How They Eat

I have been going almost every day to the enormous, modern cafeteria here at the Bundestag (German Parliament).  I have made a couple of observations about how most people here eat, compared to what you might expect back in the States:

1. Despite a sign advertising that all dishes are available zum mitnehmen (to go), I have not once seen anyone take food out of the cafeteria and back to their desks. Everyone sits down to eat. No surprise, this was not at all the case at my New York law firm cafeteria, nor (as I recall) when I interned in Congress. There are advantages each way, of course, but sitting and eating is definitely better for the environment.

2. Despite the availability of fountain sodas as well as bottled waters, juice drinks, etc., I would estimate that 3 out of every 4 diners do not drink anything at all with lunch. As I told a co-worker yesterday, in the States perhaps 9 out of every 10 people would have a drink on their tray. I found this especially interesting because my dad once told me that when he was a kid, the family would never drink anything with their meals (and therefore he still sometimes does not). His father came from Vienna, so maybe it’s an old European tradition. Although, when I asked my co-worker about it, he kind of shrugged it off and noted that the drinks in the cafeteria were relatively expensive.

3. The Germans eat fast. Not sure if I am just a slow eater these days or I just buy more to eat, but I am invariably the last person to be done at the table. I hate making the others wait so I always try to speed up, which I also hate.

4. Few people here seem to be watching their waists. The cafeteria offers a couple of healthy options–namely, a salad bad–but it is hardly touched compared with the four or five daily set plates, which are full of fat, salt and starch. (Typical daily plate: deep fried pork meatballs in gravy with fried potato balls and a heap of rich sauerkraut.) In the States, we love do-it-yourself or choose-your-own-adventure food stations (salad bar, sandwich bar, pasta bar), but here, people seem quite content with the pre-set daily specials, no matter how rich.

Top 10 German Names

My last post featuring my co-worker Hannelore reminded me that I wanted to write something about how crazy, old-fashioned and, one might argue, horrible many German names are. I don’t know what the 10 most common names are, but here is a list of 10 of the craziest/funniest/worst German names I have encountered.

10. Hannelore. Sounds like it comes out of a Harry Potter book.

9. Wolfgang. Incredibly common among men. I still find it scary and evocative of wolves every time I hear it.

8. Norbert. I really hope parents aren’t still naming their sons this.

7. Klaus. Scares and intimidates me, for some reason.

6. Winfried. Another name right out of the 19th Century, at the latest.

5. Gerlinde. Not even sure if this is a man’s or a woman’s name, but it reminds me of a character in Wicked.

4. Burkhardt. How is this not a last name?!

3. Hartmut/Hartfrid/Hartwig. Variations on the Insurance Capital of the World?

2. Waltraut. My very sweet and interesting upstairs neighbor at my fall sublet had this name, which sounds to me like a town in the Catskills. It is a woman’s name, btw.

1. Mechthild. I’ve only seen this name once–it’s also a woman’s name, if you can believe it! Sounds to me like a food additive you would rather not ingest.

For good measure–here a few common German names that I find actually quite pleasing: Johannes, Astrid, Coralie, Kerstin (an improvement over Kristen/-in, I think).

How They Talk

I started a “work phase” (fancy word for internship used by my program) in the German Parliament last week. On my first day I was introduced around to the other co-workers on my committee. Today, one of them came into my office to let me know that I should be checking the intern mailbox for invitations and the like. “It’s in the office with Hannelore, you know, the fat woman?” she said (in German)–completely matter-of-fact, not in any joking or mocking manner.

We would never say such an un-PC thing in the States! We might, if absolutely necessary, use a synonym such as “larger woman,” but would probably stay away from that kind of description at all costs. This is why, at least in part, the Germans consider Americans öberflachlich, or superficial. Sure, it can be taken too far, but I’d maintain there is great value in being sensitive in the workplace.