The New Normal

30 Reasons you know you're an American Family Living in Germany

Recently, one of my American friends posted this list on her Blog.  As I was reading through her Blog entry, I found that just about every one of these examples applied to our family besides the examples typed in blue due to our family living here as Expats and not US Military.  It is CRAZY how true these examples are!!  Funny stuff.

1. Ausfahrt isn't funny anymore, and roundabouts are second nature.

2. You no longer mind the person behind or next to you only giving you half an inch of space.

3. Two hours for dinner is "fast food".

4. You judge mustard by how well it opens your sinuses.

5. Jumping across the border to get away for the day is no big deal.

6. You reach for the Jägermeister instead of Pepto Bismol.

7. You think family pictures taken at a castle are "so cliche."

8. You forgot how to use round doorknobs.

9. You forget how to flush a toilet that doesn't have a push button.

10. 100 MPH seems like you're driving really, really slow.

11. You no longer think it is strange that beer and water are the same price.

12. Even at home you don't put ice in your drinks. 

13. You never go shopping off base without a shopping bag or VAT form.

14. You NEVER shop on payday or the day before a German holiday.

15. You never leave home without your keys, ID card, and license.

16. You think anything with chocolate sounds like a good breakfast.

17. You answer the phone "Hallo" instead of Hello.

18. You need a power drill and sledgehammer to hang a picture on the wall.

19. You rig your lawnmower and vacuum cleaner to give you an electrical shock if you try to operate them on Sundays.

20. You no longer even want ketchup for your French Fries.

21. Christmas is incomplete without Gluhwein at a castle.

22. You sing "Tschüss" instead of say Good Bye.

23. Your children no longer say please or thank you ... it is bitte and danke.

24. You wonder how you ever lived without Rouladens.

25. You wear a scarf every singe day .... even in the summer.

26. You plan your route around ESSO locations.

27. You believe AFN is quality programming.

28. You own shoes just for walking .... and know you will walk everywhere.

29. You no longer need google translate at the grocery store and last but but not least ....

30. You have said out loud at least once .... Damn Americans!!!