I Am in Germany!

Last night I took a red-eye from Newark to Frankfurt. I am now in Göttingen, Germany! This trip was the result of a spontaneous and recent decision. Just days ago I looked at my calendar, noticed I had more than a week without meaningful obligations, and decided to combine a last-minute family visit with a German-learning expedition.

There Were Many German Speakers at Newark Airport

I got quite a bit of studying done on the flight here, which is unusual for me. I tend to feel pretty bad on planes, and this time I had a horrible seat with a metal box permanently affixed to the undercarriage of the seat in front me.

I don’t know what was in the box, but it forced my feet to the right at an unpleasant angle, towards the extremely long legs of the nice Polish engineering professor seated next to me, precluding comfort and making it almost impossible to sleep.

Speaking of the Polish professor: although he really was quite nice, I was extremely disappointed he was not a loquacious German. A chatty German speaker had been my hope and dream. Throughout my life, however, my hopes about airplane seatmates have rarely been fulfilled; I am similarly unlucky with raffles and all games of chance.

Although there is a lot of English throughout the Frankfurt airport—to accommodate international travelers—German-speaking opportunities began immediately upon my arrival.

The Airport Logo Is in English

I had a nice little conversation (in German) about train-ticket purchases with a man who was stationed near the ticket machines to answer the questions of confused people. He wanted to know where I was from and told me, “Sie haben ein interessantes Gesicht.” (You have an interesting face.) If I had to choose my favorite compliment in the world, I don't think this would be it, but it was sweet nonetheless. He gave me detailed travel instructions and even printed out an itinerary for me.

Friendly people make life so much more pleasant. Our conversation was also much easier and more natural than it would have been seven weeks ago. From the moment I got off the plane, I felt much better equipped to understand and speak German than I have in many years. It was empowering—and fun!

On my way to the tracks, a man stopped me to ask whether this was how to get to the train. I said I wasn’t sure, but I thought so. We had a brief exchange in German on this fascinating subject, and made our way without incident to the correct waiting spot. He is a musician, and we ended up chatting all the way to the main train station in Frankfurt, where we had coffee while waiting for the next train.

Frankfurt: Typical Northern European Winter Weather

I was very excited about the quality of my German. And this chance to practice so soon upon arriving. As we were talking, another guy came over with a camera and said to me, in English, “Would you take our picture? We’re the shortest band in the world!”

Now, this is not a request one hears every day, and at first it was kind of mystifying. But I looked over and there indeed were several short men, instruments nearby, who had managed to squeeze themselves under the low-hanging landing of  a nearby staircase.

Who was I to deny them? I went over and took a picture of the (self-proclaimed) shortest band in the world.

My coffee companion expressed amazement that by simply looking at me they could be so certain, out of all the people milling around, that I was American. And just come over, with total confidence, and begin addressing me in English. I guess I radiate Americanness.