I Have a Feeling We’re Not in Michigan Anymore…
Naturally when I decided to study in a foreign country for a couple of months, I was expecting a lot of differences between life in the US and Germany. Despite knowing so much about Germany from my seven years of study, there was still a lot of menial changes that gave me that big “shock” in my first few weeks here. I thought it would be most valuable to share some key changes I’ve noticed as an American in Freiburg.
1. Plastic Bags are Illegal
Yep, you read that right! Here in all German states, non-essential plastic bags are banned at supermarkets and stores that would typically have them in the US. Back home, I know many people (myself included!) don’t actually use “single-use” plastic bags once. I use them to line trash cans, hold wet items, and dirty clothes if I am traveling. Now, I don’t actually have more than the few I came with. I was aware of this coming in, but it has still been a huge shock and difference for me every time I go to the store.
Verpackunggesetz is what this would be commonly referred to as in Germany. According to the 2025 Sustainable Development Report, Germany is one of the top-ranking countries in terms of ecological sustainability. The lack of plastic bags helps with this, promoting every citizen to use reusable bags for their groceries. Don’t worry if you don’t have any! Lots of supermarkets, including Aldi, have reusable bags available for purchase at all times for only a few cents. The same goes for clothing stores, bakeries, etc. Also effective: I find using two of my tote bags sufficient, which also helps me avoid impulse buying and thus, excess waste of packaging or food.
2. Germans are Friendly
Everybody has heard the stereotypes about German people and how mean they can be, as well as the aggressive structure of their language. While I’ve found it to be occasionally true, I haven’t found the German people to be any more or less friendly than any other people. Sure, small talk isn’t an aspect of life here, but it certainly does not mean they are being disrespectful. Germans value close relationships and thus see no point in asking how you are, unless they truly care and want to know the truth. So, when you greet the cashier at the market, leave it at that!
95% of the interactions I’ve had are positive, barring one where I forgot the word for “scoop” in front of a very angry ice cream man and another where my pronunciation was so atrocious the cashier switched to English. It is very much not a cultural thing and depends on the people you meet. A friend in my program had four separate people ask her on her arrival day if she needed help carrying her luggage up the train station steps, an incredibly kind gesture. I have also often found people are willing to speak in German and correct small things for future reference, like when I finally learned the word for scoop (Kugel).
3. Germans Love to Cook
In general, it can be said that the average German supermarket is much smaller than those in the US. One aspect of this is that there are primarily “ingredients” to choose from, and fewer “made-ready” meals. While those certainly exist here in Freiburg, and restaurants are not few and far between, Germans love to cook. In my shared apartment, we have a full kitchen with a sink, fridge, stove, and oven. No microwave.
As someone who is an amateur at best with cooking, I’ve grown to enjoy making my own food. My program does not have a meal plan, and the Mensa cafeteria in the city isn’t always the best food. I’ve learned that if you cook, it does not mean you have to make every single thing from scratch. One time, I made pepper steak with peppers, and while I did chop up the peppers myself, I certainly bought pre-cut steak. Another time I made friend rice, and used a box of frozen vegetables to mix in.
Germans prefer home-cooked meals, and I have been loving to try my hand at some simple recipes. I used to think cooking took too long, but it is usually an hour max and makes me enough food for the next 2-3 days! It has been such an improvement to my health, and I’m so glad German culture promotes healthier cooking options (even if they also love their beer).
4. Cash is King
I’ve been a believer in cash over card my whole life, but it is increasingly more common here in Freiburg to stumble upon shops that will only accept cash. The same could be said of some places in Berlin, as well as Europe wholly.
One day here in Freiburg, I went to a thrift store and found the cutest tank top. It was vintage and only 12 euros. Unfortunately, the shop did not accept my type of credit card, and I had no cash, so I had to leave it. Ever since then, I’ve been sure to make sure I have more than just coins on me, because you never know when you may come upon a place that will only accept cash. It is not a reflection of reputability or suspicious activity; it is rather just that the culture here is different.
Closing Thoughts
Expected or unexpected, getting to know the twists and turns of Freiburg has been wonderful so far. There are many things I miss from home, like ice water and air conditioning, for sure. This experience has still been wonderful and opened me up to so many new things I will carry with me when I eventually return to Hope. What a joy and privilege it has been to experience these new, beautiful things.
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