Kultur Text 9

I find that Germans keeping binders of paper work regarding basically every little thing they've accomplished in their life is a little ridiculous. Yes, it does glorify even the littlest things, but still, that is a lot of paper and documentation that just is not necessary. I like that in America, at least in my opinion, one can be extremely skilled in an area without having to be technically trained or experienced. Reading about the neighborly rules in Germany were quite funny to me. I could not imagine having all of these rules to abide by. They way I see it, if it's my own property, I should be able to do as I please (regarding BBQing and laundry), while still respecting my neighbors regarding noise. German Patriotism has always been evident in the country, but I was surprised to read that flags are just uncommon throughout. It just seems strange to me, especially since I see American Flags flying almost everywhere I go across the country. I understand the hesitation towards being too Patriotic, in any country really, but I do not understand why Germany does not have flags around.