The Puma Den: Munich

Some people say that you can never be lost if you have nowhere to go. This is a valuable way of thinking when you are backpacking. You really don’t have a schedule, rather goals. Sometimes you accomplish the things you set out for and sometimes you find new things that take over your brain and new goals are made. Life is made up of little events that fall in consecutive, yet random order. Sometimes you haven’t lived until you have gone so far outside your comfort zone to see what you’re made of.

In Germany I realized many things, the biggest being I was alone. I was six hours away from anyone at home, I could not call my parents for help, and I do not know any German. Those three things combined to make me feel like a speck of dust in the world. I have never felt helpless before, and I did not want to start then. I had directions and an address, and though I don’t know what anything said, I was able to maneuver through the subway and the trams to my new roommate Alex.

Luckily for me, Alex speaks amazing English. We began to talk about the basics…politics, careers. After some chat, we decided to take it to the bar downstairs for my first German beer. As we drank and talked the hours evaporated and it was like we had been friends for years. We were even joined by Alex’s flatmate for a few rounds and a game of darts. Sobriety was long gone and still we talked about Germany and the U.S. and random other things. By the time we ran out of things, the sun was up and it was 7 a.m. I was comfortable with my choice to stay with Alex.

My next big goal as an American in Munich was to experience the mighty Oktoberfest. We have all heard stories or seen it on a movie but few of us have actually experienced it. That day I was truly alone as Alex was busy, so I ventured off alone. The first beer tent I saw, I walked in and was in awe. The tent was the size of a soccer field with tables and benches and a band in the middle. I walked the aisles and looked for an opening, and luckily I found a few seats with three girls: Daniela, Caroline and Stephanie. Daniela was the only one who spoke good English, but the four of us were able to communicate, have some laughs and understand each other. They taught me how to order and how to cheers, or “Prost,” as they say. I ended up having two liters of the strong German beer before the girls said they were off and I decided it was time to move on as well.

The next tent I went to was a bit more crowded and a little harder to find a seat. After several rejections I was offered a seat with a group of six Germans all around my age and all spoke good English. This is where things got very entertaining. We had several liters together and they got me to stand on the benches with them and sing, and Prost. We had a good time. Eventually my time had come. I was drunk and in a strange place and needed to find my way back.

This proved a little harder then I anticipated as I accidentally got on the wrong subway station so I was not at the tram station I was supposed to be. After asking many people for help and eventually getting a tip I was on my way home, not without doing one stupid drunk thing. I fell down the escalator on my way to a subway, like, all the way down. Luckily I only had a few scrapes and bruises, but once again the German people surprised me. They all rushed to check on me and see if I needed help. A little embarrassed, I politely declined and walked off toward my destination.

Upon finally getting home, I told Alex of my adventures and he told me that it is expected after five liters of beer one falls down and that the people expect everyone to be drunk at Oktoberfest.

The kindness that they showed me was beyond great and I was shown even more as my last night in Munich, I was waiting on Alex to get home from work, so I went to the same downstairs bar to wait and have a beer. Upon the people finding out I was American, they took turns buying me shots of Schnapps and beer. They tried their best to speak to me in English and give me tips of my travels. I stayed out with them until midnight and then said my goodbyes.

I will never forget the German people. All very quick to try and help out a stranger and make them feel comfortable. They always inquire about us Americans because they realize that all the people in this world are connected and that we all influence each other. My journeys continue as I am sure my lessons of the people around the world do as well.