Cultural differences between England and Germany

First of all, let me make it absolutely clear that this is in no way a racist/ xenophobic thread - I love Germany and the German people.

Thing is- I'm soon to be going on my year abroad (to Germany) and I was just wondering how others had interpreted the German people? I've seen a few things over the Internet about how Germans aren't rude, but can appear abrupt, but it is more a cultural thing than actual rudeness. This just worries me a bit, as I can find it quite hard to read people.

There's an article for example on the BBC website, about how there is no German word for 'small-talk'. I can tend to ramble on a bit, and I spend most of my free time being sickly sweet to customers as I work in a department store and I guess I'm a bit worried that I'll be ignored or yelled at or something. Directness can make me feel pretty uncomfortable as well.

Just wondering if anyone had any experience that they could share with me? Am I worrying about nothing?

Reply 1

Mr_Platini

8

They have no sense of humour!

Reply 2

pr0view

10

I think your worrying too much.

Reply 3

LivingMemory

12

Humourless, slightly camp, work very hard.

I write travel and culture guides, you know.

Reply 4

Picnic1

19

Our brats are the wurst in Europe and your bratwursts are the best in Europe.

Reply 5

im so academic

15

Original post by Anonymous

First of all, let me make it absolutely clear that this is in no way a racist/ xenophobic thread - I love Germany and the German people.

Thing is- I'm soon to be going on my year abroad (to Germany) and I was just wondering how others had interpreted the German people? I've seen a few things over the Internet about how Germans aren't rude, but can appear abrupt, but it is more a cultural thing than actual rudeness. This just worries me a bit, as I can find it quite hard to read people.

There's an article for example on the BBC website, about how there is no German word for 'small-talk'. I can tend to ramble on a bit, and I spend most of my free time being sickly sweet to customers as I work in a department store and I guess I'm a bit worried that I'll be ignored or yelled at or something. Directness can make me feel pretty uncomfortable as well.

Just wondering if anyone had any experience that they could share with me? Am I worrying about nothing?

Really? Germany sounds good. Small talk pisses me off. :angry:

Reply 6

Carnationlilyrose

18

Buy these books from Amazon. I found them very helpful.

Germany - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture [Paperback]
Barry Tomalin (Author)

The Xenophobe's Guide to the Germans (Xenophobe's Guides) [Paperback]
Stefan Zeidenitz (Author), Ben Barko (Author)

Reply 7

cid

13

When you order a beer YOU GET A BLOODY BEER!! not some beer flavour fizzy pop in some small wimpy pint glass.

The humor one is a good point, if you do a fancy dress piss up don't dress as KKK with your colored chum in dungarees with a noose round his neck ...

i noticed they don't cross the road unless the light says to, even if there is absolutely no traffic.

Reply 8

Bslforever

15

Are the Germans fond of their children?

Reply 9

Pandabär

11

Original post by carnationlilyrose

The Xenophobe's Guide to the Germans (Xenophobe's Guides) [Paperback]

Read this book above.

OP, you worry too much. you will get some direct, straight-talking Germans, and some which are exactly the opposite. I've spent my life between the two countries, and it really is incredibly similar to the UK. Not identical, but similar. As for the BBC saying there is no word for small-talk, I'd just call it 'leichte Konversation' or something :confused:

But, yes, the Germans do small-talk. A lot. They also do akward silences.

Have fun there, it's great. :smile:

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 10

Pandabär

11

Original post by Bslforever

Are the Germans fond of their children?

Anyone who reminds me of that fateful moment gets repped.

Reply 11

skeanos

We **** more than they do.

Reply 12

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post by carnationlilyrose

Buy these books from Amazon. I found them very helpful.

Germany - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture [Paperback]
Barry Tomalin (Author)

The Xenophobe's Guide to the Germans (Xenophobe's Guides) [Paperback]
Stefan Zeidenitz (Author), Ben Barko (Author)

Oh, I just found a preview for the first one online :smile:

- looks good, thanks for suggesting

Reply 13

Nathanielle

15

It depends also of the region. (And thus: Can you understand them? :wink:

)
But see it positive: In the long run it can be easier to develop friendships, because you get a "direct feedback".

And we may not have a word for small-talk, but if we want to do small-talk (and not business) we do it (schwätzen, schnacken, parlieren,...).

Reply 14

Direct15

2

Original post by Bslforever

Are the Germans fond of their children?

Do the germans play board games?
No joking

Supposedly they don't queue for things but that's ok.

I too want to study / work/live in germany after school but a tad worried about my glasgow accent and if they will be able to understand me and like there drink.

But do the germans have calenders? Oktoberfest is in september and only about a week in october if lucky

Reply 15

avila

10

Original post by Anonymous

There's an article for example on the BBC website, about how there is no German word for 'small-talk'.

Geplauder, Plausch, Tratsch :frown:

There's no English word for Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftsraddampferkapitänskajütentürsicherheitsschlüssel.

Original post by Direct15

Supposedly they don't queue for things but that's ok.

But do the germans have calenders? Oktoberfest is in september and only about a week in october if lucky

We don't queue? Where'd you hear that?

The only people who make a big deal about Oktoberfest are foreigners and Bavarians. The rest of us find it pretty annoying to be reduced to beer and autobahn. :s-smilie:

Reply 16

Pandabär

11

Original post by avila

The only people who make a big deal about Oktoberfest are foreigners and Bavarians. The rest of us find it pretty annoying to be reduced to beer and autobahn. :s-smilie:

Ach, komm schon! We all know that Bavaria isn't really part of Germany... :ahee:

Reply 17

Carnationlilyrose

18

My German is a very distant memory, but is klatschen a possible word for small talk? Or have I made that up? Anyway, I've just come back from a tour of 18 different places in Germany and I felt quite at home in all of them, so don't worry, OP.

Actually, it means gossip, so not quite the same thing. Should have checked first. :redface:

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 18

ilex_

6

My german friend from uni told me that we dress up much more for nights out, and don't take coats (although I think that's a northern thing). Her mate also said that we seemed to prefer quantity of alcohol instead of quality.

Also, they found the concept of mushy peas to be absolutely hilarious as apparently 'mushy' is german slang for 'pussy'.

Reply 19

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post by Direct15

Do the germans play board games?
No joking

Supposedly they don't queue for things but that's ok.

I too want to study / work/live in germany after school but a tad worried about my glasgow accent and if they will be able to understand me and like there drink.

But do the germans have calenders? Oktoberfest is in september and only about a week in october if lucky

Haha, one of the last things our german lecturer told us was that although a bus queue may form, it means nothing when the bus actually comes and it's every man for himself.

Cultural differences between England and Germany

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