Germans and cold weather

I was out today in the cold at minus 10 degrees. It seemed I was the only one who found it extremely cold! It was also windy and the felt temperature was definitely below minus 15! After 5 minutes outside, I was already feeling pain from the cold, but the Germans on the street were happily walking around. 

I also saw girls without any scarfs and with unzipped jackets. I could not believe my eyes!

Germans are used to the cold and feel comfortable with it. There was a swimming competition a few weeks ago and some of the swimmers had no heat-preserving swimsuits. They were getting out of the freezing waters of the Danube and calmly drinking tea, after having swam for 20-25 minutes.

An interesting sight in winter are the blankets most cafes put out, so that their clients can wrap themselves and sit in the cold. I would not sit and drink coffee in the cold, no sir! Another way of warming up outside, used by bars or cafes, are the special gas burners, which look like huge metal umbrellas. 

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Sundays

If you are living in a residential area like me, you have probably noticed that on Sundays there is not a single soul on the street. Where are all those Germans? I have no explanation for that... Where I come from, you can always see people on the streets, even on Sundays!

In my area, going on the street on Sundays is like going to the cemetery.

It is another topic that Sunday is an official work holiday, i.e. NOTHING (except cafes and restaurants) works on Sunday: no grocery store, no pharmacy, no retail store of any kind. This is also one of the things I will never understand. I am sure that there are people who would like to work on Sunday. The German economy loses billions every Sunday, but I guess currently it doesn't need additional growth.

Are you also pissed that nothing works on Sundays? Leave a comment!

Yawning in public

I was just in a shoe and clothing shop and I yawned, but I made this cute noise when one yawns. Of course, I had my hand in front of my mouth, and as I said, the noise I made was more cute than nasty or coarse. I was also stretching a bit my hands upwards and back.

There was a woman who looked at me as if I am the biggest criminal...

So, be careful how you yawn and how this sounds in Germany!

Different opinion? Comment!

Blowing your nose in public

No problem, if you are a German! :)

This is one of the first things that made an impression on me when I came here (and it will probably impress you, too!). Germans love to blow their noses in all possible places! It is quite normal for a university professor to interrupt his lecture in order to blow his nose in front of everyone. He may try to hide it a bit, but you cannot hide the noise, buddy.

You can hear people blowing their noses everywhere: on the bus, in a restaurant, in the office, on the street... This is quite normal here, so don't make a face or complain, just get used to it.

I admit I still cannot blow my nose in front of anyone. I need running water and the comfort of my own bathroom. Maybe it is a thing specific to me or to Bulgarians in general or maybe it is just Germans who are so open-minded.

What do you think? Leave a comment below