Hallo alle! Wie geht’s? As I mentioned in last week’s blog post, I’ve recently received new responsibilities and projects in the office! This past week went by much quicker, as I’ve stayed busy researching the intersectionality of queerness and classism and made an Instagram post on Canva explaining the history and significance of the lesbian flag. I’ll be making such posts every Monday of Pride Season. So far, I’m proud of all my work.
This past Saturday, my roommate and I traveled to Hamburg. We unfortunately had to wake up at about 6 am, as the journey was about four and a half hours… When we arrived, we first ate döner for lunch, as you do in Germany. We got caught in some torrential downpour, but we were able to wait it out inside the restaurant. Afterwards, we visited a vintage clothing shop called Vintage and Rags, which was so magical! Surprisingly, they had a lot of American college merch (I overheard a few British teenagers commenting on how cool it was!). We even found a Steelers jersey, which was heartwarming. I recommend checking this place out to anyone who is thinking of traveling to Hamburg for a day or two. I rate their meticulously curated selection a solid 10/10!
After our brief shopping excursion, we went to the Museum of Illusions, which definitely gave me a minor headache. My favorite illusion was playing poker with myself, which I’m including a picture of! I had never been to an illusion museum before, and I can say it lived up to the hype. It was a bit small and pretty crowded that day, so we did occasionally have to wait for our turn to experience a specific attraction. Overall, I’d also recommend checking this place out.
Regarding the prompt for this week’s post, I can’t say I’ve necessarily had a hard time adapting to the German general/workplace culture. However, one thing I am not fond of is the German Stare™. This is my third time traveling to Germany, and I am still not used to it! Being stared at is an uncomfortable feeling, even more so when it’s unbroken and prolonged. It happens most often on public transportation. Unfortunately, I had a scary encounter last week on the S-Bahn. I noticed in my peripheral vision that a man was staring at me. I thought this was a typical German Stare, I tried my best ignoring him, but he took it upon himself to follow me to my next stop and tried asking me a few questions. I was a bit shaken up, and I remained especially vigilant for the rest of the day.
I also can’t say that I’m a fan of people’s general unfriendliness. This isn’t to say that Germans are mean, but nobody takes it upon themselves to be friendly. People mind their business and don’t interact with others unnecessarily. However, I am aware that American-niceties are typically very shallow and fake, but I suppose it’s simply what I’m used to. I still give strangers smiles on the street or insist others go into the elevator before me. I’m also a big fan of giving strangers compliments on their outfits or hair, which I haven’t been able to do here. It would be a bit odd and could make people uncomfortable. I miss being overly friendly!
In the workplace, I haven’t had any trouble adapting. I do appreciate my coworkers being genuinely interested in what I’ve done over the weekend or what I plan on doing with my friends. Throughout the day, my coworkers will chat to one another from across their desks while doing work. Sometimes I find this a bit frustrating, but it doesn’t prohibit me from staying productive. Workplace attire is also very casual. Nobody makes an effort to wear traditional business-casual clothing, and shows up wearing what they typically would for the day. If anything, I usually appear a bit too dressed up!
I’ve also been enjoying my boss/coworker’s emphasis on the importance of a lunch break. My lunch break is usually about an hour long, and it’s quite enjoyable. I sit outside in the office’s garden, which is straight out of a movie! Furthermore, I can take my lunch break whenever I see fit. I usually get a bit hungry around noon, which is only about two hours into work for me. But, I could have my break even earlier if I so desired. It’s a very relaxed environment regarding personal break time.
That’s all from me for this week. Tschüßi und bis bald!