No drinking age; no speed limit

Since I haven't been to Germany since 1982, I do not know how much has changed. There are a few things that most people seem to know about German culture. One of those is the beer or Das Bier. They may or may not know that there was (is?) no drinking age in Germany. Another is the cars and the 'autobahn' or highway where there is no speed limit. Being a young adult at an 'experimental' and 'rebelious' age, I took full advantage of the drinking opportunity. If we went off base, we could buy beer, wine, etc. w/o having to show I.D. We'd go to the German pool in the summer and buy beer, watch the Germans change from their clothes to their bathing suits in front on everyone. Germans are not modest either. The driving age in Germany was 21 or so I am told. Most Germans utilize their excellent public transportation system anyway. Lets get back to the drinking. Uh - oh, gotta go. will update later...

1st German Lesson

Ich habe in Deutschland sieben Jahre gewohnen. <<< This is how I get the kids' attention on the day of "the lesson". I have to repeat it. I write it on the board and translate it for them >>> I lived in Germany for seven years. Then I tell them from when to when, why, etc. I go through the numbers, letters, days of the week, alphabet and show them several words that are so similar to English words. Ich liebe dich is always a hit. That means I love you. We discuss the fact that English is a Germanic language. Most of the students really love hearing me speak German and want to know if I was fluent. At the time I left and for a couple of years after I was in the states, I was. But, I lost it. I think it would come back if I ever immersed myself in the language again. I have learned a little Spanish over these past several years and sometimes I mix German and Spanish up. I once heard that you mix up your 2nd and 3rd+ languages.
A cool German website I found had these quotes and images.
"German and English are very similar languages: Both German and English have the same roots. Their common ancestry shows in many similar words in both languages. And of course you know more German than you thought: German immigrants brought many German words with them, which are still used in modern English."