"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home." - James A. Michener
The Stereotypes
I recently read a story about a guy who lived in Germany for 20 years and then moved to the US. He talked a lot about the slight differences that you would never think to ask people, just something you notice by living there. My role was the opposite, but some of the differences are so funny to me. Obviously, these are generalizations of both cultures; nonetheless I have lived in both places now and these are my observations!
The Germans- In restaurants, tap water is not free. That's why you order beer. There are very few water fountains in public or in buildings.
- No ice cubes. - People do not typically take leftovers home from a restaurant; it is frowned upon. My friends that have eaten dinner with me know this is a problem. - Sharing a table at a restaurant is not uncommon. Most of the time, they would be a longer, family-style table. - You can eat in most German restaurants until midnight. - You seat yourself at almost all German restaurants. - Food in Germany is always served to be able to eat like a civilized human being. This is something that sometimes drives me crazy. They cut everything with their forks and knives- pizza. Yes, I get it we cut pizza with knives too, but its different. Sometimes you are just really hungry and want to bite the rock hard crust of your pizza- don't do it. - Germans are also very coordinated using their forks and knives. They use the knife to mold the food to the shape of the fork and then eat it delicately. I have yet to master this skill. - McDonald's serves beer. - Stores do not typically allow you to return purchased goods, except for online purchases. - Waiters and waitresses do NOT check on you every 10 minutes to make sure everything is okay. - Wedding ring is worn on your right hand. - TV shows do not start on either the hour or the half hour, all random times in between. - Dog owner's don't collect their dog's poop. Also, dog owners can take their dogs shopping! Sometimes small dogs can even go inside the restaurants. - Public wifi is not so common. - Prices are stated with sales tax included, the price shown is the final price you will pay. - The "first floor" in German stores is different. The ground floor is "0" and then the second level is the "first floor". - No speed limit on the autobahn. - Most cars are stick-shift. - Window screens are either on the outside of the window or inside the window. - To open the windows, they typically tilt inward from the top, or open like a door to the inside of the room. |
The Americans- Portions are bigger in America, including at McDonald's.
- Starbucks is overrated, yet a delicious cure for homesickness. Same prices no matter which country you are in. - Food is served so that makes it hard/embarrassing to eat in public. We've all had the casual slip of hot cheese and pizza sauce on our face. German's serve the food with wrappers that allow you to hold the food without touching it directly with your hands, smart. - People use a lot of napkins, especially me. - The first McCafe (coffee branch of McDonald's) was first introduced in Germany. - Big dogs are seen as good family pets, a lot of German kids are afraid of big dogs. - When we see the police walking around, we feel safer. In Germany, seeing the police is a sign something is wrong. - The first house an American couple buys is seen to be temporary. In Germany it is seen as permanent. - Graffiti is frowned upon and not considered art. In Germany, it is much more colorful and sometimes considered an art form. - Americans have 25.21% less free time. This cracks me up. It is because after holidays, things are closed for a week afterward. Nothing is open on Sundays, or on weekends after 6pm. Yes, I know this is not so uncommon in the US. Trust me- it is more prevalent here. Sunday is the day of rest, for real. - Pedestrians have the right of way. German drivers have the right of way. - Public wifi is expected. - TV shows are censored, not the case in Germany. - Wide variety of religions and a church wedding is considered a legal wedding. Germans are mostly either Catholic or protestant and a church wedding is not legal. |