*Peeling Oranges*

I keep seeing this one. People here have to have a knife to peel oranges, or at least to start peeling. I don't think I've ever used a knife. Just dig in your thumb at the top, and voila!

*Education Costs*

Though every state and school is different in Germany, compared to America, education costs in Germany rock because they are subsidized so heavily by the government. Some students complain about the rising costs, but I never could find it in myself to sympathize with those who pay $200 a semester.

Personally, I pay 90 Euros a semester, which is $1400-$1900 cheaper than I ever paid in Utah (and even that was smoking cheap.)

Then you have to take into account that students have what's called "BaFög" available--money from the government so they don't have to work while they study. The monthly amount goes up and down depending on how much their parents make and how many siblings are also studying. Although a certain percentage has to be paid back several years after the education is completed, that percentage cannot exceed 10,000 Euros.

A lot is expected of the students, so it's good that they can focus. So, the hardcore German college tests where you're expected to know EVERYTHING you MIGHT have read during the semester + subsidization = German education is amazing.

And, while I'm at it, happy 600th birthday to the University of Leipzig!!! How cool is it that I'm graduating this year?

*Pizza Toppings*

Getting sick of plain old pepperoni or cheese pizzas? (I don't think I ever will.) Come to Germany, where you can find all sorts of pizzas covered with toppings and not a single pepperoni in sight.

Some toppings on my infamous list are corn, onions (and I mean long, stringy things that cover practically the whole pizza), and tuna.

Plus, it's one thing to eat pizza out of the fridge the day after you made it or ordered it, but it's completely different to buy it from the bakery and to realize it's just been sitting in room temperature for a while. Not quite as appetizing, somehow.

*Banks*

I didn't know there were really banks that you pay to keep your money. Don't they realize that you're doing them the service by letting them invest your money? Unless you have a child account here, you have to pay to store your money there, you have to pay to have a credit card, you have to pay . . .

Okay, enough. I have a child account.

Plus, the people who work at the counters in banks received a special kind of education just to work there.

I like how Germany really trains people to do their jobs, no matter what it is, but sometimes that makes it hard to be versatile. If you study American Studies, you can . . . American study-ate? So far, no one seems to know.