I have been staying on an American Cowboy Ranch for almost three weeks. The owner is a German woman, and the Head Rancher is her American husband. They operate a hospitality business as well as trainings for how to be a cowboy. I am staying in a cabin, and there are always a few other visitors staying here, too.
Beyond the language, the architecture, and streamlined efficiency by which Germans operate, I have felt very much at home and sometimes forget I am in Germany. However, that usually comes with a swift kick in the pants sooner than later.
Germans do not waste electricity, water, petroleum, food... or time. When my Americanness gets the better of me and I throw away a crust of bread, a German is sure to reach into the garbage bin and remove the bread and feed it to the chickens or dogs. When I take longer than ten minutes in the shower, a German is sure to remind me not to dwaddle. When I ask for a paper towel, they hand me a torn shirt, a scrap of fabric, or a wash rag. They are very conscience of their ecological footprints; yes, also their wallets.
I have used dishes and pans that might be older than my parents. The chair I am currently sitting on looks to be from the 1970s. Germans do not buy new things just "because." If what they already have is working, then they use it. In the rural area here, the buildings are all old. I haven't seen a newer building in this small town, except for the Netto grocery store (which everyone hates because it is a chain store, they have too much plastic packaging, and their sign shines too bright at night).
Almost every single German woman I have met is very (VERY) concerned with my size. "You don't even eat a lot!" one said. "But you aren't lazy or stupid" said another. "How can a professor be fat?"
Then they proceed to invite me to walk for hours in the German forest, or teach me how to do "Nordic Walking" which is just walking with two ski-like poles. When I tell them I am not interested in another four-hour hike because I have grading to do for my class, or because the three-hour hike we did earlier in the day was plenty for me, they act as though I am my own worst enemy. "But it is for your health." "Nature is the best cure."
They have a love affair with nature. I mean they eat, breathe, and sleep nature. 24/7 around the clock they dream of being in nature, or consuming nature, of owning nature, of being nature. They talk about their bond with animals, water, dirt, trees, and fresh air. They celebrate rain and storms. They paint nature on the sides of their sheds and garages. Every single day they talk about how much they love nature.
When they ride horses, they say they are "one with the horse" and can feel what the horse is thinking.
When they eat a tomato from the garden they caress it and speak to it like it is their lover.
When they go on a hike in the woods they never look at the path. They are always looking up at the trees or out on the water. They close their eyes, take deep breaths, and consume the natural world.
When they encounter an American who does not share their love of eating weeds that they just randomly pick up in the woods and eat, they react with shock.
I mean, I like nature. Sure, who doesn't. The beauty of a sunset, the peacefulness of being out on a boat in the evening, or riding a horse under moonlight... it is fantastic. I guess I just don't have that constant mindset to think about it all the time, or to want to be a part of nature. I am kind of jealous of that attitude. I want to be more in-tune with the horse next time I go riding. Last time I had no spiritual connection or natural mind meld with the horse. He pretended I wasn't even on his back telling him what to do, but literally every other rider seemed to have that connection. Can the horse sense I am American and do not possess the ability to commune with nature like the Germans can?
I am not sure if this is a rejection of modernity like other scholars have suggested. There is plenty of modernity around. BMWs, every kind of coffee maker ever invented, an oven that can cook six pies at one time, really expensive watches, and did I mention the BMWs (or Mercedes)? But the way the Germans I have encountered so far accumulate and appreciate the modernities is just different than in America, There isn't excess or surplus in their homes. There aren't unnecessary purchases or collections of "junk" hanging around. They use all the modern facilities (of course), but in a way that makes it seem like capitalism, greed, the need to have lots of jewelry, toys, clothes, etc is just not an important part of life at all. The American motto, "He who dies with the most toys wins" would be seen as just plain gluttonous and dumb here. And I agree.
I have a lot more to say. I am chewing on it and will report back later.
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