Today, as revelers from all over the world crowd "the Wiesn" for Oktoberfest, Germans in Munich and throughout the country head to the polls to elect a new Bundestag. ... As newcomers in Germany, we're trying to listen and learn. Flashy and sometimes hilarious political signs line the roads and people are talking politics a lot more than usual.
Our second Christmas here in Germany has been a chance for us to put into practice some of the fun and meaningful Bavarian and German traditions we've observed. Here are the ones we've enjoyed most.
While Americans start gearing up for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving (or long before), in Germany the focus tends to be on the season of Advent (Adventszeit)....
Castles, forests, folktales, and food–the longer we're here, the more Nathan and I are falling in love with our new home. Here are some of the unique and beautiful things we're learning about Bavaria (the southeastern most state of Germany).
When I woke up yesterday morning and saw the news, my heart sank. Over the last week, the people of Bavaria in Germany have experienced three incidents of tragic violence. Each of these is of the sort that makes people want to push a “terrorism” panic button. How should I as a Christian respond to this violence and to the fear it generates? Here are some meditations on Jesus' response to violence.
Culture Shock is a funny thing, I’m learning. It sneaks up on you when you aren’t expecting it. You’re heading out the door to quick grab some groceries. The back of your neck starts getting tense and you can feel stress spreading across your shoulders. You stretch your neck to loosen it up, then keep walking . . .
Many Germans take a true lunch break. Not the American-style, “Grab a bite and keep working,” or “Let’s have a business meeting with food,” but one whole hour with truly no work. Most days I eat lunch with a group of colleagues at the main cafeteria of the university, whose 50,000 students don’t show up every day for lunch all at the same time (fortunately). So here’s the first installment of “Things I Learn at Lunchtime.”
