Germany and the Excess of America

Doing business with German Executives is an interesting experience. Especially if you are female and quite a bit younger than they expected you to be. Do not get me wrong, they are hospitable to say the least and polite, proper, thoughtful, and modest. I am so unbelievably grateful that our hosts spoke English, as did the employees in our hotel, within the airport, and even the guy who owned the gas station - who must have had a good laugh at our utter confusion with their pumps. Diesel - really there are five kinds of diesel - who knew? I enjoyed myself for the very brief time I was in Germany and fell in love with the idea of conducting International business. (despite my very real fear of flying). But my first encounter with Europe brought forth the contemplation of excess.

Excessive is a great way to describe Americans after spending time in a European country and getting to know a Brit who travels to Texas once a month. Everything we do is large. From our cars to our hotel rooms to our elevators, offices, houses, and restaurants. We are loud and disrespectful in an attention seeking way that the Germans are not. We are egocentric and inappropriate. We are focused on the wrong things to include 6000 square foot homes and gas guzzling SUV's. My new friends in Germany and the Brit talked largely about their "holiday" as all of them were gearing up for 2 weeks away. (They get 25-30 days of "holiday" in addition to a number of public holidays). Excess is what is on my mind as I open my InStyle Magazine and read that Kimora Lee Simmons owns 500 pairs of jeans, 10 of which are in regular rotation, changes her clothes 5 times a day, and converted two bedrooms within her mansion into a custom closet. Living well is one thing, living true is a blessing, but obnoxious excess is...well for now, it is the American way.

The picture above on the left is the view from our hotel. We had dinner right there on the water. The picture on the right is of the town in which we visited and the castle we got to see on our way to and from dinner as we walked in the town square. Note to women - town square, pointy high heeled shoes - not a match!