like "how do you travel so much?" and "omg you ate that?" or "you hang out with Germans?" then yea, I feel like a native.

• Does your real accent get in the way?

I'll have to refer to the previous question for that one and say, yes, my accent, my hair color, and the fact that I'm speaking English is a dead giveaway that I'm not German (though I have German ancestry).  Does it get in the way?  If I am speaking to a younger generation then, no, because younger Germans seem to love to practice English with Americans.  If I am speaking to an older generation then I might not get the same response, but I haven't found anyone in Germany (yet) that has been downright rude like some other countries I've been to.

Hope you enjoyed my honest (always) answers and link up as well if you'd like you participate.


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