Looking out the window, there is always something interesting to see, such as pretty buildings or grassy fields with cows! The train is also a great place to read a good book or enjoy a snack from the station.
Though trains are very convenient and reliable, they have a reputation for always being delayed. Unfortunately, this reputation has proven itself to be justified. More than once, I have been stuck in a train for over an hour! Once, my train was even cancelled before I arrived at my stop, leaving me stuck in another city. This can be very stressful, especially if you have to be somewhere on time.
I have noticed that people are much less dependent on cars than in the U.S, where outside of major cities it is very common to need a car to get to most places. In contrast, most German cities are built in a way that encourages walking and biking, or they have plenty of public transport infrastructure.
In Germany, it is very common to take public transport to get around, even from a very young age. I often see children taking the bus alone or with their friends, especially when I commute to school in Würselen for work in the mornings. When school ends, there is always a huge crowd of students waiting outside at the bus stop to take the bus home. Some of the students even take the same bus as me.
The expected behavior for passengers in public transport reveals some German cultural values.
