Korean American in Germany

  U Shopping in Germany has been an interesting rollercoaster ride! I particularly dislike supermarket shopping and find it stressful, chaotic and not fun! I wrote a few times about my experience especially the first year here. I am still getting used to the shorter hours and no shopping Sundays! I am just so used to shopping on Sundays or picking up something I forgot at 9 pm on a weeknight from my Wisconsin life. Apparently it is not just me that complains about these unique hours here. I spoke to a Dutch parent from school and he said that even Netherlands has their shops open on Sundays, not as long as a full day but at least a half day or so. My Indian neighbors also remind me how inconvenient the shopping is here. Because shops are all closed on Sundays, except for gas stations, cafes or restaurants, it feels like every German person or family is shopping on Saturdays! This makes shopping on Saturdays so stressful and crowded!  But all the working folks have no choice. I realize

  I have been driving since I was 15 years old in the US, when I learned to drive at my American high school in Palatine, Illinois.  I only learned to drive automatic in the US, in the 80s, and after many years later, I learned to drive stick shift with my brother.  He forced me to learn to drive manual and boy that was stressful!  But it was helpful looking back now...Then I leased my first car, a VW Jetta with a stick shift so I got used to it quickly.   After moving to Germany, I was surprised that so many Germans drive stick shift cars.  It seems to be the default when you drive here.  Of course, when it was time to get a car, I insisted that our SEAT minivan was automatic because I had so much to learn with the new driving rules and navigate while running around with a car in Germany!   Getting a German Drivers License- Because I had a Wisconsin drivers license from the US, I did not have to take a driving exam here.  Thank goodness. I heard horror stories from other international