Australia vs Germany

So, here it is, the Australia vs Germany post. Possibly one of the worst experiences of my time over here. As usual and as people usually do, I'll start from the start. From the beginning of the day I was hyped and twitching with nerves. Steffen and I dressed up in our gear. Him in his German shirt with 'Kunze 86' on the back and me with my Socceroo scarf and shirt. We rode our bikes around town a bit and the stares were already coming my way but I was proud. I must say, we would have been an awkward site. An Australian and a German riding and walking together. How dare they! But all was good. After awhile we parked our bikes at the train station and caught the train into Frankfurt. There was people dressed up everywhere. I had never seen so many German flags and people in German colours before. And here was me, in green and gold. As we made our way to maccas, for a quick bite before heading onto the Frankfurt Stadium, this middle aged couple ran up to me with big smiles. They asked where we were watching the game and I immediately picked up on their accents. AUSSIES! It was so nice and calming to meet them. The lady said she hoped Australia would win but me and the man just looked at each other and were like 'Nooo'. I for the first time really didn't want us to win and I knew I had nothing to worry about. I predicted a 3-1. So we had our lunch and walked back to the main station where even more fans were running around. There was people selling flags and scarfs, extra security, people blowing into their tri-coloured trumpets and then just common people wanting to just get out of all the commotion. I stuck close to Steffen the whole time and told him, quite seriously, to never leave me alone for the entire time.

We arrived at the stadium and landed perfect seats right in front of the big screen. 1 Australian, 40,000 Germans. Well, there were some other people dressed as Aussies but they were actually from America and England. Pretenders. I also saw another Australian flag on the other side of the stadium but that didn't help. The German anthem was played and the stadium goes crazy. The Australian anthem is played and I go crazy. Steffen helped me hold up my flag though so that was nice. The person sitting next to Steffen tried to put a German flag on my face like Steffen has above but I proudly kept my face clean. First goal is scored by Germany. Well, I have never received so many looks in my life. I didn't mind though, it was a good goal and I can respect that. Besides, there was plenty of time for Australia to score. Yeah, right. Germany scored again. To me, that was Schwarzer's fault, he shouldn't have come so far out of the box. Still it was OK, my 3-1 prediction was still possible.

We get to half time and I begin talking to my surrounding Germans. I assure them all that Australia is still the better country no matter what and that I just want Australia to score one goal. Just one dammit. The man next to Marco also wanted us to score because if his prediction came true (4-1) his wife would make him breakfast in bed for a year. Good luck with that one. Second half begins. Surely our time was now. Germany gets a few close ones and everyone in the stadium stands up cheers (Germany misses) they all sit down. This is when I'd jump up and cheer, making some fun of them. Tim Cahill gets his red card. To me, as soon as he is out, Australia is out. Of the whole World Cup, that is. Steffen agreed that it was really harsh and I said anything from now on will be unfair. The ref only got worse along with the score. Germany scored again and I just buried my head in my flag while everyone around me is jumping and patting my head. So ok, 3-1, still possible. I told the people around me Germany isn't allowed to score again, it was our turn! It wasn't. Good ole Deutschland strikes again, and that my friends, was bad. I spent the whole time wrapped in my flag, my head in my hands and elbows on knees, waiting for something heaven sent. At 88 minutes Steffen makes the decision to start walking to the train and I agree.

We were outside the stadium when it finished and all you could see were bright lights flashing and hear people cheering. I wish Australia could make such a win so we could celebrate that much one day. The Germans were so jubilant. Believe me, unless you are in Germany at the same time as a similar occasion you will never see so many happy Germans in the one place like I have. In a way that is sad. 4-0 was a severe loss and I can't say I was happy about it, but Germany is the better team, everyone knows and that's ok. But what happened next, in my point of view, was uncalled for. We were walking towards the train with 1000's of other people and then a group behind me start singing, 'AUSTRALIA IST SCHEIßE'!! over and over. Then it was 'SHIT ON KOALA'S' and I had people laughing in my directing. I had never been in such a situation. A place where I have so many people shouting that the thing I am most proud of is shit. I couldn't help but take it all personally. It required a lot of self control to keep quiet and keep walking. The only thing I did say was 'At least I'm not German!' I wasn't going to go further because then I would be like them. I was holding the tears back as we boarded the train and things kept going. I have no problem with people celebrating. Germany has a fantastic team, they should be celebrating, jumping up and down, blowing into their incredibly annoying trumpets. But leave Australia alone. Steffen put on his Australia shirt to help me out a bit so I wouldn't feel so alone and it also shut some people up on the train. But still it's not what you're wearing on the outside. It's who you are on the inside, and that's Australian.

Finally the train journey ended and we got to our bikes. Steffen suggested we go to the centre of Offenbach to see the party. Ha ha, no. I just wanted to get inside and the sooner the better. Without waiting for Marco and Steffen I jumped on my bike and speedy gonzala-ed home. The little light from my bike leading the way through the dark park. I got home in record time that night. Steffen and I got inside and I just burst, incredibly shaken from the new and never again experience. I got Mum on skype and she calmed me down. By 1am things were better and Steffen and I talked about it all more so we could understand both sides. Naturally at times during the evening I wasn't too impressed with him but that's just emotions from the game. Afterwards we just talked about the actual game, something that is a blur and hadn't been focused on. Eventually sometime past 2am I fell asleep.

And now I've come home from work and Steffen arrived soon after with a jar of Vegemite for me. All is well.

Lessons Learnt

For the whole first month of being in Deutschland I was sick for about 80% of the time and now I have got it again really bad. I just can't stop coughing, sneezing and everything else that comes with a head cold or whatever this is. I'm actually sorry for my close quarter neighbours that they have to listen to me all day. Anyway, amongst this illness I've been reflecting on my time here since I've officially hit 6 months and Ive decided to do a little list of some things, so here goes:

1. There is no foolproof way to escape getting sick when you live with your sick partner. You will ALWAYS get sick too.
   
2. German locks are messed up. I'll never forget the cold snowy day I spent on the steps outside waiting for Steffen to get because I couldn't unlock the door. Or the day the teachers at school had to spend a few minutes teaching me how to unlock the door.
3. In Frankfurt the pigeons don't move for you. YOU move for the pigeons. This especially
   counts when riding a bike.... Stupid obese pigeons. The same practice goes for some people in H&M as well but we won't go there.
4. If your boyfriend works in a lounge and a football game is on don't count on him being home till that's finished even if the shift finished long beforehand.
   
5. Also I've learnt that if I tell Steffen not to buy something i.e an extremely loud German World Cup Horn, he will just get his best friend to buy it and bring it over later.
6. Always check under the couch when you've lost your wallet. It will save you 2 hours at the police station with a policeman that thinks he's God's gift to the world.
7. Macarons from Frankfurt are like dog poo to the one's in Paris.
8. How childish and unreliable adults can be towards their work commitments really amazes me sometimes. Definitely opposes the environment I grew up in.
9. That the German language sounds its worse when Germans are trying to prove a point or are complaining. Omg, I can't stand it.
10. German hairdressers have a thing for cutting your hair short, Steffi confirmed all my suspicions on that one.
11. Sunday is the worst day in Germany. Nothing is open, everything is dead. I hate it.
    
12. DHL and Deutsch Post are incredibly unreliable.
    
13. Never ride in the bike lane going across the bridge that goes directly into the CBD of Frankfurt. Exchange to the footpath otherwise you will find yourself in the middle of two fast lanes of traffic. I really thought I was going to end that day in hospital.
    
14. I've been fortunate enough to experience and/or witness the 'high-life' on a number of occasions here and I've really learnt that money doesn't make you happy.
    
15. Red wine will always be better than white wine but red champagne is the best, with the slightest exemption for Moet & Chandon.
16. The best full German conversations I've ever had were with old men. First being Steffen's Opa, he's awesome. Second being an old man at Steffs Lounge.
    
17. It always seems really special to see Germans being proud to be German, waving their little flags and all.
18. Toom is the only place to do your grocery shopping in Germany. Don't bother with Aldi, Penny Markt, Tegut, or any other and Rewe is only good for small supplies like Spar in Australia and in France Match is your best bet.
    
19. And most importantly After-Eight (spearmint choc chip) is the best ice cream to buy from an Eis Cafe and Cookie Dough is way better than New York Super Fudge when it comes to Ben & Jerry's.

And here are some pics of my six months to end with.

Triumphs

I have been very busy over the last two days. 5 to 6 hours cooking everyday at work as it's expo week for the kids. Fun Fun Fun, let me assure you. I've also ridden my bike 20kms each day to Frankfurt and back. Buying Roxy swimmers, top and a free beach towel for summer, fake tan for summer, Hollister spray and lotion for summer and some macarons because I felt like it. I also did exercises both days when I came home, for summer. Thankyou Cindy whitmarch, that hurt.

Amongst all of this I overcame a little fear I have. It's quite silly and I'm sure can only be understood if you've been in a similar situation. My hair, materialistic as I sometimes am, is extremely important. The first time I had my hair done in Germany Steffen organised it all, which was fine. But I got handed the learner hairdresser, and I understand we're all learners at some stage, but please don't learn on me! Result: my hair was cut too short and the foils weren't even close to my scalp and it took 4 hours. Steffen went mad over how many times I said 'My hair!'. This time I decided on a new hairdresser and I wanted to be able to go down and book it myself. So I came home from work on Monday and just mopped around trying to stop myself from crying because I was scared that it would end up resulting the same way it did when I went to pick up my coat from the dry cleaners months ago. The lady was extremely rude and her and her friend laughed at me for my slowness in understanding them. Thanks for that. Back to the present, Steffen left for work and I rode my bike into the city to book my hair. Trying to look my cutest (because it always helps to gain their sympathy) I walked to the desk and it went like this:

Me: Hallo, Ich komme aus Australien und my Deutsch ist nicht so gut aber ich möchte diese (points to which hair package I want).
Lady: Deutsch Deutsch Deutsch. 12 folien ist nicht viele. deutsch deutsch deutsch.
Me: Ihr denkst mehr?
Lady: Viele mehr!
Me: Ok das ist ok.
Lady: deutsch deutsch deutsch Mitwoche?
Me: Klar.
Lady: deutsch halb driezehn deutsch. crazy deutsch.
Me: ....... Ahh Warte bitte. ( I'm suddenly lost in translation and my mind is too full). Funfzehn Uhr?
Lady: Ok Ich schrieben es für sie. Haarschnit auch ja?
Me: Ja ja. Ok danke tschüss. Bis Dann

And so I walked away a proud woman. Fully basic German was used but I had a good experience which is all that mattered. To talk to adults in German, for me, takes a lot more confidence than for the kids, they don't care and somehow always understand me. So that is my story and I'm getting my hair done on Wednesday at 3pm so you all know ; ) and I've been told to wear a dress that night. Steffen has a surprise! I'm so excited.
Bis bald