Wow

Monday was my first day in the office. It was great. People were really friendly and nice. It will take a while to remember everyone's name. But people are friendly in general. If you wait on the platform for your train to arrive the person next to you will try to chat with you. Even if you are complete strangers. Now this is something that is far far away from what I got used to. In Hungary if some does so want spare change. In Germany, well, it cannot happen :D

People are sentimental. They like their old stuff. Yesterday I saw people using CRT monitors. I didn't use one for 6-8 years. The cleaning guy had a vacuum cleaner that was at least 40 years old. Looked like the stuff from Tom&Jerry. Kitchen appliances can also be old. Like 20-30 years judge by the look. All of them in great condition. The things that have to be new: car and cellphone. Saving energy and therefore buying newer stuff is not in fashion here.

Like air conditioners. If there is one, it has to be switched on. A/C has two state: Off or North Pole / Tornado. Another way of waste is plastic: plastic cup for drinking water, Styrofoam cup for coffee, plastic disposable coffee stirrers. You could use glass or ceramic cups with spoons... Strange. Coffee is not so saint as in Europe. There all my companies had great coffee with really expensive coffee makers. Here instant. Like everything else. Well it does its stuff, but doesn't taste that good.