in addition to reading up on websites, i've been talking with friends about the customs and culture of germany, trying to find out what i should be advised of before my trip. a few things i uncovered, that may or may not be exaggerated:
-eye contact is of utmost importance, even more so than in the states. required even.
-punctuality is negotiable to an extent. never be early, but you can be up to 15 minutes late (this is actually great for me, as i'm notoriously late to everything).
-while eating, there are all sorts of fork/knife/spoon rules, but most prominent seems to be the rule of having hands on the table/in view, and not in one's lap.
-being invited into someone's home is an honor - bringing a gift is considered a nice gesture, but if you bring wine, bring italian or french, as german wine is considered an insult. (or better yet, bring a few bottles of sonoma wine in your suitcase.)
-small talk doesn't fly in german culture. when you ask someone how they're doing, expect an honest answer. in fact, germans are generally outspoken and forward about thoughts and opinions, and don't avoid stating such to spare feelings.
anything important i'm missing? any of these things that are totally incorrect?
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this was a lot of fun to read :)
ReplyDeletei'll give you a short briefing on the german dos and don'ts once i get back home! for now don't worry too much: in general we are very friendly and welcoming people, and especially in cologne!
great to see that you put so much effort in all of this. see you in a couple of weeks, still looking forward even more with every day :)