I can only write about my personal experience, but I have been living and working in Germany for four years now, so that makes me a four year expert - at least in Southern and Central Germany - although I have wandered into Schleswig-Holstein, Dresden, and Berlin in the North.
Germans are very practical in general - although they tend to be very genial in my experience, they can also be very direct. This has led to misunderstandings on both sides of the equation.
An example that drives me crazy is my American approach to customer service.
Americans tend to be concerned about how we are perceived, so we don’t like to say “no” to a request. We go with softer responses:
- “We’ll look into it for you.”
- “Let me check around to see if we can get it at another store…”
Germans, like their Northern European counterparts, prefer to be told “no.” I have been told my request is “impossible.” In my opinion, nothing is really impossible - unlikely maybe, but not impossible. So that response raised my hackles.
Our reluctance to “tell it like it is” comes across as insincere at best. It makes us look a bit superficial. It can lead to confusion if the vague response is taken at face value. So a typical American comment, “We need to get together sometime!”, may bring out day planners to ink in a specific date.
Also beware of casually asking “How are you?” You will be told exactly how the German is - colds, break-ups - a whole raft of TMI that an American may not be prepared to handle in the morning greeting to friends and co-workers.
Meantime, Germans are seriously concerned about their environment. Americans recycle - we do. Others (I won’t mention any European countries specifically, but you know who you are) are more casual about recycling.
Germans keep their streets mostly free of litter (you will find it in the larger cities, but it isn’t on the same scale as other countries), tend to be vigilant about hand pulling weeds, scrutinizing the exterior appearance of their homes, and diligently recycling.
Brown, clear, and green glass have their own separate containers. Plastics and packaging go in the yellow bag. Organic waste goes in the brown bin. Paper products go into the blue bin. Everything else into the black bin - a lot of work initially, but eventually you catch on. Don’t even think of putting the wrong thing in the wrong bin - it will not be collected. Of course, batteries go to their collection points, as do light bulbs. Everything in its place, and a place for everything …
One thing Americans don’t realize is that Germany was a confederation of little city-states until 1871. There is more than one Germany - as seen in dialects which, as often as not, are unintelligible outside the immediate geographical area where the dialect is spoken.
Clothing
Also, and this is really important - lederhosen and dirndls are not - I repeat not - worn all over Germany. They are Bavarian. Wearing them outside Bavaria draws peculiar looks (unless you are going to an Oktoberfest event).
Food
Beer, while undeniably popular in Germany, is not the only beverage consumed. In the wine growing regions (and I am a big fan of the Mosel and Rhine wines), more wine is consumed. Around Frankfurt you might find that people enjoy the apple wine (ebbelwoi) more than the very good white wines and beer. However, I am convinced that apple wine is an acquired taste…
While Germany has a reputation for consuming sausages - wurst - the ubiquitous dish to me is schnitzel - either plain (wiener schnitzel) or with sauces (lots to choose from.) However, the real joy of German cooking to me is the seasonal produce that is not only embraced but celebrated: white asparagus (spargel), fresh strawberries, chanterelles, the new wine (federweißer) of the fall. Don’t overlook the ubiquitous döner kebaps as a fast food meal on the go.
Another German specialty that I have learned about since being here is the green (grün) sauce found in Frankfurt - served on many things, it was a wonderful discovery, as was Handkäs mit Musik - a local cheese served with caraway seeds, and dripping oil and onions. The music comes later…
Of course, touring around there is the culture - some of the greatest scientists, philosophers, musicians, artists of every stripe have come from Germany. And, in spite of the damage from World War II, there is a huge amount to visit, explore, and enjoy
