The large sprawling forests, mountainous landscapes, and sleepy little towns sprinkled throughout the countryside are accurate depictions of how true Germans live now. Of course there are a number of sprawling cityscapes with diverse communities within them, but German values are founded in the local farming, hiking, and atmosphere they work so hard to protect.
The largest difference I've noticed between the climate back home and in Germany is the fog. That may seem minor, but things start to feel different when you notice large crowds of grey rolling down city streets every morning. Bikers turn on their flashlights even when the sun is up, just to see a few feet in front of them. Buildings shrouded on the hillside take on an eerily silent quality, even though the offices in them are bustling. Mountain ranges in the distance have a greater feeling of majesty.
Farming has been one of the greatest German industries for hundreds of years, and for good reason. Just a fifteen minute walk from one of my classes and you’re surrounded by the country. Fields of arugula and lettuce stretch across open plains that border the edges of local forests.
