Once I learned how the trams in Mainz work, though, getting around has been so easy and fun. I know that if I want to meet my friends at the central station, all I have to do is get on the number 53 tram, and I will be there in five minutes! German transportation is so quick and efficient. I only wish all of the cities in the United States had a system like it!
Throughout most of the United States, the most common way of getting around is by car. Not only can this be expensive, but it is also bad for the environment when everyone has to drive themselves. The German railway system is very eco-friendly because it eliminates the need for everyone to drive. Many people do still own cars, but there are far less here in Mainz than there are back home.
As a whole, Germans value pünktlichkeit, which means punctuality, which is a fancy word for being on time! Their transportation system is a reflection of that. Everything runs on a specific schedule, and there are lots of signs and timetables that can tell you exactly which train is going to come at what time.
Even outside of transportation, being on time is really important in Germany. If you tell your German friend that you will meet them at 11:00, and you still aren't there by 11:05, then they might think that something terrible has happened! It is also considered rude to be late in Germany, so it is always better to be early if you can't get somewhere right on time. That is why pünktlichkeit is so important when it comes to German transportation. Everyone is in a rush to get where they're going so they aren't late.
