Out there and back again

I wanted to start this on the very first day of my return, but this is already part of the experience: The first days of my return to the "old world" (Germany) I spent totally "incommunicado": internet: 10 working days, iPhone: 10 working days, telephone, comes with internet: 10 working days. Laptop at work needs a static IP address- Sysadmin in vacations, IP distributed from central services at hospital (where I work, kind of):guess.......??? ;-)))) I smell conspiracy! No I am exaggerating of course: so far it was only since tuesday (=4 working days ) and my iPhone should have arrived today (or latest tomorrow), but stupid me had it sent to work, nobody there on saturday, so I will hopefully get it on monday....

But listen, before you open the box to put this in. NOT everything is better over there across the pond. This is just a public diary to record some unique experiences: coming back after 9 years in California. I really hope I can keep this up and have the time to keep this blog going.

Two things first: I forgot we can have a hot summer in Germany. 

Which is great! No more "retirement climate" like in SoCal. Currently I am sitting in my new favorite place, a little milkbar with wonderful smoothies and free Wireless (or W/LAN *pronounced: wehlan* as they say here). it didn't exist when I left 9 years ago, so how could I know the word?? Initially I always said "Schnurlos" which is a bit of a  childish literal translation of "wireless"into German... I still think its MUCH cuter than W/LAN which sounds absolutely "1982 MS-DOS"- geekish (in the very worst sense, believe me I'm quite a geek myself). OK now I'm back, in a REAL city again, which feels GREAT!!! But of course I miss a lot of things and today walking back from the bank (Haspa), thinking things over, I realize for the first time (!) that I am thinking in english (BOAH).... well 9 years ARE a long time. But when did that happen? I do not have a conscious memory of officially swapping language. Strange that I only find out after coming back and that it takes a German-speaking environment to realize that change in my head, you would thing I am thinking all the time and should know which language I use for the process???

Obviously NOT... Hm.

Another little observation: in the streets, Germans don't look into each others eyes when passing by on the sidewalk. What is a good, rational behavior in US-east-coast inner city areas (you might get beaten up.), here it is a national trait. Back in San Diego, I used to look at people even without knowing them and sometimes even smile, like a short "hello, how are you?" without words and less effort. 90% of the time I would get the same thing back. Americans are a friendly, open people who meet the stranger with a certain amount of trust. germans are not like that. Not that they are unfriendly. At my new job I met the friendliest most wonderful colleagues one could imagine!!!

I also found out that "ALDI" might be the owner of Trader Joe's in California, but the items they sell are far from the quality of TJ's (TJ's markets more "upscale Euro-centric" But heck, this IS Europe!!) Hey, its not bad I just miss some of the wonderful items they have there and that are missing here