German Engineering and suchlike

One of the things I've noticed since being here is that certain things just make sense. This isn't to say that they don't make sense in the US, it's just that they're a little more thought-out here.

For example, the windows. These windows are double hinged so that, when the handle is turned one way, they open horizontally like a normal window. However, they also give you the option of turning the handle 90 degrees, this turning the window into a vertical-opening window that will stay open for the occasional gust. This is a tad disconcerting for first-time visitors, as the first tug on the handle causes the window to tilt towards you, making it feel as if the window will fall right on top of you. I've even heard of similar doors, and about a guy who tried to open the door and screamed when the top started coming down at him. I'm now in love with these windows. You can leave them open in vertical tilt mode, then open them horizontally to get more air or to stick your head out the window (if you so desire...)

Another thing I noticed is the inability to open doors from the outside. In the US you can open any unlocked door easily. Here, however, they are -for all intents and purposes- locked the moment they're closed. The handles on the outside of exterior doors don't actually turn, but are instead used to push or pull the door open once you've used a key to move the bolt. Some doors even require a key on the inside, as there is a dummy handle on each side of the door. This is great as theft prevention, as forgetting to double-lock the door isn't quite so bad when the thief can't turn a handle and walk in. However, I suspect it's a bit of a problem if you decide to take the trash out without a set of keys, and the untimely gust of wind shuts the door behind you.

My third example is silly, but it truly blew my mind. If you have ever been to the airport you know about the carts that can carry your suitcases for you. In the US, these are used in baggage claim areas that are connected directly to the outside, so you don't have to worry about stairs. However, the airports are connected to train stations here, so it's not so easy to maneuver without a few escalators on the way (the train station attached to the airport also blew my mind. Talk about ease of transportation...) To solve this problem, the inventors involved made a system in which you'd place the front wheels on the escalator, tug a handle, then roll the rest of the cart on. The handle allows the front wheels to drop down, thus leveling out the cart and allowing it to safely and easily ride down an escalator. Nothing says "Welcome to Germany" more than carefully-engineered baggage carts.

My final revelation for today (although I suspect I'll find more later) are the soy sauce fish. These are truly my favorite out of all of these inventions and doo-dads. Getting Sushi in US stores involves a cheap plastic box filled with sushi and cheap plastic bags of wasabi and soy sauce. If you're like me, you've often caused these bags to explode everywhere. You've also had to find ways of standing the partially-used baggy up so it doesn't leak.. and you've probably failed at that. Altogether, eating store sushi can be a bit annoying (poor me, complaining about difficult sushi...) Well, this is where the best invention ever comes in. In Germany, all sushi comes with a plastic fish, filled with soy sauce, each with a screw-on nose cap. The fish are made of a squeeze-able plastic that allows you to carefully coat sushi with the right amount of sauce, or to fill a small bowl without getting it everywhere. After serving yourself, you can easily re-cap the fish and save the soy sauce for later, without worrying about leaks. To add to that, they're cute. I've started a small collection, and I'm considering them as Christmas gifts for people back home.... I think they'll be a hit.