Submitted by Susanne Bacon. Volunteering always was something more rewarding to me than a nuisance. Though in Germany it had way less meaning to me, and I was hardly able to do any once I was a full-time journalist. But even at school camps, I found it more fun to help dry the dishes or […]
Home from Home
Home from Home: Corn
Submitted by Susanne Bacon. The first time I had corn was sometime in the 70s – from a jar of mixed pickles. I loved it. It was about the same time when, as seven-year-olds, we kids of the neighborhood broke into a farmer’s corn field and helped us to corn on the cob. I loved […]
Home from Home: Reading
Submitted by Susanne Bacon. Have you ever thought over how much your reading shapes your mindset, but how it also is defined by what nation you belong to? Obviously, most people’s first books will be in their mother tongue. Mine weren’t. And my favorite was an American one, “One Morning in Maine”.
Home from Home: Dining out
Submitted by Susanne Bacon Have you ever wondered why Americans abroad are pretty quickly recognized as such as soon as they enter a restaurant? Especially in Germany? Even though they might not have a military haircut and not speak overly loudly? Here are some fun facts that I discovered over the years.
Home from Home: Music
Submitted by Susanne Bacon I come from a music addicted family and married into another music addicted one. For both branches that means a history of concerts, wherever we were able to grab one. And yet, our experiences could probably not be more different.
Home from Home: Crowned Heads
Submitted by Susanne Bacon A few weeks ago, the world was following another British Royal Wedding, and US magazine covers were plastered with the happy young couple. As these pictures slowly fade in our memories, the internet is following suit with images of a brand-new duchess traveling with “the” Queen, and social media are overflowing […]
Home from Home: Ice Cream
Submitted by Susanne Bacon Hot summer days in my German 70s childhood are connected with the taste of juicy, tangy peaches and – ice cream. I will never forget the cold strawberry taste on Sunday afternoons when my parents took my brother and me for walks, usually dipping into a tiny corner pub just to […]
Home from Home: Fireworks
Submitted by Susanne Bacon It’s this time of year again – Independence Day firework sales are soon beginning everywhere. Wait, not everywhere – only on native American reservations. And possession is restricted as well. I’m not entirely bewildered by the concept. In my German past, there were restrictions as well.
Home from Home: Cabbage and Taters
Submitted by Susanne Bacon I have been called some names over here after my arrival. One of them was “sauerkraut” or “Kraut”. There is worse you could be called – still … Actually, I like sauerkraut. When I was a child, my mother always gave me some fresh from the can, and as a grown-up […]