Arrival: First Impressions of Germany and Augsburg (Day 2): Sunday

The first thing I noticed was the local markets and grocery stores that were actually inside the airport. This was very unique compared to what we have in the United States. The prices also did not seem outrageously expensive, which again was very different from airports back home. During our travel day, a water and a protein bar cost me $14.99 at EWR. In comparison, a coffee in Germany was around 4 euros and a 10 piece package of fresh sushi was only 7 euros. Those prices felt much more reasonable and not nearly as painful when handing over my credit card.

While driving to the hotel, I noticed several car brands that I had never seen before. At first, this caught me off guard after such a long and busy day of traveling, but it quickly reminded me that I was in Germany and not Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Another interesting thing to notice was the gas prices, which were around eight dollars per gallon. It was unique to see how global events and international conflicts, such as the Iran situation, can affect fuel prices in other countries as well.

When we first entered the hotel, it was a little unsettling because of how small the room was. At the same time, though, I have lived in dorm rooms around the same size, so it was not a difficult adjustment. One thing I immediately noticed was how clean and well-kept the city seemed compared to back home and even around my apartment in North Oakland. Another observation from my first couple of hours in Germany was that the average person seemed to be in much better shape physically than what I typically notice back home in Pittsburgh.

I was able to go on a run shortly after arriving, which reinforced how clean and organized the area felt. It was very unique to be able to run through a city and then, only three or four miles later, suddenly find yourself surrounded by farmland. I was also surprised to come across a golf course during the run. Back home, my apartment is in Oakland, so I am used to running in a city environment. However, my parents live about twenty miles outside the city near farmland, so it was interesting to experience both settings combined into one location and one run.

It was difficult to immediately go on the city tour after traveling all day beforehand, but staying active helped prevent me from taking a nap and becoming even more tired. One of the most unique facts I remember hearing during the tour was that Augsburg has more bridges than Venice. I also thought the city’s affordable housing system was very interesting and found myself wondering why similar structures are not implemented in more places around the world. It was also fascinating how the residents who live there are expected to give back to the community and contribute in return for the privilege of affordable housing.

The housing complex being located directly in the middle of the city was also very cool to see, especially because it was gated and designed almost like a separate community within the city itself. It felt like a community inside of another community, with its own values, culture, and expectations. One question I immediately had, though, was why grocery stores in Augsburg close so early, around 8 p.m., and why hotel rooms typically do not include features like refrigerators or safes.