I love Germany - its many different corners, landscapes, traditions and people. Especially people.
I met so many awesome Germans in my short life. They are everywhere. When I was studying in Scotland the most Erasmus students were from Germany. When I travelled around Europe on many long trips the mot common traveller was German. When I moved to Czech Republic the first person that helped me out to avoid homelessness was German.
In fact, even when I was travelling around Germany the people I met the most were German ... :D.
And all of them were awesome. Many of them became great friends during those periods of my life. Quite a few of them enchanted me and attracted me with their values, hobbies, personality and looks. And a couple made me experience what I've never experienced before (the good and the bad, the whole rollercoaster). I will describe few of them later.
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Sometimes I wonder why I meet so many amazing Germans.
It might be purely because I have the biggest sample size with them and also because the people I meet are naturally filtered to be travelers and/or open-minded, open for exploration, etc.
Yeah, that's probably big part of the reason. Though I like to also think there are different factors. I'd like to list a few common characteristics I noticed on the ones I met (and not surpisingly those characteristics are ones I value highly in people).
Open-mindness and love for exploration
German people I meet are open-minded and love to explore.
This can range from exploring new places, countries, cousines and cultures; exploring new ideas and view points; or new ways of living.
This is probably the biggest reason why I love them and is a common thread among all the other characteristics.
I appreciate and treasure values like these highly. It's a root of many good connections, conversations and encounters. Which leads me to the second characteristic.
Good Dicussions
This is very interconnected to the last one. The people I met love to discuss their ideas and viewpoints as well as listen to others. This really helps to get to know them faster and learn something along the way. I had very interesting discussions on topics like: politics and government; polyamory and monogamy; consent and cuddling; relationship and emotions; fears, dreams and hopes; depression and metal state; social pressure, friendships and being yourself.
A very varied and interesting topics. Many brought me some new insights, others brought me a potential to work on my own ideas as well as help explaining them and finding someone who is willing to listen. That is priceless.
Drive and Passion
There is a stereotype that German people are hard-working and go for what they want. Well, I think it's fair to say that ... it's true. The German people I met were always striving to improve their lives and live life on their own terms, even if that was getting a job and exceling at it.
The dedication is fascinating and flows to all areas of life, from love, work and travel. Some might say that sometimes it even goes to extremes. But me being an extremist at times I quite appreciate and love when I see something like that.
Love for travel and adventure.
This is probably just the fact that I met all of them while travelling or living abroad so they were bound to be travelers so I will not contemplate this one ...
Love for Food is what connects us.
A German friend once shared with me an article of how breakfast and food in general is very important for Germans. They value their food and food culture a lot. Eating is a ceremony and is shared with friends and family. This is great as in today's world we miss this so much.
I actually met many Germans by organizing a Cooking society where we cooked different foods from different cultures. Most people there were Germans.
Alongside that I had many nice dinners with many people with whom we cooked something together while talking and sharing experiences. I actually really miss that now in my life.
Pro tip: If you want to get an attention of a German, invite them for dinner that you will cook together.
Well, as you can see , these are some great characteristics - at least in my opinion.
While having a longer trip around Germany I also fell in love with two places in particular where I think a concentration of amazing people is higher and that is Berlin and Freiburg. Both are in a way hipster cities with chill vibe, creative and artistic people with lots of love to share. I would love to live in both of these places for extended (6+ months) period of time as they are both unique and I fell in love with them. I spent a pretty decent ammount of time in both of them. I lived in Freiburg for a month or so while I was living my homeless lifestyle.
And I am actually going to Berlin again beginning of July for a week if anyone wants to meet up.
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Now I kind of feel like that I want to quickly describe few Germans I had a privilege to meet.
(The names are irrelevant and might be changed)
Let's start with Freya. I met her in Scotland while travelling. We met on the northest point of Isle of Skye in a Bothy (basically a free cottage). She was walking from that point all the way to the south of the Island - in total a 7 day trip of walking. Pretty impressive you might think. But this was her second stop as just few days before that she finished a three week walking trip of walking along the Scottish border. Now that's truly amazing. And she had a courage to do that all on her own.
Then there is Elisa. A very bubbly Couchsurfer I had a privilege of hosting a long while back whom later on invited me to a festival she was volunteering at after we messaged each other after a year without keeping in touch and me just mentioning I will be travelling around Germany for a month or so. This girl is so friendly and full of energy. She can make friends with everyone. Though she has her downs as well so it's not all sunshine and rainbows but that does not stop her from putting a smile on people's face.
That reminds me of Sebastian. An amazing man whom I met through an online self-development course for men and whom I met in person last time I was in Germany. He also saved my ass from freezing to death in Black Forrest. This guy has a huge heart, wants to help the world and bring piece to it and is very social but also with the ability to have a deep and meaningful conversation. He's a true man many people can aspire to be.
Then Maren, a journalist twin from South of Germany that invoked many strong emotions within me. She's an active young woman that keeps herself busy but also needs her alone time with a dream of writing a book and exploring every inch of English Countryside. I wish amazing things to this girl wherever she is.
And last but not least, Andrea. A person with whom I had many deep conversations and discussions about emotions, psyche, depression, sexuality and so on. Woman with a great heart working hard to keep it open to the world even when she feels like closing it and wanting to not miss out on her life. A beautiful person with a great courage and sense of self-exploration.
Truly beautiful people all of them and I am really glad I had an opportunity to meet them in my life, however long or short the encounter was.
And somehow, they were all German.
Love you all.
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About the Author;
Hi, I am Joe and I love freedom.
Freedom of all sorts, social, financial, emotional, physical, freedom from your stuff or place.
My biggest passion is to show that it is possible to live life being free, work towards my freedom, and help others obtain their own versions of freedom.
I also love exploration and experimentation (of all senses).
My articles are about all of this (Freedom, exploration, experimentation)
as well as my own transparent and authentic experiences.