Germany, with Ajusshi beside you
Find your way, even on an unfamiliar street.
Lost in Germany? Donβt panic. Iβll show you whatβs here and what matters!
What do you need a hand with?
Find food
Letβs find a meal that hits the spot.
SojuWith Soju, the person across the table matters more than the glass. You can learn the pouring manners; sharing a laugh comes without instructions.SnacksA big bag lasts no longer in good company. Never mind; sharing a snack beats counting the crumbs alone.Ready mealsA good dinner need not take all afternoon. Some days, making yourself something warm is an achievement in its own right.NoodlesA few minutes feel surprisingly long beside a noodle pot. Still, impatience mostly earns you a chewy lesson.BanchanThe smallest dishes often make the whole table feel complete. In life, too, the quiet companions can be the ones you owe the most.SweetsPlenty of things are too sweet for me, until the grandkids start smiling. Getting older softens your knees and your resistance to buying another slice.
Find products
Iβll show you where to find what youβre looking for.
Where does Mr. Park shop?Knowing plenty of shops does not guarantee a good shopping trip. Know what you need, or you may come home with three bargains and no dinner.Where can I find beauty products?The finest cream on the shelf mainly benefits the shelf. Looking after yourself starts with the little things you actually use.Where can I find makeup?It never hurts to look pretty for Mr. Park. As the Korean saying goes, βμ·μ΄ λ κ°β β clothes give you wings. A little extra sparkle cannot hurt either.Where can I find clothes?You learn more about clothes by wearing them than by reading the label. If you cannot wait to take them off at home, the famous name did little for you.Where can I find food?Shop hungry and even your basket develops an appetite. Plan dinner first and your fridge will have fewer surprises to accommodate.Where can I find furniture?You can buy furniture in a day; a home takes longer. Start with a chair and let living there show you what belongs beside it.
Places to visit
Start with an outing the whole family can enjoy.
CitiesA photo tells you as little about a city as a handshake tells you about a person. Walk one more street beyond the famous square.German statesOn the map, a line separates the states; at the dinner table, the discussion is just getting started. Judge Germany by one region and you have only tasted the starter.Historic eventsHistory does not answer every question we have today. Standing where it happened can still make us a little slower to judge.Korean connectionsA connection to Korea cheers me up far from home. I still take a second look; a good story needs more than my enthusiasm.Places Koreans rarely knowUnknown does not automatically mean wonderful. But follow only other peopleβs favorites and you may never discover your own.Places every Korean has seenA famous place may deserve its reputation, but you owe no viewpoint a visit. I would rather the family look happy than just the holiday photo.
Gifts to bring home
I have a few ideas worth packing.
KnivesA good knife shines most in everyday use. With gifts, I value the hand reaching for it again more than the grand surprise when it is opened.SnacksSharing makes the portions smaller and the stories longer. That gives an edible gift more to offer than its weight in your suitcase.Drugstore findsA small gift need not show little thought. Remembering what someone uses every day does half the choosing for you.ToysA toy really becomes a gift when you play together. The grandkids may remember you on the floor longer than the price on the box.WineChoose wine with the person you want to share it with in mind. A good conversation thankfully never starts by checking the price of the bottle.CuriositiesSome objects bring more stories than practical use. Just do not buy every one, or the family will end up living in a museum.
Everyday tools
Find local alternatives and first-day tips.
Taste TranslatorWait for the exact taste of home and dinner may be late. Sometimes one familiar note is enough to make the evening feel a little warmer.Show-to-staff phrasesWait until your German is perfect and you may stay hungry at the counter. Try the sentence or show it on your phone; mind reading is not part of the service.First days & daily lifeNobody is born knowing the bottle-deposit rules. Asking once is usually easier than making three trips to the wrong door.