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It has been more then forty years since I lived in Germany and my memory may be a little rusty but some things I remember so vividly that it seems as if they had just happened yesterday.
My beloved husband was stationed in Germany and because they had no government housing, I stayed with my parents with our son for one or two months. By the time I joined my husband our son was very, very spoiled. Rob did not know what it was to cry longer then five minutes before mom or dad picked him up coddling him and carry him around until he went back to sleep.
The day came when I was to join Bob in Germany. Dad took us to the airport and we departed for a very long flight. We had a layover at Heathrow Airport and when we finally arrived in Frankfurt Rob was tired and very fussy. Bob wanted to hold Rob so badly but Rob didn’t want any part of a strange man holding him. The first two weeks were somewhat rough trying to undo what Rob’s loving grandparents had done. All Rob did was cry until he finally realized he was not going to be picked up and coddled all the time.
We lived on the economy in a tiny one-room apartment until government quarters were available. I became pregnant with our daughter Robin and she was born in Frankfurt but shortly thereafter my husband moved to Heidelberg and we were assigned quarters there.
My neighbor a German named Inga had a six-year-old daughter that spoke only German. Rob played with her every day after school. We didn’t think a two year old could learn another language so quickly until one day Inga asked Dorothy if she wanted candy, turned, and asked Rob the same question in German and he responded in German. Inga in her excitement nearly broke down my door as she ran across the hall telling me Rob could understand and speak fluent German. I am sorry to say that once we returned state side Rob did not retain any of the German language he had learned from his friend Dorothy. I would love if the schools here taught language in grade school as they do in Europe. Little children have minds like sponges and absorb different languages quickly.
We were there during Oktoberfest and that truly was a learning experience. The festival ran from September 29 until 14 October. It was horseshoe shaped with the beer tent in the center and on each side were all the games of chance and various rides for adults and children to enjoy. During the day, it was a family affair but in the evening, it was strictly adults. In the evening, you socialized with beer, bratwurst, goulach and an Oompah band in the big tent. The beer is stronger, about 12 percent alcohol, than American beer. It is almost like a wine and it has a taste all its own. The food is exquisite and the camaraderie is fantastic. I truly enjoyed that wonderful experience while in Germany.
Germany is a beautiful country and the people love life and live life to the fullest. The people are not afraid of work and they are very industrious. An older woman pushing her cart filled with freshly cut flowers and beautifully hand crochet doilies would come to the apartment complex selling them.
The furniture from the black forest is extremely beautiful. The workmanship of that furniture is unbelievable. The furniture was all hand crafted with intricate designs of deer and actual working water wheels and just about any kind of scene you could imagine. If you love clocks, you will think you died and went to heaven when you gaze lovingly on those masterpieces. They are so intricately carved that you stand there mesmerized by there beauty.
The autobahn to my knowledge has no speed limit and driving on it is not for the feint hearted. If you happen to be driving on the autobahn and a car comes up behind you blinking his lights he is telling you to either drive faster or get out of his way.
Germany is a very old country and the sites are truly magnificent. You must see the sites first hand because pictures do not do them justice. If I had the opportunity to return to Europe, I would in a heartbeat. Seeing Europe first hand would truly be dreamer’s dream come true.
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