GERMAN CULTURE SHOCKS AS AN AMERICAN 🇩🇪🇺🇸

GERMAN CULTURE SHOCKS AS AN AMERICAN 🇩🇪🇺🇸

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#German #CultureShocks #AmericaninGermany

[chrisa]

As a German visiting Canada a couple years ago it was a huge culture shock for me when the cashier started small talk with me while she was scanning my grocery shopping. She asked how I was, how my day had been... I was so unprepared for these questions I couldnt answer.

[ARom-qlyh]

The reason why we tip less in Germany is because the waiters actually get paychecks from the restaurant they work for

[oliverfuchs]

in germany 75% are non-smokers. and it ist not allow to smoke in restaurants, public transportation, public events

[m.f.b]

Im currently living in Germany, and yes it’s true: Germans love their rules.
The traffic lights waiting it’s respected specially when there are children around. You’re supposed to be setting an example to kids and small children.
Recycling is crazy but is great!.
They are very environmentally aware and follow the rules by the book. If you do not separate your bins properly, the bin men will not pick it up until you’ve done it properly.
Taxes, don’t start me up, extremely complicated specially if you have work abroad and commute to Germany.
Driving is great in the motorway, as long as it’s in daylight. Germany does NOT have much, if any, cats eyes on the motorway and so it’s extremely dark. To make matters worse, the middle shoulder that separates the motorway is grey and as you drive it looks more like part of the ground so be warned. Their white lines are more or less faded so you just have be brave to drive at night in the motorway.
Yes it’s true supermarkets tills are very fast, specially ALDI, and since they’re environmentally friendly they take their own bags.
Germans are not into small talk either, unless they know you of course.
Customer Service is appalling, but is getting better. If you go to a chic shop make sure you are well dressed as they will look at you from head to toe to assess if you’re really a customer who will buy or not, otherwise they’ll make you feel uncomfortable with their obvious stares. Since Germans are very honest, they may come across as being very rude but it’s just them being honest and telling you exactly what they think.
Data protection is so important that the law will NOT accept you having a camera outside your front door nor a car camera inside your car.
What I love about Germany is the great respect they have to pets. You can go to a restaurant or shop, except food stores, with your canine friend. They have dog schools and they are well cared for and have high regards for their best friend. If you have a pet you’ll be required to register and license your dog at the Rathaus.
Another important thing, after 22 hrs you are required to be considerate and not make noise!. if you live in a village you may be observed by the neighbours. Of course not everyone does that, but mainly older generations will be the human cameras.
In all, Germany is a great safe country they are a very advanced culture, and very respectful of nature and pets.

[petto]

As a German, I can not agree to the statement that we do not cross the streets when there is a red light. in big cities like Berlin, for example, where everything goes a bit faster, we often cross the streets at red lights. This is quite normal here and comparable to New York. But we make sure that we don't do it when children are around, because we don't want to set a bad example that could endanger them

[valeriantakashi]

The german way of saving money is to not spend any lol my stepfather used to say: "if we you don't buy it, you save 100%"

[ev.]

Tip for grocery shopping: just put everything back in the cart and pack your bags in peace somewhere on the side, problem solved.

[SlavaUkraini-nn]

You always give up a seat on the bus or train to someone who is elderly, pregnant or disabled. Not only Germany but also UK, Ireland and New Zealand. Usual rather than odd, doesn't say much for USA.

[davidmcc]

I’m English and lived/worked in Germany for 4 years. It’s a great place and I loved, what were to me, the German eccentricities. I was told off for crossing a small road on red instead of waiting for the green light no traffic on the road. The secret to German supermarket shopping is just put everything in the trolley then find a quiet spot to pack your bags.

[ida_kll]

lol im german and obviously ive been grocery shopping millions of times and im still soooo stressed out when i go to check out like it gives me anxiety

[Soldier_of_Life]

THe Crosswalk thing always got me! after about 6 months i found myself standing at the crosswalk at 4am by myself 😂

[sorayajaedicke]

As a native German this is really interesting.

[egg]

I find these videos really interesting because I have lived here all my life. All my family is German, etc. So it’s fun to see what other people notice that seem so every day to me.

[locopoco]

I'm German and while I do think that recycling is important I'm shocked that your neighbors were checking your trash!! not okay

[fresch]

Cant stress the "no overtaking on the right side" rule enough. Many Germans more or less blindly trust on this rule when they switch lanes to the right. They don't think they have to check for other cars coming from behind, because that would be in violation of said rule. So, if you don't follow that rule, you live a quite dangerous life on the Autobahn (let alone you endanger others). To give some context why it's forbidden: The concept of the Autobahn isn't a highway with 3-4 equal lanes, but one main-lane (on the right) plus 2 lanes for the exclusive purpose of overtaking (and going back to the right afterwards). Stay safe!

[klauskruger]

Hi, I'm german. I also stop walking when there's redlight. Always when children are watching and when I'm not in hurry, so I can relax a little bit.

[KatherineHuether]

Interesting video! I totally understand. I lived in Germany for five years and loved it. The culture shock after I moved back to the US, though, was far worse than the one I experienced when I first moved to Germany. Things I am still not used to: 1. Trusting other people to bag my items for me at the grocery store 2. People passing me on the right 3. I miss driving fast and knowing that the other people n the road can handle it - the condition of the roads in the US, the horrible drivers, etc I am not sure I would ever drive fast here 4. The fact that the "going out" culture in the United States is reserved for only young people 5. Places open on Sundays 6. Loudly talking at restaurants - It is NOT relaxing 7. I am still not used to being discreet while drinking. I almost got in trouble once for walking down the street of a local city with a beer in my hand. It was my beer, I had it in my bag, and I walked by a police officer and I don't think he saw me. Close call! - There are more items but those are the main ones.

[tea-addict]

11:20 The reason is that cashiers can get fired if they don't scan enough items in a certain amount of time. Employers refuse to admit that publicly, but it happens.

[giloises]

Tip: When I do big groceries in Lidl I usually park my shopping cart at the end of the cash register and just slam dunk all the scanned products back in there. I do the packing and sorting in the parking lot when I put the stuff in the trunk of my car. That's more relaxing. I always take two or three empty cardboard boxes from inside the store (usually the ones from the oranges). They're big and strong and you can use them for your recycled paper at home. Greetings from Belgium (where the Lidl cashiers also scan fast). Good luck!

[merafgetenet]

Everything you said was accurate. As someone who grew up in Germany, when first moving to the U.S 14 years ago, I had a the exact culture shock but reversed lol.