Its The Little Things

Things I miss about home that I didn't realize I would miss:

1. Free public bathrooms. Most bathrooms here, in train stations or malls, you tip the attendant (or place a coin in the machine so the door opens). This money goes to helping keep the bathroom clean, and some attendants clean after each person. Others don't seem to move. And others are non existent and you have to pay 1 Euro to use a port a potty like deal. 
2. Free water at restaurants. Water is not free, you get bottled water and at times its more expensive than soda, and is always the same price as soda. So I bring a bottle of water with me, and drink that at McDonalds or wherever we go. 
3. Free WiFi, except for Starbucks, most public places (including airports) do not have free Wifi. Really, its 2014.
4. Popcorn. Most popcorn here is kettle corn, and seen as normal popcorn. It is not. It is so not normal. 
5. All TV shows and movies from the US are dubbed over. Big Bang Theory is not funny when Sheldon does not have a higher pitched voice than Raj and when Raj does not have an accent. 
6. Still water. Its available here, and I can find it easily. But really I just hate sparkling water. Its so weird. Like a Pepsi on a severe diet. 
7. Stores, malls, and most restaurants being open on Sundays. In Germany, its a real day of rest. Want to browse the book store on the weekend? Saturday only. 
8. Free banks. Most banks in Germany charge a monthly fee to use their bank. 

Things about Germany I wish were the same in the US:

1. Two words "FREE EDUCATION", no student loans ever! 
2. Kinder Eggs. Its so sad that they are illegal in America. Because children can choke on the small toys, and you can apparently smuggle drugs in the hollowed out chocolate egg. 
3. No sales tax. That is lovely. Especially when learning a new language and currency. Although the Euro Store lady got a little testy with me when I asked her twice what the price was, and she then counted my items in front of my "Eins, zwei, drei, vier. Vier Euro." (four euros).
4. Dogs not on leashes, and really well trained. They just wander while walking with their owners and sniff and come up to you for a pet and then wander off. 
5. Dogs everywhere, on the trains, buses, in the malls, cafes, or patiently waiting outside the bakery for their owner, or carrying their OWN BASKET in their teeth through the farmers market. 
6. Almost everyone, including all hotels, don't use top sheets, instead use a duvet and cover. Which I love. I hate top sheets. 
7. My cell phone bill is less than 10 euros a month. 
8. Real hot chocolate can be found everywhere.
9. Crepes are street food. 
10. Curry Wurst
11. Really all the food. 
12. Mainly the cake. The cake is always epic. Always.