but, I like cooking and I like food and I think a lot about them both, more than I used to before moving here. Is this because I am not as busy as I once was and have more time to try out recipes? Is it because some of the foods I am used to don't exist in Germany and I have to make them from scratch or find a subsititute? Is it because Brian and I have gone semi-vegetarian and I have to do my homework to buy local food and meat that's sustainably raised? Is it because I have an inner fat girl that loves to eat and is constantly frustrated by my exercise routine?
The answer to all of these questions is yes.
Eating has entered the world of German politics as well. Over the summer, the Green party proposed that for one day every week, workplace cafeterias across the country serve only vegetarian dishes. They would have also added a PR campaign encouraging Germans go meat-free once a week at home too. If you are interested, read this article from The Guardian entitled Wurst policy ever? . Sausage jokes are just too easy sometimes.
Forget the euro crisis, the minimum wage, and immigration. German politicians and their constituents got all fired up about meat. Sure, eating less meat is good for your health and really helps the environment, but should the government really get between a German and his wurst? Socialism can only go so far. Sure, protect children from parents who give them funny names. Slap a fine on anyone who crosses the street on a red light. Make it illegal to wash your own car on your driveway. But don't tell us what we have to eat for lunch.
Germans eat a lot of meat, more than many other Europeans. But who eats the most meat of anyone in the world? The Americans, of course. We do everything big - even ourselves. There's no way an American political party would get away with imposing vegetarianism on anyone. They can't even pass new gun control laws. Imagine if the feds took away the Big Mac every Tuesday? They might as well take away freedom.
The Greens did pretty poorly in the election this Fall. Was it because they spoke out against eating meat? Was that the issue they wanted to fight for? It's hard for me to speculate right now... the inner fat girl is getting hungry. I'm off to cook dinner.
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About Me
- Julia
- Thanks for coming to my blog. It started as a way to keep in touch with family and friends, and now has become an ongoing project. I'm an American living in Germany and trying to travel whenever I can. I write about my experiences as an expatriate (the interesting ones and the embarrassing ones), and about my travels. There are some recurring characters in this blog, particularly my husband Brian and several of our friends. The title comes from the idea that living in a foreign country means making a lot of mistakes. So the things you used to do easily you now have to try over and over again. Hopefully, like me, you can laugh at how idiotic it feels. If you have happened upon my blog, then welcome. Knowing that people are reading what I write makes me keep going. Feel free to write comments or suggestions for future posts.
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