Mr. Somers is a self-proclaimed lover of all things German. After having studied the language in university in the U.S., he traveled and worked throughout Germany for a number of years. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on German culture.

His humor and appreciation of the differences between Americans and Germans comes through in every chapter. Topics addressed include: the German transportation system, eating and drinking habits, celebrations and holidays, politics, music, and many more. The book is organized into 22 compact chapters making it easy for people to choose what is of interest to them.

Of particular interest to me was chapter 3,  titled Rules, Rules and More Rules: Is this allowed? It deals with how rule-oriented Germans are. For North Americans this can be a difficult transition to life in Germany as things are more flexible or negotiable in our society than they are in Germanic society. An example given in the book is that a regular citizen can reprimand you for jaywalking!

In sum, this is an excellent book and a fast and entertaining read for anyone looking for some insights into German culture.

Munich is a city of around 1.5 million inhabitants found in the southern portion of Germany in the state of Bayern or Bavaria. Bavaria is Germany’s largest state by landmass and is the heartland of tradition in Germany.  In this region it is not uncommon to see people wearing traditional clothes or Trachten on their way to festivals throughout the year.  In the countryside, the Catholic Church’s bells ring out on Sunday mornings to call people to worship and neighbors still greet each other with a friendly Grüss Gott!

Oktoberfest recently marked its 200-year anniversary, as it began as a Royal wedding celebration in 1810. However, since the early 1900s it has been more of a festival of the various breweries found in this part of the world. In fact, beer drinking, eating and traditional German Blasmusik are at the center of the celebration. Somewhere in the neighbourhood of 7,000,000 liters of beer are consumed annually from specialty Krüge, or beer mugs, in the various beer gardens.

Traditional German food is also consumed in enormous quantities. Some of the more popular dishes include Hänchen (roast chicken), Schweinebraten (roast pork), Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick), and many varieties of sausages or Würste,  eaten with mustard and large bread pretzels, or Brezel, (pictured above).  Common side dishes include dumplings, cooked cabbage and potato pancakes.

Local families make day visits and children enjoy carousel rides and other family entertainment. Many wear their traditional clothes that comprise of Lederhosen for men and Dirndl for women. People sit outside for hours enjoying the weather, socializing and people watching.  Once the sun sets, the younger crowds take over, drinking and carousing late into the night. Smaller Oktoberfests are also held in German communities around the world. The Alpen Club in Vancouver holds its own festivities in the first weeks of October every year.