An African in Berlin

My trip to Germany has long been a secret dream of mine. Coming to the capital city of Berlin, I was kind of frightened and at the same time excited to finally get to where I had always wanted to go.

Berlin is vast -- not only in landscape, but also in terms of the many internal and complex questions about its identity that make it a home away from home for people from different cultures.

The integration of different societies has impressed me. I believe it is a culture that needs to be adopted by Africans as well as others.

Dealing with the past

I've also visited Berlin's Holocaust Memorial. An eerie silence seems to come over people when they walk through the many concrete blocks and this can easily become overwhelming as the concrete walls peer down at you. I think in many ways, it is also a comment on the Nazi thorn in Germany's side that the nation seems to see as a swastika tattooed on its identity.

I had expected to come to a city where racisms still exist. But the Germans proved me wrong in many ways. On a subway train, a white man sat down right next to me; that was something I did not expect at all and I even discussed it with my African friends when we got to the school where we attended German lessons for a week.

Fast transportation

Speaking of trains -- Germany's transportation system is the best when compared to all the countries that I have been to. I have been fascinated by the underground trains for their reliability and efficiency. In my opinion, I do not see a need for having a private car in Germany.

I had expected Berlin to be the only city I know in Germany, but I also got to visit Hamburg, Bonn, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich.

Bavarian traditions

Bavaria seems to be a haven of German history, illustrating the way the early Germans lived. Traditional garments are worn there and it seems that Bavarians are not only comfortable with their identity, but also proud of it. It was refreshing. The majestic Alps seem to offer a hideaway that was both beautiful and breathtaking.

Needless to say, we also got to taste a traditional Bavarian meal. I liked their pork, but the cabbage, Sauerkraut, had a strange taste -- it was too sour for me. The Bavarian staple food -- dumplings -- I did not like at all.

Culinary differences

Speaking of food: One of the things I will never forget about my time in Germany is the expression on people's faces when we ate at restaurants.

As Africans, we prefer to use our hands while eating. One waiter in Frankfurt came to us and explained that the cutlery is used for eating; we just looked at him and continued eating rice and pasta with our hands. He looked disturbed with our eating habits.

I remember at one restaurant in Cologne, people stared at me while I was eating a bone; even our tour guide looked amused. He asked, "Have you finished?" and I told him, "No, I am still eating the bone."

In Bonn, our guide wanted to take us to a famous steak house. We said we would rather eat vegetarian food than half-cooked steak.

Eating habits are not the only differences I discovered. I found it strange that alcohol is allowed from the age of 16 and people smoke in public places.

Freedom to kiss

Of all the things that have so far made me fall in love with Germany, the most important is freedom -- couples hug and kiss on the streets and no one seems offended. However, it looks strange to an African to see old people kissing -- to us it is something done behind closed curtains only.

I have to admit that the beauty of the German countryside and cities took my breath away. I do not regret my stay here and hope to return for many more visits.

Mathapeli Ramonotsi is a reporter for the weekly newspaper Public Eye in Lesotho's capital, Maseru. She came to Germany as a participant in the International Journalists' Programs.