You freshly landed in Germany, suffering from culture shock and general confusion and don’t understand why, because you studied German so well, watched millions of Youtube videos, which apparently prepare you to the new culture. Nothing can prepare you than being thrown into the cold water and experience and learn in that way. Keep the prejudices aside!
Germans love being organised and follow their law and order seriously. However, a slight disturbance or discomposure in the everyday routine tends to make them panicking and interrogative. For instance, it’s very normal in many countries for a tourist to roam around, take a stroll, click pictures and explore the local areas. But, in Deutschland, a German might get suspicious and ring the police if a person is looking around or staring at the houses or buildings and mistake them for thieves. So don’t be surprised if you suddenly hear the police siren – the police arrives within seconds in Germany! No problem! Just explain!
Germans are great critics. They say exactly what they mean. No sugar-coated statements but honest opinions. They always express themselves straight but are not determined to hurt. Their blunt opinions can be offensive to Non-Germans. Being a first timer here might make you overwhelmed. Constructive critique is the German way and should not be taken personally but rather a chance to grow or not grow – depending on you.
Germans love nature and spend half their life jogging regardless of the weather. They can keep on going and going and going. In many cultures people like to simply lay down on a couch after work, take a tiny stroll, be with the family, sip a coffee at a Café but not the case with Germans. You would be astonished by all the super active seniors and sporty people in general while you are in Germany. Latest, when this 90 year old granny overtakes you in an olympic speed during your embarrassing attempt to “jog”, you will start to critically assess your health and the health of all your family members back home. Goodbye Diabetes and High Blood Pressure!
You may want to be reincarnated as DOG? Here is the reason: Germans are Dog-Savvy people. Dogs are not just pets but also considered as an integral family member. Germans’ passion for dogs is such that their masters also got a specific title such as “Herrchen” (male master) and “Frauchen” (female master). Germans take their dogs for walks few times a day and engage them in activities as well for maintaining their overall health. They are treated like citizens and are allowed almost everywhere. Death of a canine member has a huge impact on the owners and the funeral is an extra ordinary affair. Germany is indeed a Dog’s paradise!
Germans are (over)-analytical. It can happen, that nobody speaks to each other at a bus halt while waiting for a bus, but it is possible to have deep analytical discussions with a stranger about a very specific topic. Germans take analysis and interpretation to the next dimension. No wonder why “Made in Germany” is highly valuable worldwide due to this precise analytical skill. On the other side, some Germans are also “Fachidioten” (-> Subject Idiots), meaning that they are highly skilled and knowledgeable about a specific topic but do bad in general life skills maybe.
Whether it’s law & order, criticism, jogging, dogs or “Fachidiot”, it will soon be part of your life too. Welcome to Germany!
