Vorsich Electrozaun

I haven't added anything in a while so...
6.2.2009
In preparation for the trip it was brought up how open, or lack thereof Germans really are. As I walked about today, German people seemed to not even notice my existence. Thus, while passing through a street here in Margetsocheim hearing a simple “abend” seemed like a relative oddity.
From the vantage point of German history, this should come as no surprise. Over the course of centuries Germans have experienced life on the outer edge and not only tended to value personal space but appear to even take objection if one threatens it, as in the time of the Roman Empire.
This in particular stood out to me as I took a walk this evening. Unlike in America where individuals tend to flaunt their front yard, Germans have little or even none such visible space. I noticed that a majority of the homes have a gated-off courtyard, preventing passersby from observing their front door. On top of this, outside telecom systems allow home owners to screen who may even reach their door. For houses that are not accompanied by such a courtyard, the yard or space in front of the house is usually fenced off. At the fence to the garden of one house in particular an ominous sign read “Vorsicht Electrozaun” implying that stepping foot onto their yard would be a painful mistake.