Peanut Butter

I came here with the understanding that some things would be different. It is interesting, though, the things that actually are and the things I thought would be.

Things that are the same:
1. Teenagers. Actually, pre-teens. They're still loud, still take up the most space on the sidewalk, and still don't care if you're trying to get by.

Things that are similar, and you can find if you look:
1. Non-carbonated bottled water. You have to ask for it, and when you translate the word for 'no bubbles', it ends up as 'without gas'. So nice servers who try to speak in English end up asking you if you want 'water without gas.' It's pretty funny when you hear it for the first time.
2. Peanut Butter, though it comes in a small container. Mine has an American Flag on it and the statue of liberty. Apparently, peanut butter is an American thing.
3. A top sheet. They sell them, but most people just use a duvet and a bottom sheet.

Things that you can't find anywhere:
1. Free refills. You pay 3.50 for a soda, and that's all you get until you order another one.
2. Barbecue sauce. They sell 'American BBQ Ketchup', which is not the same.

Also, something that is incredibly different is the way you tip at restaurants. Service is included, but that only means that servers are paid 6.50 per hour rather than 2.50 plus tips (like they are in the states). When you get your bill, you tell the waitress how much you want to give. You usually round up to the closest even number, but if you think you've gotten excellent service, you give more. This is something foreigners everywhere should know about Germany, because it sucks to wait on a table of rowdy teenagers from Italy who then leave you no tip at the end.