Interesting facts....

You can blow your nose as loud as you want as long as you muffle your sneezes

All buildings have ceramic roofing tiles

French fries and mayo are a popular school snack

My host sister says more people in Germany wear berets than in France. Men and Women

Each room has a door even the kitchen and living areas so that one can heat only select rooms

People hate peanut butter

In school, students eat small amounts every 45 min as opposed to large meals at meal time

Hot cocoa is a delicacy and very costly

Marshmallows are eaten plain as a desert Germany

There are many rivals over flower gardens

Women wear boots almost every day

There is no separation between women’s and juniors clothing

It is ok to wear alcohol advertisement shirts to school

Swear words on the radio are ok

Germans are under the impression that the F word is a light cuss word in America

Latté Macchiato is the most popular coffee drink

Germans don’t like things that are too sweet

Guests bring games to the party

My craving for curry turned into a memorable celebration.

I went for lunch at a hole-in- the-wall Indian restaurant that I discovered in town. I appeared to be the only customer but after some disjointed conversation, I managed to order. A little girl kept coming around the corner to peek at me and run away. Later, the waiter showed up in ceremonial dress. He explained that his family had a celebration that day. I realized that it was Dussehra, the Hindu celebration of the triumph of good over evil (it was on this day that Lord Rama killed the demon-king, Ravana and rescued his abducted wife - Sita). I wished him and his family well. When he realized that I was familiar with Dussehra, he invited me to join his family in the backroom.

The Grandma of the family placed red-dyed rice on my forehead and the women helped to weave flowers in my hair. They passed money around the circle and blessed it. The money landed with me and when I tried to pass it on, they said that it was for me as their honored guest. They said I could not spend the coins as they would bring me good fortune in the year ahead. Each of the families took pictures with me (the crazy Caucasian they had picked up in the restaurant). They explained that the little girl had never seen anyone with my eye color. She wondered why God gave me such funny looking eyes.

I am planning to go back to pick up copies of the pictures and have some more curry soon. Also, I have a cowgirl sticker book for a sweet Indian girl.