Are Germans more romantic than Americans?

This is something that I sometimes find myself wondering.  Romantic might not be the best way to put it but it's close.  None of my friends back home ever jet off to Paris for the weekend with their significant other but practically every couple I know of in Germany has done that at least once.  Including H and I.  It doesn't get more romcom than Paris in Summer.  I know it's not fair, Paris is only an hour away but surely great big America has something similar.  Wine country?  New York?  Miami?  New Hampshire?

Anyway, I wonder if I'm the only one who shares the sentiment that Germans make better relationship material.  Here are some random observations.  Keep in mind that this is just my perspective.

1.  Germans are not commitmentphobes.  It seems like everyone is always in a relationship and the relationships are always serious.  They usually move in together a lot more quickly than my friends in the US.  I never hear Germans complain that someone won't commit or won't take the relationship to the next level.  I've also never heard anyone complain about living with their significant other and not getting a timely marriage proposal. It's always meet, move in together, maybe get a dog and then break up or get married.  Rinse and repeat until you find the right one or decide to have kids.

2. A lot of Germans like their significant other and children.  This is weird.  I'm so used to Americans who complain about the burden of family life that I was actually shocked to hear my students say they didn't want to go on business trips to South Africa, New York or Australia because they don't want to be away from their families.  Say what?  I was always under the impression that everyone wanted to get away from their families!  That all parents dreamed of weekends lounging on sandy beaches with cocktails in hand getting plenty of 'me time'.  Not always so.  When asking Germans with families what they did over the weekend the answer is always something like 'I played with my children and took my wife shopping.' or 'We took the children to the animal park and then I took my husband out to dinner.'  For real.  Germans also like to talk about how great their families are.  They always say positive things about their significant others and children.  It's scandalous, I know.

3. They travel together.  Either as a couple or a family, Germans are all about travel.  And it's not like they don't also travel with their friends as well.  Taking family/couple trips seems to strengthen relationships and everyone loves to talk about their awesome travel.

4. Germans are all caring and gooey deep down inside.  They might have a stone cold heart reputation but once you get to know them they are actually all sweet and thoughtful.  Are you sick?  Expect the Germans to make you chicken noodle from scratch and bring you flowers and medicine and take out your trash.  Are you a student strapped for cash?  That's ok, the Germans will totally fly you to Berlin and put you up in a hotel for the week.  They also like to cook romantic dinners, drink champagne, and might surprise you with thoughtful gifts and will give your their coat if you're under dressed and cold.  They also really, really love their pets.

5. They don't seem to care if you split the bills 50-50.  They just love you, even if you're poor.*  You can move in and they will pay the rent.  They don't mind.  They might also buy you groceries and drive you around.

6. They return your phone calls and text messages.

7. Sometimes they are 1980s cheesy-romantic but they think it's cool.  So if you send a stupid sounding drunk text it's probably not going to be a deal breaker.

8. I've never met any Germans with Peter Pan syndrome.  They seem to be, overall, more responsible at a younger age.  They usually get their own flats when they go to school or start working so they learn important life skills like how to clean a bathroom and cook an egg.  Ok, so a lot of the college educated Germans don't have real jobs until they're in their late 20s but still, knowing how to mop the floor and pay the utility bill on time is priceless.  It also helps that they don't usually end up living in their parent's basements.

Any more thoughts?  No? Ok.

The end.

*This may apply to women more than men.

European makeup

This is a post about makeup.

Most German women don't wear as much makeup as Americans.  Since moving here I've given up eyeliner and eyeshadow except on special occasions.  I'm terribly vain so I won't leave the house without makeup unless I'm jogging.  I still wear it every day, just a bit more natural than I would if I were living in the States. It's taken me years of searching before I found products in Europe to replace the ones I was buying in the US.  It's so very, very hard.  Most of the makeup I bought in the US isn't sold in Europe. 

One of my biggest obstacles was finding mineral foundation.  Almost all the mineral foundation in Germany has glitter in it!  It sparkles.  I do not want to sparkle.  I just want an even skin tone.  Every time I would compliment one of my friends in the US on their flawless skin they'd say 'thanks but actually I'm wearing (insert name of mineral foundation that can't be bought in Europe)'.

I thought I could run down to the nearest drug store and pick up some L'oreal mineral foundation BUT no.  Drug stores in Germany only carry this stuff in colors like Buff, Golden and Beige.  If you've never been to Northern Europe, let me tell you, there is no sunlight here.  It's almost impossible to get a tan so I don't have one.  I'm pale, pale white.  I have no idea why, but apparently German drug stores think everyone has a nice dark tan or don't buy makeup that matches their skin tone.  Anyway, I finally found one single brand, ArtDeco, that doesn't sparkle and is pale so that's what I use.

I was also happy to discover that Burt's Bees lip balm is sold in most Budnikowski drug stores and there are Mac stores in some Douglases.   

My European makeup essentials below.

Dior mascara, Burt's Bee lip balm, Art Deco mineral foundation, Neutrogena blemish concealer, Art Deco under eye concealer, Dior Peachy Keen blush, Mac eyeshadow and eyebrow powder

The last baby's clothes post ever

Ok, I forgot Zara.

I'd probably go broke if I tried to buy even half of this stuff but maybe I can find some of it on sale.

One more baby clothes post

I'm having so much fun with this. Just indulge me a little bit.  I haven't bought anything from H&M besides the navy polka dot dress in the last set.  But here are some of things I am thinking about.  I really like the navy, red and coral stuff.  Also the floral dresses, so cute!