Cultural differences: edition 1

Many of the cultural differences that are part of what some consider to be "culture shock" are things that I already do habitually in my every day life and wish the rest of Americans would do too - or things I want to do but cannot because I'm in America.  Examples:

• Compost to throw out less: here, like many US cities are starting to do, you have to pay per bag of garbage you throw out.  This encourages high rates of recycling and composting.  Less ugly landfills.  Less pollution (less transporting to landfills).  Everybody wins.  Except the lazy person who doesn't want to throw it in the other bin.  
• Using less water: brushing your teeth and washing the dishes with the water on high is wasteful - half the time you're not even using the water.  Here, showers are shorter, and they (we?) use less water to do the above activities.  Again, why not?
• Using less heat: if we have warm clothes, why not wear them instead of walking around in tshirts in our 75 degree houses in the winter?  Heating is really expensive in Berlin, so people are inclined to keep rooms at about 60 degrees, and when you're not in your room, you shut the heat off. 
• Using less electricity: if you're not in the room you don't need the lights on, no?  Electricity is also very expensive in Berlin, so they're keen on not only turning things off but unplugging them when you don't use them.  It takes an extra.. 3 seconds?
• Public transportation: love it. Incredibly efficient. If not, using bikes is obviously second popular. And yes, they will run you over if you're in their lane! 
• Shoes off in the house! A great rule.
• Duvet cover: Back when I used typical american bedding before college, I'd always wake up tangled up and the sheet, blankets, and comforter would all be a mess.  These things are the best - all in one and super warm.  

But, of course, there are the norms that are a little harder to get used to, but they're so small that it's very easy for me to adjust to:

• Frische Luft (fresh air): Every morning it is essential (essential!) that you turn your heat off and open the window wide for 10 minutes.  During every season, even if it is 16 degrees outside.  You leave your room during this time and allow the room to air out, as it prevents mold from going (mold is common sans Frische Luft because the buildings are so old and not ventilated). 
• Humongous pillows: I'm talking twice the size as normal pillows.  Alex is in this photo (below) for reference.  They're also flat as a pancake so I bought myself a small throw pillow to use for sleeping.
• Ibuprofen: I visited the Apotheke today (sort of like a drug store but one on steroids) smallest size it comes in is 400mg.  Holy smokes! 

• I just went onto YouTube to listen to some of my favorite Hillsong and Passion songs, and they aren't available in Germany. Probably the saddest thing I'll encounter in culture shock.  Feel free to buy me the CD on iTunes :) 
• Edit: Water with gas (sparkling water): it's the main drink here.  When you ask for water, that's what you get. It's actually difficult to find water without gas, so we've all been drinking less water in general.  That's probably the cultural difference that keeps re-surprising you time after time.

I think the fact that a lot of my values align with German ones has helped me not have as much culture shock as other students are having.  I know I've only been here for a short time and their is still culture shock to come, but the immediate and main things that we've been briefed on and have experienced are all easy for me to adjust to, which is great.  When we go to Russia, I don't think that this same theme of little-culture-shock will be the case there!! ;)