Sky's Berlin Post 1

Any ideas I've ever heard about Germans being incredibly formal... turn out to be true. I thought that was only an exaggeration, but sure enough, there is a defined protocol here. It's not acceptable to wear sweatpants to any kind of restaurant or diner, no matter how informal. And at gatherings, even among family, Germans greet people and say goodbye to people with a handshake. Contrary to my previously held belief, Berlin is very green. People plant flowers everywhere, and there are trees upon trees. They are as energy efficient as I ever imagined; all the water appliances are low-flow, they hang clothes out to dry instead of using dryers, and they actually open their windows instead of using air-conditioning. Everyday, I learn something new here.