Socks, Eggs, and other weird things

I noticed a lot of small differences between Germany and the United States today. Among these were tie-dyed eggs for sale at the grocery store, a main train station with approximately 20 restaurants\food shops that did not have a single cost-free restroom, and the fact that German's wear black socks while Americans wear white. Just one of those things, I guess. Now for the big question, do I conform and buy black socks or do I remain true to my colors? Seriously. Of course the color of my socks is a trivial thing, but there are many more significant cultural cues that I sense are different here. In the States I generally know how far I can push the envelope of non-conformity and still retain effectiveness as an ambassador for Christ. Here, especially in the long term, this is a trickier thing because I do not have the same level of cultural sensitivity that I have in the US. For those of you who are familiar with my style of processing life, you should get a chuckle considering how I am turning things over in my mind at the moment.

In other news, I attended the English conversation group at the Shamrock Pub tonight. I got into a good conversation with a man studying to be a master electrician. We discussed his perceptions of life growing up in East Berlin and also the German take on issues surrounding immigration. A Bible study at Michael's dorm room followed. This week it was just him, Daniel, Martin, and I. It was interesting trying to follow a discussion of Acts entirely in German. I was encouraged by how many words and phrases I was able to pick out however. It was also nice to sing and pray with one another, even if I did trip over practically every German word I tried to speak.