Entschuldigung. Ich bin eine blöde Amerikanerin.

So I finally managed to get around to writing up that blog post about differences between Germany and America that I have found here in Tübingen. (To be clear, this is not a series of complaints. I actually like a majority of these differences.) The fact that I have a Prüfung and a presentation tomorrow probably has a lot to do with that. I guess the best way to do this would be to make a list, so here it goes in no particular order.

1. Bei Rot Stehen. Bei Grün Gehen. Crossing the street in Germany is an exercise in following the rules. You don't walk on red. Even if there are no cars coming, you wait for that little man to change colour. If you do walk on red, you risk getting glared at by little old German women, who believe you are teaching the children to run into traffic. Seriously, at most intersections there are signs telling you to be a good example for the children. 
2. Similarly, J-walking is not done. Ever. 
3. Stores are not open on Sundays. Literally nothing, not even Wal-Mart-like Kaufland. Just about the only things that are open are bars and restaurants.
4. Stores also close quite early. Walking through the Altstadt after 6 means that you will be crossing mostly darkened stores, again with the exception of restaurants. However, Kaufland stays open until 10, very important knowledge to have.
5. You can drink in public. Huzzah for no open container laws. Thus, you see lots of people (mostly students) drinking in parks, on church steps, etc. 
6. Kein Bier vor Vier: no bier served before 4PM, which is 4 hours later than in Ireland.
7. The Recycling: my God is that intense. So here's how it goes: you have 5 different containers. Gray is Alte Papier. This translates to old paper, and you can put newspapers, paper plates, cardboard, etc in here. Blue is Glas. I figure I don't need to translate that for you, but yeah, anything glass. However, you can also bring your glass bottles (bier, wine, etc.) to various locations for the Pfand, which means that you get money back for them. 0,08€, I believe. This also applies for plastic bottles with the little Pfand symbol on them. Then there's "Gelber Sack" which is kind of a free for all with plastic. The Germans can recycle used plastic silverware, for Gods sake! Then there's Bio-müll. Yes, the Germans have a state-run compost program. So lovely. Finally, there's Rest-müll, where all the rest of the crap that you can't throw away goes. 
8. Döner. I wish there was more döner in the US. It's literally the best thing ever.
9. Nudelbox: I also wish that there were Nudelboxes in the US. They are just Chinese noodles with chicken, veggies, and sauce. My friend described as "everything I could want from Chinese food in a box."
10. German windows open both ways. To elaborate, they pull inwards, but also can be opened such that there is a vent up top. Wicked sm-aaaat. 
11. However, there are no screens on German windows. So sometimes creatures will come into your room to keep you company.
12. Here, lunch is a much bigger deal than dinner, which is always something that takes a little getting used to.
13. A drivers license is not accepted as valid ID over here, and the thought of using a drivers license as ID is a very strange concept to Europeans. 
14. Education seems to be much more "low-tech" over here. I don't mean that as a bad thing; it's actually rather nice. Not everyone is sitting with there computers open, and instead of a projector from a computer (called a Beamer auf Deutsch, which I find awesome), we use an overhead projector (something which I can't say as I have seen in a classroom since my days at St. Frances Cabrini).
15. Germans always keep there doors closed. In America, that would give the indication that they don't want to talk or something, but here it doesn't really mean that. Which has taken some getting used to, particularly with my housemates.
16. Light Bier? What is light Bier?
17. It seems acceptable to bring in outside drinks into restaurants and bars. Or at least no one has called me out for it yet.
18. Germans like taking breaks. As in I technically have class from 9-3:30, but roughly 2 hours of that is breaks. 
19. As in the rest of Europe, there are no bubblers anywhere. Nalgenes are my friend.
20. A thirty minute walk is considered walking distance. Hell, I guess at this rate, I'd be willing to consider 45 minutes walking distance.
21. German beds are not like American beds. The mattresses are rather firm, and instead of having two or three smaller pillows, there is one very large pillow.
22. German shutters are really cool and make sleeping in complete darkness very possible. This morning, I woke up at 1PM and thought that it was going to be dark and rainy outside because of how little light was coming through. Nope, it was bright as all get out; my shutters are just awesome.
23. Views of social gender roles seem to be more "traditional" here, and it seems amongst mainland Europeans as well. (All of this is strictly based upon my experience/things that I have heard, so I very well may be completely off base.) I held a door open for a group of friends, and one of them told me that I was quite "gentlemanly." Similarly, one of the girls in my group was told not to climb on something by another girl because "she's a girl." I dunno, I guess it was just kind of weird for me to hear those things.
24. You don't ask Germans who they are going to vote for.
25. Public transit <3
26. Kaufland > Wal-Mart

So yeah, that's about what I have got for now. I think this will probably be more of a running list than anything.