You are so German ...

Well, I have to admit that I cannot hide it. I think I have all the features you'd expect from us Germans plus some more. Most obviously probably is that I, just as every other German abroad, complain passionately about the quality of bread. Somehow surprisingly, Aldi and Lidl are no good sources for "proper" bread, but then again they aren't in Germany, either. Recommendations gathered so far are: the Sainsbury's bakery has more or less acceptable bread, for really good bread you should try Babacan in Chorlton.

Less obvious, at least it was to me, is the choice of what to bring for a hiking lunch. You can spot the Germans, from either who pulls a face and complains the loudest about sandwich bread - or you look for the people with the boiled eggs. At one occasion, four out of four Germans had independently brought eggs and each of us had thought about how to bring the salt. A satisfactory solution I learned there was one of these small jars analogue films came in, but thanks to my mother I am more professional than that and now proudly own a tiny hiking-compatible salt shaker.

The most recent episode happened in my favourite Turkish supermarket around the corner. When I put down my basket at the checkout, before having said anything, I was greeted with a "Guten Tag". I don't know if the guy had been watching me before or if it was the order I took out the things from my basket and put them on the belt gave it away. Having grown up in Germany, he said that it was quite easy to notice that I am different from the usual customers.

How do I feel about it? I certainly don't mind and maybe even take some pride in being well organised and making efforts to seek for good bread and ways to salt a boiled egg sitting high on a hill.