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Q and A - Germany for Beginners, and finally the explanation why Coke is warm in Germany

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Now that I have lived in Europe for two years, the small little details that once jarred me, caught my notice as odd or unusual, don't seem odd or unusual whatsoever. Having family visit this last month brought this fact into stark relief. The questions they posed, innocently enough, seemed to come out of left field. Once you grow accustomed to your environment, you no longer think about the width of roads, or the lack of ice in sodas.

So here I offer up for all first-time visitors to Germany (or for those non-natives who've lived in Germany for a while), a question/answer guide that I have yet to see in a proper tour book. You might find it's of infinite more use, or at least entertainment.

Q: What is that smell?
A: Organic farming. Sounds better than it smells.

Q: Is it necessary for us to drive this fast?
A: Yes, it is absolutely necessary to drive this fast on the autobahn?

Q: What was that?
A: Considering we passed by it at 200km/h, and I've never been here before, I have no idea.

Q: Is this an alley? It seems awfully tight.
A: No, this is one of the main roads through this village.

Q: Are all roads this narrow?
A: No, some are more narrow.

Q: Is it me, or are these parking spaces narrow?
A: Oh, I suppose so. I thought these were rather roomy. You should see underground parking garages.

Q: Why do the semis have soft sides? It doesn't look right.
A: For ease of loading and unloading on narrow streets and other tight parking areas.

Q: What's that?
A: What's what?
Q: That (pointing to a pastry in a bakery case)
A: A croissant.
Q: What's it in German?
A: Croissant.

Q: Why is my Coke lukewarm?
A: They don't put ice in your drink unless you ask for it.
Q: Why is that?
A: Because.
Q: That's no answer.
A: I know, but I've been dying to give that answer since I was 4-years-old.

Q: Why is the driver behind you flashing his lights at you?
A: Um, yeah, just a second, I'm changing lanes. The driver was flashing me because I was not driving fast enough in the left lane, and he was, well, "motivated" in letting me know.

Q: Why am I so hot?
A: Because our apartment isn't air-conditioned. In fact, most of the county isn't air-conditioned. I am sorry, but we can't sleep with the refrigerator open.

Q: Why are there so many cranes everywhere?
A: How else do you lift heavy chunks of stone to build a house?

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