The official language of Germany is, of course, German. Ninety-five percent of people here speak German as their first language. As early as 1st grade, though, students begin to learn English as their first foreign language. This means that most Germans my age can already speak fluent English! Other common foreign languages spoken here are French, Spanish, Dutch, Polish, Russian and Turkish. By the time they reach university, many Germans can speak at least three different languages.
Germany uses the Euro, just like the 27 other countries that make up the European Union. Euro bills come in different colors and sizes depending on their value.
A bottle of water usually costs about one Euro, which is about $1.15.
The best meal I had this week was definitely homemade Rouladen, made by one of my local friends in Mainz. Rouladen (pronounced roo-LAH-den) is a thin slice of beef wrapped up with a slice of bacon around a filling of pickles and onions. Served with boiled potatoes and red cabbage, it made for a very typical German meal.
