yes!

Milestones

April 27, 2020 filed under: friends, running, yes!

This weekend, I was supposed to run the American River Parkway Half Marathon with my friend Tanja.

A couple of months ago, I had talked Tanja, a self-proclaimed NON-runner (but avid cyclist), into putting a half marathon on her bucket list and signing up for the walk option of this race. We talked about training for the distance with a run/walk-interval-strategy. I know she’s always up for a good challenge, so I am not surprised that she followed through and started training right away (cursing me under her breath multiple times, I am sure. Ha!).

Of course, we were extremely bummed when because of Corona, the race was postponed and Tanja had to cancel her visit. Was all this training for nothing? No way! So, we decided to still run a virtual race on Saturday. Separate, but together in spirit. So, we both set out for our respective races early in the morning.

This was supposed to be a goal race for me. If you have followed me for a while, you know that I’ve repeatedly mentioned the goal to break the 2-hour mark in the half marathon. It’s been a process, to say the least. Turns out, it’s harder than I previously thought to shave a ‘few minutes’ off a long distance PR (my previous PR was 2:02:39).

Running a virtual race is hard. Running a virtual goal race is harder. You can’t rely on other runners, spectators, and the energy of the race to carry you through. You gotta be your own cheerleader along the way. I always underestimated how much adrenaline you get from the race atmosphere alone.

I’ve been running some of my training runs with the Nike Run Club app, which has guided run options which put “Coach Bennett” in your ear on your runs. He checks in with you every couple of miles, reminds you to breathe right and watch your running form, and he coaches and cheers you on along the way. If you do a lot of solo runs and sometimes struggle to focus, this is something I’d recommend you try. It definitely helped me through my virtual race on Saturday. He didn’t let me give up on myself.

I (felt as I) was cruising all the way through mile 9 and I was hitting my goal pace, which was really awesome, but then the last 3-4 miles got hard. My legs were ready to quit, but my head told me – looking at my watch – that I’d have major regrets if I wasn’t at least trying to see this through. So, I kept pushing (and repeated to myself that Tanja all the way down in Irvine wasn’t giving up either!).

And what can I say? It’s not an official result, but I did it! I finally ran a sub-2 half marathon on Saturday. I couldn’t believe it. It was close, but 1:59:49 is a sub-2 race, #thankyouverymuch, and I am beyond ecstatic.

Of course, I am hoping I’ll be able to repeat this on an official course sometime when race running is possible again, but at least I could prove to myself that I can do it and that hard work does eventually pay off.

I just wish I could have celebrated the completion of Tanja’s first half marathon (woot!) and this milestone PR for me with a well-deserved brunch and mimosas with my friend, not just a virtual high five. Sigh.

My Red Sox ♥ won the World Series

October 30, 2018 filed under: love, sports, yes!

I don’t think it’s a mystery to anyone who has been reading my blog for a while that I am a huge Red Sox fan and on Sunday night, my team won the World Series!

It was such a fun season (with the best record in franchise history), but the post-season beat all my expectations. The Red Sox allowed only one game against the Yankees (in one of the ALDS series), one game against the Astros (in the ALCS series), and one game against the LA Dodgers in the World Series. This team has been so much fun to watch.

David Price was outstanding Sunday night, Steve Pearce was on fire, but so were all of the other players really throughout this season! JBJ (Jackie Bradley Jr.) had some really amazing hits. Andrew Benintendi is the king of the left field, and Mookie Betts can’t do anything wrong if he tried. I love how Craig Kimbrel (the closer) owns his pre-pitch pose (check out his Twitter pic!), which numerous people (grown adults, mind you!) in the stands have mocked him for, but he had an absolutely stellar performance this season and he is the youngest pitcher in MLB history to record 300 saves. So hey, whatever works for you, right?

In all honesty, I should list all the players by name here, because I am so freakin’ proud of all of them. Every single player in this team did their part to turn this season into what it was. There was a different guy at every game coming through for everybody else. This is what team sport is all about and the Red Sox are a real team. They never gave up. They always stayed calm and focused until the very end and this is how they were able to make magic happen again this year.

Congratulations, Red Sox!

On International Women’s Day

March 8, 2017 filed under: I am the kind of woman, yes!

Today is International Women’s Day and I want to give a shout-out to all the amazing women that I am lucky to know and call my family + friends.

I am not really a self-described feminist, which merely is to say I don’t throw around the label a lot, but I do believe in the power and strength of women. I can only imagine what our country would look like if we had elected our first female president (something that is not so earth (or should I say ‘ceiling’-) shattering in other countries, I would like to remind you), but let’s not go there right now.

Contrary to popular belief, feminists are not man-haters. Feminists simply believe in the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.

I am currently reading ‘Shrill: Notes from a loud woman’ by Lindy West and it has – unsurprisingly – much to do with feminism, a woman’s place in this world, and how women are still perceived as ‘less’ in so many contexts. Less accepted, less knowledgeable, less experienced, less believable, less valuable. Why is it still such a hard concept to accept women as equals?

Today is for celebrating the strong women who face insurmountable odds and who nevertheless persist, and for recognizing what women (have) accomplish(ed). Let’s face it, our societies, where power and privilege is still so often claimed by men, would totally crumble without women (and all they do without calling attention to it every. single. minute. of. every. day.).

Are you wearing red today in solidarity? (I realized, I don’t own very many red items of clothing, but man do I love those sneakers.) #womensrightsarehumanrights #neverthelessshespersisted

13.1 lessons I learned from training for and running a half marathon

August 31, 2016 filed under: about me, fitness, running, yes!

I never had the ambition to participate in a running race. I am still a little bit surprised myself that I signed up for and finished my first half-marathon a month ago. If you had told me this two years ago, I would have laughed in your face and called you crazy.

I just didn’t see myself as a (race) runner, like, AT ALL.

BUT, this has been an interesting experience for me and taught me some lessons (which I think can be applied to other areas of life).

1) I always do better with a plan.

It might be self-imposed, but if I write down my goal and line up a plan, it’s so much easier to stick to a schedule. Sure, I could just tell myself to get out and run on a regular basis, but it’s so much easier to just look up what training session is next on your plan and just “do it” than make that decision anew every single day (I am not good at mundane decision-making). Besides, sticking to a training plan also puts some “thought” behind your workouts and is designed to improve your performance over time – duh!

2) I can do things that are hard.

Determination: I have it. Sometimes you have to stop thinking, and just start doing. Once I had committed to the race, it was “on”. I wanted to work for this, and work hard.

3) Listen to your body (before your run).

Remember how they tell you to just trust your gut sometimes? That’s exactly what this is. Trusting your gut can mean putting in the extra effort (on a good day), or giving your body some rest (on a bad one). It’s not always easy to figure out if you’re just up against fighting your inner Schweinehund (pig-dog) or if you truly need a break. Your inner Schweinehund is the part of you that wants you to stay on the couch and watch Netflix instead of going for your run, but you will know – with time – when your body is legitimately telling you that it needs a break.

4) Listen to your body (during your run).

Don’t judge a run by the first mile (95% of the time it’ll feel miserable, but believe me, it gets better) and run based on how you feel that day. If it’s 100F and 80% humidity outside, running by effort is way more important than running a certain pace. It’s also ok to walk if you feel like you need to walk. Training is there to condition, but also to get to know your body.

5) Trust your training.

I had ‘easy’ training sessions that felt impossible. I had “interval days” that felt like a breeze. The last two longer runs before the race felt awful and I doubted that I was ready for the half. And then it all worked out in the end. Trust that all the hard work you put in over weeks and weeks will pay off – because it will.

6) You get out of things (your body) what you put into them.

Literally. I have always been ‘health-conscious’, I’d say, but nutrition and especially hydration have been major focus points during my half marathon training. I used to be … ahem… not very good at staying hydrated, but guess what? Your body wants to shut down if you subject it to increased training activity, but don’t fuel properly. Running on an empty stomach and little hydration? Let’s just say, you learn to pay attention real fast.

7) Setbacks are part of the journey.

I was very lucky that I didn’t get injured during my half marathon training (well, except for a bumped, bloody toe that forced me to skip two training runs, but that was a home accident and not directly related to my training). I did have quite a few days though where my runs felt less than stellar and where doubt crept in that I was not really cut out for this. The strange thing was: it made me want it even more.

8) Life starts at the end of your comfort zone.

Haha. Isn’t that the truth? Nothing worth having comes easy and that is true for running as well. If you want to get better and achieve a goal, you have to work for it and sometimes that is hard.

9) You’re capable of so much more than you think.

Like I mentioned elsewhere, I never thought that I ever could – or even wanted to – run more than 3 miles. 5k is a respectable distance and I was totally fine with it. Until I wasn’t. Because once you put in a little bit of work, you’ll be surprised to see what you’re capable of and you naturally want more. I ran 13.1 miles. I didn’t think that was possible.

10) Running is not just physical, but also mental.

There were days when my body was ready to do the work, but my mind was not. There were days when I was mentally ready to go, but my body was not. Finding that sweet spot where body and mind agree is not always easy, but I found to be true more often than not that when your body wants to give up, your mind can help you push through and vice versa.

11) Run your own race.

I am no stranger to the comparison game, but if we’re completely honest, you can really only compete with yourself. You really cannot care about someone else’s pace or finish time, because you can only work on yourself being better than yesterday. It’s all relative. What’s slow for one person, might be the fastest pace for someone else.

12) Support is everything.

It’s hard to admit, especially if you think you’re running/racing mainly for yourself (which we all do!), but it’s so important to have people who support you in your endeavors. It matters during training (when words of encouragement get you through the tough parts) and it matters during the race.

Following and supporting other runners on social media and receiving support in return? An incredible community.
Signing up for a race with a friend? Holding each other accountable and encouraging each other during training is priceless.
Knowing that my whole family was tracking my race through the race app – even from 6000 miles away – and cheering me on? Carried me at least half of the way.
Having people come out on race day to cheer on complete strangers? It’s one of the kindest acts of humanity (I swear, it meant so much!).

I never ever want to bore anyone with my talk about running or racing, but I want those who have supported and checked in with me along the way to know that it was tremendously important for my success and so very much appreciated. Having cheerleaders on the sidelines, whatever journey you might be on, might be one of the most important pieces in order to accomplish your goals.

13. I am a runner.

For the longest time, I suffered from “imposter syndrome”, because I wasn’t sure that I could call myself a runner. There was no official set of rules that separates the “runners” from the “non-runners” and I am not sure where I thought that line was, but I had always been more on the humble side and so I placed myself on the “non-runners” side of that line for a very long time. Until I realized that runners come in all shapes and sizes and everyone who laces up their shoes and goes for a run is a runner. Mind-boggling epiphany, I know!

13.1 – I did it.

Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment. You are going to be a little high on running when you cross that finish line and it’s totally ok to brag a little.

One final note before I go… (because more than one person has asked me about it):

No, I have not signed up for a marathon.

I think I have a pretty good grasp on my own abilities and as much as the adrenaline rush after the half had me scream “where can I sign up for a full?”, I know I am not ready for it, mentally or physically. At the end of the half-marathon, I was done. Did I have a few more miles in me? Maybe. Would I have wanted to do the whole 13.1 again? No way. It will take a lot more training and hopefully more race experiences along the way, before I feel ready to tackle 26.2. But it’s a future goal that I wouldn’t completely rule out at this point (← haha. Did I really just say that?)

I’m linking up with Rachel, Suz, Lora, and Debbie for Running Coaches’Corner

and with with Jen, Nicole, Annmarie, and Michelle for Wild Workout Wednesday.

I love surprises, don’t you?

May 5, 2014 filed under: family, love, marriage, yes!

Ok, so I might be slightly biased, but I have to say that my Mom and Dad are pretty awesome people and I hate not being able to hang out with them on a regular basis.

This last week, they’ve been on a trip in the Mediterranean to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary, and you guys, I am so over the moon excited. My sister and I pulled off a fantastic surprise for them. Originally, the idea had been for them to come visit us here in California and bring my sister and her family, too; have a big family celebration here with us.

Unfortunately, there were few events that prevented that plan from coming to fruition (my Dad was hospitalized earlier this year and is supposed to be having minor surgery this summer, my sister and BIL bought a house, yadda, yadda), but I am really glad my parents decided to still do something special for their anniversary, because holy cow…. 40 years of love and life together is amazing!

My sister and I racked our brains what we could do to surprise them with something special for this special anniversary and for sticking it out with each other for such an impressive amount of time. It’s hard to organize a surprise when you’re 6000 miles away and when they’re away from home.
Luckily, my Dad enjoys planning and talking about trips whenever he can. We obviously knew where they were going, but we also knew where they were going to stay, where they wanted to eat and what they were going to see and explore on their trip.

First, I informed the hotel that they were staying at about my parents’ reason for the trip and asked them to welcome them with a bottle of champagne and a fruit basket upon their arrival. That was a fairly easy thing to arrange and we were pretty sure that it would help make them unsuspecting of anything else to come.

But the bigger surprise was organized for Saturday, which was my parents’ actual anniversary. My Dad had talked about a really good, well-known restaurant, Trespais, that had been shortlisted for their anniversary dinner. I emailed the restaurant and asked if they’d be able to help my sister and me to plan a surprise for our parents. Basically our plan was to try and get them to go to the restaurant, have a fantastic evening with wine and delicious food, and then have the restaurant staff deliver our best wishes for a wonderful anniversary in lieu of the bill.

The restaurant owners were super-nice and cooperative and they were excited and willing to help with the surprise without any hesitation.

I reserved a table (under my parents’ last name) in advance to make sure they had room to accommodate them, but also told them that the plan was to get my Dad to make a reservation himself, so that we could avoid telling them what we were up to and really make this a total surprise. So, before my parents left for their trip, my sister persistently – but as unsuspiciously as possible – tried to get my Dad to reserve a table at the restaurant for their anniversary dinner. He finally did one day before they left.

On Saturday, my sister and I were texting back and forth because we were so nervous and excited to find out how the surprise played out. My sister said that she would stay up until my parents would get in touch with us. And sure enough, at 11 p.m. (German time), my Mom finally texted. They were completely overwhelmed and confused when the restaurant owner presented them the bill…. which was a card that simply read “Happy anniversary from Sandra and Nina”.

Apparently, the restaurant owners and staff had just as much fun with the surprise as we did, because my Mom told us that the owner said that she couldn’t help but have a huge smile on her face every time she passed my parents’ table and that it was hard to not blow the surprise until the very end.

And my parents were truly blown away. They were raving about the excellent food, the outstanding service and the overall ambience of the restaurant – and the fantastic, completely unexpected surprise, of course! – and walked out without paying a dime.

Awesomeness!

I am so, so happy we were able to pull off this surprise for them. It’s usually really hard to organize something and keep it a secret from both our parents. In the past, for one reason or another, one of them always had to be let in on any surprises in advance. This time, we were able to completely keep it a secret and surprise both of them. They were absolutely clueless (although my Dad says that, in retrospect, my sister was really pushy about him making that reservation at the restaurant. Haha!).

Have you successfully surprised someone before? How did you pull it off?

29: November Favorites

November 29, 2013 filed under: love, monthly favorites, NaBloPoMo, yes!

1. Yes, it’s finally back for the holidays. I fell in love with Trader Joe’s Gingerbread Coffee a couple of years ago. It’s only around for the holidays and I am so excited to be able to have it again for the next few weeks! I might have to stock up a can or two for the new year!

2. I found this supercute Penny Black stamp this month and had to have it. I mean, come on, a hedgehog pulling a cupcake! Isn’t that the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?

3. I can’t believe I am saying this, but J and I have been quite addicted to this new show on TLC, “Extreme Cheapskates”. I mean, it’s shocking and horrifying and fascinating at the same time. I wonder why people live like that. Some of the documented behavior is bizarre, some is just plain rude and/or wrong.. I am all for managing your money and frugality has its place, but this is …. yeah, extreme.

4. I got this supercute Gelaskins iPhone skin and just love it.

5. I’ve always been a fan of Semonlina Flour, but have recently discovered it as a substitute for oatmeal (which I am not a big fan of.) Semolina is very high in protein and is said to have a low glycemic index, meaning that it is digested and absorbed at a slower rate in the stomach and intestines than white flour. The major nutrients found in semolina are very high in complex carbohydrates, high in potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and fibre, with some iron, zinc, manganese and copper. It is very low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, and contains zero trans fatty acids. It is high in vitamin E and contains a fair amount of the B complex vitamins (especially folic acid). Sure, it’s still a processed flour and should be used in moderation, but the occasional breakfast porridge seems to be quite the good idea.

6. I’ve been using Organix Anti-Breakage Keratin Oil for a while now and I have to say that I really, really like it. I am kind of trying to grow my hair out longer and by using this keratin oil, I am hoping to make it stronger and more resistent to breakage. It definitely makes my hair soft and shiny, which I like as a bonus. Plus, it smells heavenly. Besides these obvious advantages, it belongs to an organic product line that is packaged in eco-friendly bottles and the labels are printed utilizing environmentally friendly inks and compostable label film made from an annually renewable resource corn, not from petrochemicals. The products are not tested on animals and contain exotic active ingredients, use a unique blend of sulfate free surfactants. All good things in my book.

2: October Favorites

November 2, 2013 filed under: love, monthly favorites, NaBloPoMo, yes!

1.) I have been so patiently waiting for this album… four whole years. Finally, Pearl Jam came out with their tenth studio album “Lightning Bolt” and of course, I had to own it on CD. I have all their CDs and I’ll collect all their physical CDs until they stop making music or the end of time, whichever comes first.

2.) Kashi Autum Wheat. I am usually very picky about cereal, because so many cereals have so much sugar and/or unpronounceable ingredients, but this has a pretty short ingredient list and there’s just a little bit of sweetness to it. Perfect.

3.) My blanket. Temperatures have dropped (especially in the last week) and I got my blanket out again. Our apartment is not the most well-insulated on this planet (and I know, I know, we live in California and winters here are not really that cold and all, but when I get up in the morning and it’s 64°F in our apartment: THAT’S COLD. Well, and when I sit on the couch at night (and I don’t want to use the heater quite yet, not only, but also because J is still very comfortable with the temperatures), I like to have my blanket. Coziness factor included.

4.) Trader Joe’s has a new seasonal tea and I really like it. The new tea is called Harvest Blend Herbal Tea and it’s a really smooth, tasty blend that you should definitely try. Just right for those long winter evenings when you’re cuddled up with a good book.

5.) I need a new mascara and this one was on sale and I am so glad I bought it. Almay’s Get Up and Grow Mascara definitely has been a favorite this month. It has a nice brush that does a great job separating and getting all lashes and it’s pretty much clump-free and has a gentle formula for sensitive eyes.

6.) I am not much of a Halloween person, mostly because J wants to watch scary movies and I just can’t do scary movies. Tim Burton movies, however, are my favorite and we’ve been watching quite a few this month.

September Favorites

September 30, 2013 filed under: love, monthly favorites, yes!

1.) In case you haven’t noticed – haha! – I have a slight obsession with the Red Sox right now. This is not new, it just comes out every year during baseball season. I am so excited that they made it to the Play Offs. Will you be watching?

2.) I’ve mentioned it before, I’ve really loved Trader Joe’s Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate this month. I usually don’t make coffee at home in the mornings before I go to work, because we make a big pot at work and it’s too much work to make a single cup at home, because we only have a grind & brew coffee maker, but it’s been so easy to have a cup with this concentrate in the morning when I felt like I needed something to get me up and going!

3.) “Orange is the new black“. I got hooked this month. I still haven’t finished season 1 yet, but I have started reading the book alongside the Netflix series and it’s been quite addicting.

4.) Batiste Dry Shampoo. You guys, this is the best dry shampoo I’ve ever used (and believe me, I tried quite a few in the past). I love that it comes with hints of color for different hair types (the white stuff always, always leaves residue on my scalp) and it smells really nice. Also, my bonus tip: don’t use it in the morning on your 2nd (or 3rd day hair, if you’re so lucky – I am usually not), but spray a little bit on the areas of your scalp that get greasy the night before. You wake up with (almost) freshly washed hair. I am not even kidding.

5.) This love is also not new, but I’ve really enjoyed the September issue of “Real Simple” magazine. Did you see the adorable cover photo with the black cat and the pumpkin? Whenever I see the new issue at the checkout of our local grocery store, I get really giddy and excited to receive it in the mail. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a magazine as much as this one.

6.) I don’t need any fancy flavors, Chocolate Chip ice-cream is just fine with me. Actually, not just a September-, but all-year-round-favorite.

I don’t care, I love it… ahm… them.

July 25, 2013 filed under: love, music, reminiscence, yes!

Two weeks ago, I decided to do something completely by myself again. I don’t have a problem doing things by myself. I actually am someone who craves me-time quite a bit and I don’t need to be around people all the time. This is one thing when you’re at home just hanging out by yourself, but another thing if you go out and “do things” alone. Going to dinner, to a movie, or to a concert is still sometimes considered awkward by many people. But you know what? It also is liberating and empowering. I don’t have to rely on other people to come with me to have a good time. I can cherish an experience and know that it’s all mine.

So, two weeks ago, I just thought to myself: eff it, I am going! And THIS is where I went. NKOTB – The Package Tour.

If this looks vaguely familiar to this post, you are right. I’ve done this kind of thing before. I am so totally over explaining or justifying why I go to these concerts. I’ve been a fan since 1989. This is more than 20 years. You do the math. I remember when my parents let me go to their first concert in Germany in 1991 and because of high demand, there were additional concerts added 6 months later. I bought a ticket for the second part of the tour right away and my Dad didn’t even believe I’d still be interested in them by the time the second part of the tour came around.
Little did he know that my loyalty would last a lifetime (he still likes to shake his head in disbelief – and a little twinkle in his eye – when I tell him I went to yet another concert! Haha!)

My BiSC-peeps will appreciate this video:

This I HAD to steal from youtube, because I was nowhere close enough to capture this. (Courtesy of Jonesdawnl) But, cue the heartmelt.

I truly and sincerely had the bestest time ever! I can not describe how happy those concerts make me. This time, NKOTB toured with Boyz II Men (which I was very (!) excited about) and 98° (not that interested in, but oh well). It was amazing to see Boyz II Men and NKOTB perform on the same stage, because they go way back to the late 80’s when both bands started out. What a once in a lifetime experience!
Now, confess: were/are you a NKOTB fan? Did you see the Package Tour? If not, there are still some tour dates left!

6: FOUR MORE YEARS!

November 6, 2012 filed under: Things you wouldn't know, yes!

This morning, we got up early and went to the polling place right at 7 a.m. Here in CA, there was only a short line of maybe 10 people ahead of us and I breathed a sigh of relief that I didn’t have to spend a big part of my day standing in line like I had seen all weekend during early voting in other states.

I’ve been voting in (German) elections for a long time and while I’ve always taken my right to vote seriously, I have never felt so excited about being able to vote and take part in the democratic process as I have today. I was excited and a little too giddy this morning to be able to vote for my president.

Some of you probably have wondered if voting in the US is any different from voting in Germany. At first glance, the voting process is pretty similar, but there are some differences. I am not going to give you the complete run-down between the different political systems (J would be much better at this than my measly try). All you need to know is a few key differences.

In Germany, you automatically get “registered” (if you want to called it that) to vote when you turn 18. As soon as you hit legal age, you’ll receive a voter card in the mail before every election. There is no registering for a specific party. This is due to the fact that in Germany, you register with your city of residence and therefore you’re always ‘registered’ and they’ll take care of your voter mail.

The process then is pretty similar over all. We also vote every four years, but by law the election day in Germany MUST fall on a Sunday or public holiday, to ensure that people are free and able to go out and vote. There is also the possibility of voting by mail, which has to be requested prior to the election.

The ballot that I filled out this morning looked pretty similar to the ballots I have cast in Germany. The only difference, however, is that in Germany you mark a circle with an “x” while in the US, you have to completely fill in the oval next to your selected vote.

There are NO propositions (ballot measures, referendums, whatever you may call it) on ballots in Germany. The propositions that are managed on a state-by-state level in the US do not exist. In general, decisions about new laws and amendments are always handled by the elected representatives. There can be occasional non-binding ballot question, which can be taken into consideration by the elected officials, however, they have no direct impact on any pending laws.

Germany is a federal parliamentary democracy (as opposed to the presidential democracy in the United States) and the Chancellor, elected by the parliament and not directly by the people, is the head of government. The President of Germany is the head of state, which however has more of a representational role than a governing one.

Germany has a true multi-party system (with multiple smaller parties represented in the parliament) that has been dominated by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). Both of those two main parties are ideologically to the left of even the democratic party of the United States. Yeah, can you believe that? Our conservatives are more left than your lefties (that’s why we have universal healthcare, gay marriage, unions, and such. Go figure.) In recent years, as no one party is strong enough to achieve a majority in the parliament on its own, they engage in coalition talks with the smaller parties after the election to form a government.

The United States is a presidential democracy, in which the President is the head of state AND head of government.

There are major differences between the political system of the United States and that of most other democracies. These include greater power in the upper house of the legislature, a wider scope of power held by the Supreme Court, the separation of powers between the legislature and the executive, and the dominance of only two main parties. Third parties have less political influence in the United States than in other developed country democracies (Wikipedia).

There is more to the political system of both countries, but I don’t want to get into the nitty-gritty details. I just want to mention that I personally am not a fan of the Electoral College. It seems counterproductive to have the people vote for the president, then have their votes reduced to the majority vote of their state and then award all the delegates to only candidate (but I guess that’s a post for another day after I have taken another PoliSci lesson from my husband).

If you have any more questions about the differences to the German election system, ask away. I’ll try to answer to the best of my knowledge.

Oh, and also: FOUR MORE YEARS! He did it! So proud.