Some thoughts on Germany, WWII, and Cultural Adventures....
I've come to understand a bit more about this country of Germany, no, a lot more than I've ever known before! Up to now the only things I've known about this country was that it was involved in some pretty big wars. It is also the source of excellent manufacturing: expensive cars and some of my favorite products: sewing machines, appliances, and scissors, for example.
We have met and have come to love some pretty awesome LDS German people, some in the Ward, at the Temple, missionaries, and Church employees in the Europe Area Office.
We have visited many members of the Church (mostly psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists), throughout Europe actually, who are outstanding people. We can see what a difference living the Gospel makes in people. We can also see that it takes a lot of effort to live the Gospel, and, after living in Kentucky for 5 1/2 years, we can identify with that. We feel their strength and see a huge difference between them and others who are non LDS!
It is interesting that the vast majority of LDS converts here in Germany are from other nations, mostly Africa, but there are people here from many countries! We see Muslim families everywhere we go. They are obvious because the women wear headscarves and look so hot during the summer in their heavy robes. It appears that they are about the only ones having children around here. We really don't see a lot of children.
Someone told us that there is a plus and a minus about being Deutsch. Minus: they've had two wars, plus: the country is very organized.
I've never realized that, like the ripples on a pond, the effects of World War II are still here, everywhere!
We have met and have come to love some pretty awesome LDS German people, some in the Ward, at the Temple, missionaries, and Church employees in the Europe Area Office.
We have visited many members of the Church (mostly psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists), throughout Europe actually, who are outstanding people. We can see what a difference living the Gospel makes in people. We can also see that it takes a lot of effort to live the Gospel, and, after living in Kentucky for 5 1/2 years, we can identify with that. We feel their strength and see a huge difference between them and others who are non LDS!
It is interesting that the vast majority of LDS converts here in Germany are from other nations, mostly Africa, but there are people here from many countries! We see Muslim families everywhere we go. They are obvious because the women wear headscarves and look so hot during the summer in their heavy robes. It appears that they are about the only ones having children around here. We really don't see a lot of children.
Someone told us that there is a plus and a minus about being Deutsch. Minus: they've had two wars, plus: the country is very organized.
I've never realized that, like the ripples on a pond, the effects of World War II are still here, everywhere!
All of my life I've known about World War II, and have read many books about it. I don't think I am the only person to think of WWII as being over, finished...done. As far as we Americans are concerned it just exists in the world history books.
Our American soldiers were an important part of the War, and we revere those who gave their lives in the fight for freedom. However it did not take place in our land! And there is the difference!
When we came to Germany we started seeing the effects of World War II. The aftermath of the War is still here, all around us, both physically and emotionally. It is a presence that won't leave until maybe a few more generations pass away. Those who lived through it were each affected differently because of their variety of personal experiences. Those who aren't old enough to have lived through the War have still been affected by it whether they know it or not.
Really do we need a lock on every door and closet in our apartment? The apartment is so small that we don't even need doors on each room. We have to unlock our front door with a key in order to even go out of our apartment...it always takes a few minutes to answer the door. What if we needed to get out in a hurry???
Laws, rules, and regulations exist for every little thing! People are considerate on the road, only as long as you follow the rules. Many people are very private and highly protective of their personal contact information, not even allowing it to be published in the Church bulletins!
The unemployment rate is so low that jobs are the main reason so many immigrants come here to Germany. However, the difficulty of learning the language is a major reason that many of them leave again.
Laws, rules, and regulations exist for every little thing! People are considerate on the road, only as long as you follow the rules. Many people are very private and highly protective of their personal contact information, not even allowing it to be published in the Church bulletins!
The unemployment rate is so low that jobs are the main reason so many immigrants come here to Germany. However, the difficulty of learning the language is a major reason that many of them leave again.
Abuse is evidently a big problem here having originated from the war, being passed from generation to generation.
The German people generally seem serious and solemn. We've made two trips to the UK, and each time we have entered these countries I have immediately noticed that the people seemed to be more relaxed than what we have become used to in Germany. They have been quicker to respond to requests for help in finding our way around and seemed to speak to us as strangers much more easily!
All of us missionaries make a point of smiling and saying "Hallo" as we go back and forth between the office and apartment building, or take our walks in the cemetary. I've noticed that some people have become more friendly, even though our conversations are limited because of language differences.
In almost every city tour the guides mention which areas were destroyed and rebuilt since the War. This is rather sad when you consider the number of centuries the walls and buildings had survived up to that point. Often the buildings have been rebuilt as close to the original as possible, and other things are replaced with modern structures. In a few cities we've seen dioramas which show the areas that were destroyed during the War and facts about the rebuilding of the city. Some areas weren't restored until the 1990s or even more recently.
A few of the LDS Germans we've met have expressed how deeply saddened and embarrassed they feel about the fact that their people were the ones who committed the atrocities that took place during the war.
I've heard that we shouldn't talk to people about the War because it is a highly sensitive subject, but the television stations show movies about it.
Some concentration camps have become museums and are open for tours. They have become memorial sights for three reasons: 1) to honor those who died, 2) to educate people, and 3) to make sure it never it is never repeated. A few weeks ago we visited Dachau, a sobering experience, but I'll talk about that in another post.
Some concentration camps have become museums and are open for tours. They have become memorial sights for three reasons: 1) to honor those who died, 2) to educate people, and 3) to make sure it never it is never repeated. A few weeks ago we visited Dachau, a sobering experience, but I'll talk about that in another post.
Even though World War II ended 70 years ago, we have seen that its effects still exists here in this country. In order to understand the German people and their culture, we must be sympathetic of how they have been affected by the wars. The American way of life might be quite different today if these wars had taken place on our continent.
On the other hand, Germany is culturally and historically rich. It is so green and beautiful here! The weather is often rainy (rainy = green), and, except for a few grueling hot days with no escape, it is generally not too hot or cold....so far. There are so many culinary delights: breads, pastries, schnitzels, strudels, (potatoes, potatoes, and potatoes), creamy ice cream and chocolates!
As far as we can see, Europeans are not in any way behind the times in many ways: fashion, technology, engineering, and medicine, too, as far as we've heard (except for there being no private hospital rooms).
We are not afraid anymore to go places and do things without an interpretor, even though being with someone who speaks the local language definitely makes communication easier. I am often embarrassed of how uneducated we Americans are in languages! Many people here speak 2, 3, 4, or more languages. When we are visiting the European countries, we expect them to adjust to our way of speaking...and, most are able to speak a little English, enough to get by on. But for our missionary work, we would have to know at least a dozen different languages in order to communicate in the countries we visit! (Hooray for the UK!)
We make mistakes because we can't read signs. We got a parking ticket when we went to hear Richard Elliot give his organ concert in Wiesbaden. We still can't figure out what was wrong because we parked in the same way and location as other cars did. Oh well. We were notified by mail of the ticket and had to ask someone to go to their bank to pay it for us. Bills are paid at the bank, including medical bills. Getting speeding tickets (even missionaries do, even on the Autobahn) means you were caught on camera and then notified by mail. We haven't seen any Highway Patrol cars. No, at this point we haven't gotten a speeding ticket.
One missionary couple had a run-in with a deer as they were coming home from a trip. The next day at Church they told a few of the German members whose eyes widened as they asked, "Did you call the police?" "No, why?" If it is reported, they could be arrested! Yikes! Apparently, the land is divided up into areas which are maintained and managed by a hunter. Any wildlife on that property belongs to that person for hunting and he is able to sell the meat to restaurants. If anyone else kills an animal on his property, even accidently, they are required to pay the hunter because you have destroyed his property. This is a whole new concept to us Americans!
We are truly learning a lot as we enjoy our German adventure! We consider everything new to be a cultural experience. We are getting an education like never before: map reading, geography, history, crops, customs, dress, languages, cemetaries, and more. However, the metric system with its kilometers and containers of 10 eggs is still sometimes a mystery.
Thanks for enduring to the end of my epistle! I hope this has enlightened you a bit in the ways of the world!
On the other hand, Germany is culturally and historically rich. It is so green and beautiful here! The weather is often rainy (rainy = green), and, except for a few grueling hot days with no escape, it is generally not too hot or cold....so far. There are so many culinary delights: breads, pastries, schnitzels, strudels, (potatoes, potatoes, and potatoes), creamy ice cream and chocolates!
As far as we can see, Europeans are not in any way behind the times in many ways: fashion, technology, engineering, and medicine, too, as far as we've heard (except for there being no private hospital rooms).
We are not afraid anymore to go places and do things without an interpretor, even though being with someone who speaks the local language definitely makes communication easier. I am often embarrassed of how uneducated we Americans are in languages! Many people here speak 2, 3, 4, or more languages. When we are visiting the European countries, we expect them to adjust to our way of speaking...and, most are able to speak a little English, enough to get by on. But for our missionary work, we would have to know at least a dozen different languages in order to communicate in the countries we visit! (Hooray for the UK!)
We make mistakes because we can't read signs. We got a parking ticket when we went to hear Richard Elliot give his organ concert in Wiesbaden. We still can't figure out what was wrong because we parked in the same way and location as other cars did. Oh well. We were notified by mail of the ticket and had to ask someone to go to their bank to pay it for us. Bills are paid at the bank, including medical bills. Getting speeding tickets (even missionaries do, even on the Autobahn) means you were caught on camera and then notified by mail. We haven't seen any Highway Patrol cars. No, at this point we haven't gotten a speeding ticket.
One missionary couple had a run-in with a deer as they were coming home from a trip. The next day at Church they told a few of the German members whose eyes widened as they asked, "Did you call the police?" "No, why?" If it is reported, they could be arrested! Yikes! Apparently, the land is divided up into areas which are maintained and managed by a hunter. Any wildlife on that property belongs to that person for hunting and he is able to sell the meat to restaurants. If anyone else kills an animal on his property, even accidently, they are required to pay the hunter because you have destroyed his property. This is a whole new concept to us Americans!
We are truly learning a lot as we enjoy our German adventure! We consider everything new to be a cultural experience. We are getting an education like never before: map reading, geography, history, crops, customs, dress, languages, cemetaries, and more. However, the metric system with its kilometers and containers of 10 eggs is still sometimes a mystery.
Thanks for enduring to the end of my epistle! I hope this has enlightened you a bit in the ways of the world!
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