a german helped me...short story

a short story of serendipity (2017)

#germany

[AleaumeAnders]

Germans, like most people worldwide, are very helpfull. Though unlike americans they are often not very extroverted. They will usually not approach you to offer help. But if you ask, they usually will be very friendly and help you right away.

[AndreasBeder]

"most people of the world have a good heart"

[wilfriedholscher]

American born German Citizen here. Germans help when asked. We are not extrovertiert or pushy. Being loud, except at Soccer Games😊, is not our thing. Just ask and you will be helped.

[juliasummers]

I am from Taiwan and have been living in Germany for 30+ years. Honestly, I've never experienced any discrimination, as far as I can tell. Most Germans are shy and introvert, so sometimes I would make effort to initiate the small talk. If they feel comfortable, they would talk a lot. Most are friendly and straight forward, they tell you what they think. Not only the media, Hollywood has done a lot of damages to the image of the Germans, and the Russians. I have friends from both Germany and Russia. People are definitely different from what the media propagates. It is really a shame. Thank you for sharing your experience. BTW, Taiwan is not just some island which China is trying to take over. We are very friendly and helpful to all foreigners as well. I think being friendly and helpful is the true human nature given by God.

[Pehaba]

Peter from Germany: To all Americans who haven't been to Europe: Almost everyone here speaks English. Some better, some worse, but everyone will try to help. It's really easy to travel here. If there are problems, ask the nearest person, including the police.

[chronischgeheilt]

When I was in the US, my sister came to visit me. On the flight there (or Back?) she lost the connecting flight because of a misunderstanding. She was alone in the airport, at night, in a foreign country far away from home, frazzled to say the least (probably terrified) and in tears. She didn't know what to do. The Woman she met that night is still commonly referred to among us as "the angel". It was a nun, she sat down beside my sister, had a talk with her and handed my sister some cash. It still makes me choke up thinking about her human kindness and compassion just being there for my sister exactly when and how it was so, so desperately needed.

[martian]

if you have a positive attitude, then people are more likely to help. Positivity is attractive.

[BerniBarchen]

Bernd from Germany: lots of hugs to Anna! these people are the reason we can hope.🤗

[ThomasRaffs]

We are all foreigners in another country. Helping each other should be a self-evident act of kindness. The world thus could easily be much more peaceful. We do not need hate and wars.

[KatzeMelli]

my old roommate and I once were traveling with a bus from germany to bulgaria which is a crazy long bus drive of like 30 something hours. I think in Serbia the Bus broke down and it delayed us so much that we missed a connection we were supposed to get in Plovidiv to get to the Mountains at the greek border. A man and his son took us to their families place, let us stay with his family and then proceeded to drive us halfway across bulgaria to get us to our final destination. It was incredible. I traveled a lot in my 20s. Bulgaria is one of the most friendliest countries i had ever visited. I have a couple more stories, similar to this from this country.

[Christof_SmaulXL]

The "outside perspecitve" on Germany often evolves around ww2 and all kinds of stereotypes related to that time, which is not a pleasant perspective. Combine that with the language barrier and then it is easy to understand why a closer look on the reality today is much appreciated by many folks.

[klaust]

German here. Almost two weeks ago we saw a few girls with their luggage in front of a train station. They asked for directions to their hotel. The hotel was a bit remote, we tried to call a taxi but they were all busy. So we took them to their hotel in our car.

[boraonline]

Driving a complete stranger to a place that's like 1/2 hour away where he want to go, in the middle of the night IS something not everyone would do. Not even a person who nornaly is very generous.
Credits to her for what she did, but also to you mentioning it and giving credits to her in a video. Also in the middle of the night, where you maybe could already be sleeping in your hotel room, instead of recording a video for youtube.

[maximkretsch]

My wife and I were driving home on the autobahn at night and saw a British car with people near it on the hard shoulder. As they were foreigners I realised that they would have problems communicating (this was before the days of smartphones), especially at night, so I pulled over. It turned out that their tank had run empty. As there was a petrol station three kilometres further on, we took one of them there and drove him back again. On the way, I explained to him how he had to drive on to get to his destination in the Black Forest, which he didn't know. I found the lack of a plan and the trust in God to just drive off charmingly un-German.

[Arsenic]

Us Germans don't do small-talk, but we are friendly and helpful. And if you make friends with a German, you have a friend for life.
It's not unique to Germans, not by a long shot but, contrary to some belief, we are, at heart, good people.

[melesiotorres]

Ich freue mich, dass Sie am richtigen Bahnhof sind.

[Photo_ace]

Usually people say Germans are arrogants and not simpatic, but thats a lie, they are friendly and very smart people, wilkommen in Deutschland

[nicklenz]

Nice seeing you at "my" train station. I only live less than a minute away. It's as you say: In general people are kind and eager to help others.

[damekh]

Never lose this spirit, it will keep you alive long and happy.

[JohnnysWorld]

I made the same experience while traveling. 95% of the people on this planet are wonderful beings. Problem is that the rest 5% are idiots, and they are louder and act more visible so many people think that there are more of them. But that’s not true. 95% are fantastic. Greetings from Germany