March 21, 2008
It’s All Foreign to Me: Water
Learn some new vocabulary. In Germany and the UK, you can ask for “still water.” Although when in the Vaterland, you should probably pronounce it just a little different: “stilles Wasser,” or “schtill-ess vah-sir,” “sir” as in “Sir Paul McCartney.” At the supermarket in Germany, avoid bottled water with “Sprudel” or “Kohlensäure.”
Bring a water bottle with you. Yes, I know the airlines limit the amount of liquids that you can bring on a plane, but there is no law against an empty bottle. On our recent trip to England, I brought my 500 mL water bottle on the plane. Filled it up from the tap when we left the hotel in the morning, topped it off throughout the day, then made sure to empty it before we boarded the plane again. This not only saves money by avoiding paying out the watootsie for bottled water in a touristy destination, plus it reduces your carbon imprint (I know, I know, I’m not a crazy Green—I promise—but every little bit helps, and those six-pack water bottles are the worst!).
Order something new. “When in Rome…” That’s what Rob would say before digging in to yet another plate of fish and chips. And the same goes with regional beverages. We live in Bierland: Before you come visit us *cough, cough*, read up on some beers you’d like to try along with the other research you’re doing about your destination. They cost about the same as still water in a restaurant (crazy, I know). Not a drinker? Try a new juice–I guarantee that you will encounter a juice you’ve never heard of or that you are not accustomed to drinking. And if all else fails—or if you are just curious—try the juice and the sparkling water. You might be refreshingly surprised.
Oh yeah. Don’t ask for ice here.
No related posts. Check out these random posts.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Random Alert! German Facts and How Do You Use the Internet? | Linden's Pensieve
Nov 13, 2008 @ 15:27:49
[...] every student brings a large (1.5L) bottle of water (sparkling or still) or Apfelschorle, or a regular size bottle of Coke or Mezzo Mix (a personal fave), or these little [...]
Oct 03, 2008 @ 18:29:00
@the cap’m: You can ask for it that way here in DE, too. I was recently traveling with American family, and they ordered “natural” water. Guess what they got? Sparkling water. Guess they see things differently around here. :)
Sep 22, 2008 @ 10:53:00
When I lived in Austria, I asked for water “mit Gas”, but I’ve also heard it requested in other ways as well. Very good tip on the filling up a water bottle, it’s so much cheaper.
-MP
Jul 29, 2008 @ 11:19:00
@beth: And beer you shall have! :)
And believe me, after hearing all your stories, I am very glad I can drink the tap water!
@jackie: Wow, that’s very interesting. I wonder how that rumor started.
We always try to refill bottles at the in-laws, but the mother-in-law insists on our using a fresh bottle.
Jun 17, 2008 @ 21:05:00
While living in my dorm in Erlangen, one of the German girls saw us drinking tap water and looked disgusted. When we asked why the Germans didn’t, she said that it had fleas (as if we wouldn’t notice that!)
Mar 29, 2008 @ 16:06:00
I would only drink ‘sparkling’ water if I could douse it in gin and lime juice. Be happy you can drink tap water!!!
Up for a Beer,
Beth
Mar 28, 2008 @ 11:56:00
“Shock” is indeed the perfect word.
Over my years of swilling ice cold club soda – my favorites are Canada Dry for its strong taste and Schweppes for its powerful carbonation – I have time and again provided the curious with a “taste.” To a man and woman, their curiosity has been eradicated – instantly and permanently.
The “first sip” faces I see are usually unremarkable, but the “first gulp” faces can be pretty gruesome.