Culture Shock Compilation: Social Norms in Germany that Confuse Americans and Canadians
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 มิ.ย. 2024
- Let’s talk about cultural shocks between Germany and North America (US Americans and Canadians).
Have some laughs and get your mind blown while learning about some social norms in Germany that are definitely different from what most North Americans are used to.
Whether you are planning on moving to Germany, have already moved here and want to feel less alone in your social norm struggles, or just like to learn fun facts about other countries and cultures: I assure you this video will give lots of interesting insights into life in Germany.
Let’s start from the beginning:
Nudity: Germans are so comfortable with their nudity. At first, it can be really weird and uncomfortable. It was for me when I first experienced it, but with time, I got used to it. In the US and Canada, it's not common to be that open with nudity, so it may really come as a shock at first.
Drinking in Public: Yes, I am talking about drinking alcohol in public. It’s the most normal thing in Germany. Very different from the "paper bag" culture in North America when it comes to public drinking.
Shops Closed on Sunday: If you want to get into a hard discussion with a German, this is a great way to start. Ahaha. If you are moving to Germany, this may take you a while to get used to-having to plan your shopping so that you don't run out of something on a Sunday. Eventually, you will get used to it. I see the advantages and disadvantages of both lifestyles and totally respect them, but Germans can get really passionate about this topic, so be careful before you complain too much about this... :)
Punctuality: Both people and businesses are very punctual in Germany. This, I would say, is very easy to get used to and actually appreciate. You know what to count on, and everyone is respectful of each other's time.
Dog Culture: Dogs are super well trained in Germany, therefore they are allowed (almost) everywhere. It’s super nice, especially if you have a dog and like to include it in your everyday activities. But be careful before you go on and pet someone else's dog! In North America, people are much more open to others petting their dogs. In Germany, always make sure to ask first. People are caring and also protective of their dogs.
Bluntness: Especially in the workplace. Germans are very blunt, as opposed to Americans, especially Canadians. Germans will tell you like it is, and that can feel quite hurtful at the beginning. Once you pass the initial awkwardness, you can easily understand that it is not to be taken personally. It can actually make life easier and avoid a lot of miscommunication issues, trust me, even though I am Canadian, and it’s in my DNA to do my best to be super polite. :)
Work-Life Balance: In Germany, it is socially acceptable to leave work on time and take time for yourself (hence the 30 days of paid vacation a year). It’s actually encouraged. In North America and Canada, I feel like the line between your personal time and work is a little blurred... :)
Blowing the Nose Loud in Public: Apparently, this is very normal in Germany. It’s one of those random things that you just notice. Cultural differences, right? Ahah
Not Having a Part-Time Job Before Graduation: In the US and Canada, it’s normal to start a side job at a young age. In Germany, I met many people who did not have work experience before their studies. This is probably because studying is a lot cheaper here, so they can afford to focus only on their studies.
Friends and Work Don’t Mix: Germans keep their personal life and work lives separate for the most part. Part of the work-life balance, I guess?! Different from what we are used to in North America. Note that you might have a different experience in Germany, though, if you join a company that hires mostly expats or internationals.
Cake and Coffee in the Middle of the Day: It’s a lovely thing everyone loves about Germany. And why wouldn't you? It’s cake and coffee! :)
Men Sit Down to Pee: Sorry, little awkward topic but also interesting for many. Yes, men sit down to pee and are even encouraged to do so with signs in public bathrooms. Never heard of it in Canada or the US, have you?
Shops Closing at 16h on Saturday: In North America, Saturdays are perfect days for shopping, and it's expected that shops close later. In Germany, again, life-work balance is a priority, and therefore shops close at 16h on Saturday. Once again, make sure to plan your shopping. :)
Wearing Less Make-Up: In Germany, the fashion is a lot more natural and neutral than in North America. You won't feel peer pressure here to dress up and use makeup as much, which is a nice thing, I guess?
And that’s all for now. Make sure to subscribe to my channel and follow me on social media if you want to learn more about what life is like in Germany from the perspective of a Canadian. 😊
Let me know in the comments what your main cultural shocks were in Germany and/or Canada. - บันเทิง
I am German and American and confirm the accuracy 😊. I now live in the US and miss the "Sonntagsruhe" and institute Kaffee & Kuchen whenever possible! Also, the work/friends separation and the ridiculous number of vacation days one gets in the US is one I can find challenging! Work is not my life - LOL!
Once you get used to “Sommtagsruhe” it’s hard to go back 😌🧘🏼♀️
I would miss the ability to go everywhere I need ON FOOT or BICYCLE (which is DANGEROUS in the USA, because all the drivers HATE bicyclists with a passion).
@@Muck006 true. good point!
Thinking about it. It's weird that America which thinks it's sooooo religious doesn't close on Sundays, but Germany which is very secular and not religious does close on Sunday.
Well, there's still large influence from the Catholic and Protestant church, and unions also insist that people should have free on Sunday. Here in Germany it is more a social than a religious thing.
Profit always tops religion in the US, it IS the true religion of the US.
Also religious germans pay the church via their taxes and it's opt-out. Many germans keep paying their church taxes like the payments of a fitness studio: "I'm not going to church right now but maybe I'll need it in the future!" (If you think that makes no sense you are right.) Germans spend more on religions than americans. Crazy.
Think about that:
If they begin to close shops on Sundays for religious reasons now, they will find other things to do for the same reasons and I think it would be very difficult to stop them once they have started.
In the end the sought benefits would probably be heavily outweighed by very much possible new restrictions set in place...
It really doesn't have much to do with religion. It's the work-life balance, like all their federal holidays. I 'm vacationing here, and while almost everything is closed on Sunday, if you go to a Hauptbanhof on Sunday, you can still get basic stuff there.
'Sitzpinkler' is an insult in Germany... usually spoken by guys who don't have to clean their own mess!
All I can add to this is:
*_Some go there to shit and stink,_*
*_I go there to sit and think!_*
That's only used by a small minority. I'm old enough to know how to leave the toilet cleaner than it was when I entered it without being a "Sitzpinkler".
On the subject of "being friends with work colleagues".
We Germans often make a strict and hard distinction between these "worlds".
The point is that we don't want to be confronted with work in our free time and want to be able to talk "freely" about work. For example, if I don't like colleague X because he's an idiot, then I can say to my friends "Hey, do you want to know what kind of nonsense colleague X has been up to again?". As the likelihood of my friends knowing him is extremely low, I can relieve my frustration this way. This would also work if you were friends with a work colleague, but then you have to be careful that they don't know each other (well) and that you put your work colleague friend in an awkward situation.
Of course, there are also friendships between work colleagues, but they follow a very simple and very strict philosophy: we don't talk about work in our free time. And if we do, then only in confidence.
Curiously, however, we are still quite open in our communication with work colleagues.
I worked with a colleague for 10 years. I knew her husband because he occasionally came by to pick her up or drop something off and she knew my girlfriend. I knew almost everything about her children, her dog, the car that was always in the garage and where the family went on vacation. And she knew almost everything about me.
Nevertheless, we would never have thought of meeting in private, precisely because we spend more time together on a normal day than with our respective partners. For example, she jokingly called me her "work husband" and her real husband had little problem with that either. It would only have been problematic if we had also had contact in our free time, because then someone could have become jealous over something trivial.
American here Honestly, people here too separate those worlds. Particularly, the more professional the job and also probably even more so for management.Yes you can have an occasional happy hour but mixing business and pleasure is typically ill advised here as well.
Going to a trade school in Germany usually means being an apprentice which involves being employed by a company that you work for on some of the days of the week and on the remaining days you go to school. So essentially having a part-time job is built right into the German vocational training system which ensures that people acquire practical experience in the trade they're learning from the get go.
As far as opening hours for shops are concerned, the rules can differ from state to state in Germany. For example, in Baden-Württemberg shops are legally allowed to be open around the clock Monday to Saturday and they make use of that to varying degrees, i.e. you'll find supermarkets that are open from 7:00am to midnight. Bavaria on the other hand only allows shops to be open between 06:00am and 08:00pm. Moreover, depending on the state shops can open on Sundays between three (Baden-Württemberg) and ten times (Berlin) per year.
You are right about trade schools but nowadays less people go to a trade school. The majority goes to school way longer and makes their Abitur and decides to go to University afterwards. Less and less people decide to leave school after 9 or 10 years which is absolutely possible in Germany and which means you have to go to a trade school afterwards until you are about 18. However people often look down on people leaving school after 9 years and then going to a trade school and there is a certain pressure to go to school for 12/13 schools and then go to University. Many people have a part-time job in University though. Unless they are really privilegued.
Accurately, except one thing: while Germans (more German men, including. Me) blow their nose mighty noisily if necessary, their general noise level, specifically in restaurants is *way* more hushed than the average American / Canadian. One of the many signs telling me „this is an American tourist“.
You might have a point there. :)
once as i made my lunchbreak in a restaurant, a group of GI's came in, obviously for a break on their march, while the younger ones waited at they door, but the oldest (maybe their sergant (i didn't know anthing about grades at this time), went direktly to the biggest free table and told them to follow, all seems normal to me, ordering food and drinks, except he didn't allow the youngest to order a little beer too and it was funny for me to see their work with fork and knife, some did it like we europeans, some like i knew from my american friends, followed by looks from their sergant, but all went well until one needed to clean his nose
he grasped his napkin and with a loud trust he unloaded what was there, after that i threw the napkin just on the table
all went silent and the stare of the sergant went icecold, after a few seconds he realiced what he did and with a hush he did the napkin in his pocket
i leaved the restaurant shortly after them and could hear the sergant speak to them. turned out this lunchbreak was a test for them of what they had learned about behavior in public and especially in restaurants 🙂😉
4:04 From a German perspective it's weird to distinct friends and people you even see on the weekends. I think a friend in Germany is much more close to you and vice versa than over the pond, where people called friends, you barely know their names.
Sneezing silent? You need power to get that stuff out. Coffee and cake, yes, between 4 and 5, but in Canada they close cafes at 4!!! And peeing while standing, have you ever seen the pee dust cloud in the sunlight that surrounds the pee and spreads all over the bathroom? Better sit down.
sneezing in silent?? I think my head will blow up, my eyes will pop out and my ear drums burst.😅 Peeing while standing,... well let's say I'm married for 30 years. I cleaned the toilet a couple of times when told. Now I know the difference between sitting and standing.😇
"You need power to get that stuff out" ahahah love this!!
It would be better for the Environment, when you trink your coffee from a real cup. Greeting from Germany.
Oh my god. There's always this one....
@@achimschroter8046 Or ... it was a little joke about stereotypes.
You know, the cup was produced and it exists.
Wheter she uses it or not. So no, it just does not matter at all.
she does. half the time...
@@olivert7068 Of course it does. The fewer people use it, the fewer will be reproduced.
I hated it living abroad, like in London, when everything was as usual on sunday. Now that I am back in Germany I even appriciate it much more, that on sunday it is a completly different vibe then on a normal day.
Putting a brown bag around an alcoholic drink so nobody knows you drin alcohol, yet it's the brown bag that signals you are drining alcohol???!!!??? Crazy. :)
Peeing seated is not only more hygienic but also much more convenient...
If you're older, like me... yes... 😂
But it's just no fun! Coming from a german.
@@bened22 Maybe i have a tumor in my humor but i cannot see the funny side of it, sorry...
...for women.
@@shepberryhill4912 ..and for men !
Some things seem more about age than culture. When I was younger (I'm a 50-something Canadian), punctuality was extremely important. Also, stores were all closed on Sundays, and it was wonderful. Everyone got the same day off to see their friends and family, and mall parking lots were a playground for cyclists and people learning to drive. I really miss everything being closed on Sundays.
In Germany we love our free time and vaccations. So we hurry up to complete a task faster and more efficient than other countries to enjoy our free time.
Not Having a Part-Time Job Before Graduation: Well, the reason is not only that education (school, university and apprenticeship) are free in Europe but that studying for school has absolute priority in the European mind set; it is considered an occupation in it’s own right. This is supported by the law „Jugendschutzgesetz“ (law of protection of youth): If you are under age 15 you are only allowed to work a maximum of 2 hours per day in minor jobs like babysitting or delivering newspapers. On the German (and Austrian, and Swiss) labour market companies simply are not offering any jobs for this age group - i.e. refilling shelves in a supermarket or working on a construction site is not even considered by companies: You will be turned away by the store manager or HR.
Between age 15 and 17 you might work 40 hours per week, but never at night, i.e. before 6 a.m. or after 8.pm. For students this is, however, strongly discouraged by teachers and on the whole, parents.
Even when you start an apprenticship at age 16 (where you are already paid) you are required to attend a -vocational - school 1 or 2 days per week (or blocks of several weeks or even month).
If you attend a Gymnasium - the academic branch of the German school system prepping for university - I wouldn’t know how to stem a job next to the demanding workload for Abitur. Maybe you should ask a German Gymnasium teacher, not only about the Gymnasium curriculum for "Oberstufe" from age 16 to 18 preparing for the Abitur (more like the first 2 college years in the US) but also ask them about the academic requirements to become a Gymnasium teacher.
To avoid trouble I would better ask the owner if I could pet his dog because you don't know if the dog will like it or not. But it's not a problem with most dogs.
The most irritating thing for me is having to wait at a crosswalk for a walk signal when there are no cars coming.
You "have" to wait when you cross the street in the "walking area". It is a safe area for you to cross the street. But you can cross thestreet on a redlich 2 meters besides the walking area and it eould be fine.
Part three also applied to Senegal, except for the cake and coffee!
The loud blowing of the nose? 😁🤧🤧
North Americans, presumably thinking that time is money, talk far too fast and fail to convey their information clearly.
"friends and work don't mix" is not true. Of course you can make friends with your co-workers. Only it will take you some time. But when you've reached that point, you'll have friends for life. Personal observation: the further north you go in Germany, the more buttoned-up and reserved people are at first. They often even appear grumpy and dismissive to others. But that's pure self-protection: don't reveal too much about yourself and don't allow too many feelings so that you don't end up being disappointed. But as I said, once you've cracked this protective armour, you'll have friends for life.
Also important the progression of intimacy between coworkers: Mitarbeiter -> Kollege - > Bekannter -> Freund (final stage, hard to reverse)
@@spitefulwar There's also "guter Bekannter" right between Bekannter and Freund. Very important step.
@@skaarphy5797 You're right I missed that one. At least there is no BFF in german because ALL of my friends are my BFF (until they rescind)
@@spitefulwar loving the German Language Richness 😄
What is the reason that you hold a cup all the time? It's time for drinking, then it's over and it's time for working - without a cup. You're not a baby.
Interesting take on the video!
Kids in Germany should not be obedient thats not a goal in parenting
Yes that comment also threw me off.
is it inappropriate to say you don't need make up at all?
Yes, it kinda is. I mean most people mean it in a nice way and want to compliment someone's look by saying they don't need make-up but make-up is a hobby/passion/art/fun for many people. It's not like people wear it because they "need" it in any way. Technically nobody "needs" make-up but many people like it. It's fun if they enjoy wearing it. It's also fun if they don't.
@@deniseb.4656 Good point, thanx.
I was surprised at how much make-up women in the US wear even if they're not planning to leave the house. One told me she takes an hour in the morning to "do her face" and half an hour to take off before retiring to bed. Not even photo models wear that much make-up here in Germany when they're not working.
If you blow your nose in public, you really need to, to prevent an accident. You will try to do this silently in a corner when possible. If it is urgent all Germans around you will understand. We take care of each other.
What? Everyone blows their nose, wherever they are, when they need it. Maybe not loudly in a concert or similar but other than that... Were you talking about Asia? There it seems to be a nono.
@@viomouse These may spit on the floor and may make noises after eating. A nogo in western civilisation.
10 days of holiday in Canada, lol... That is like China...
Europeans and Scandinavians definitely have this right...
is there a distinction between Europeans and Scandinavians? Scandinavians are Europeans, too.
@@henningbartels6245
Scandinavians have vacation rights wich not all Europeans share.
In Norway you're entitled to 5 weeks vacation.
Wether you work full or part time.
Your vacation pay is a minimum 10.2 per cent of the previous year's income.
(Before tax).
If you're over 60, you get an extra week off.
And up to 14.3 per cent vacation pay.
Long time employment can even earn you a sixth week of vacation...
Love from Oslo 👩🦳🇧🇻
I think lots of these things appear also in other parts of Europe / the EU.
Others might be "typical" like shop closing hours.
the shops beeing closed on sundays is normal in most european countries.
@@blackforest_fairy or it was in the 70's :)
@@solaccursio it still is normal in many european countries
I had culture shock for years when I moved to the USA from Germany.
Sorry, but it's not normal in Germany that somebody exposes her or himself nude to others except maybe in few specific localities (sauna for nudes, FKK (nude) beaches, changing rooms (anyway separate for men and women)). Only once in my whole life I encountered naked people outside the said localities when I walked along a Bavarian lake away from the path and met accidentally a few naked people sitting at the lake. I hastened away because I felt bad and didn't want to trouble them. Usually something like that is forbidden. I personally never exposed myself to others except to my parents when I was a little child. A long time ago I went to sauna. There were 3 different types of sauna: mixed and only for women (both nude) and mixed with swimsuit. I used the nude one but you had to bring a towel along. I used it to cover my intimate parts as all others did. Strictly speaking no nudidity even in the supposed "nude" sauna.
Only snippets of earlier shorts.
Nice! But where else in Germany do the stores still close at 4 pm on a Saturday? I haven't seen that for a long time! At least one grocery store here is open until 10 pm. And I don't live in the city, but in a small town outside.
BTW: You don't need make-up, you look very pretty like this too!
Grocery stores yes, but many local shops outside of the big centers do close at 4pm on a Saturday.,
@@hannahteslin Yes, that may well be possible. I had only thought about grocery stores. But even normal stores are now open until at least 6pm on Saturdays in many small towns.
Are the thirty vacation days paid?
Yes!
If you get sick you are on "sick leave" ... and that's also "mostly paid" (it degrades after a few weeks, but dont ask me for the precise percentages).
by law there needs to be at least 24 paid vacation days per year (when working full time).
"pet s.o. dog" Can´t dogs bite in America?
Good point !
You need to speak "dog language" to avoid this.
The "Dog whisperer" taught me to hold my head high, and ignoring the dog's presence, (like an Alpha pack dog would do), when encountering an unknown dog.
It works.
A dog will likely lick your hand for attention, if you "ignore it" in this way.
Also don't try to pet a dog tied and left alone outside a shop.
If it's whimpering, keep your distance, and talk calmly to it.
Without direct eye contact.
Most of these things apply to Switzerland too, except for the bluntness. Unless you have a co-worker from Germany😉
(German here, VPN set to Switzerland) I have no idea how you (german) swiss communicate ... but at least the ads I get sound funny AND there is a chance for three languages (italian is pretty rare).
Best VPN location IMO and it beats the stupid ads for the USA!
Are the German Swiss not as blunt? Interesting. Are they the Canadians of the DACH region? 😆
Americans like to pet fogs in Germany without asking. Similar with me in USA, I go aroums and kiss everyone's wife snd gf eithout askimf. They love it😊
How do you pet a fog?
Sit down to pee"??? Never heard that, never saw it, how strange. Must be some local thing. 99% of all the public toilets, even some private housholds have pisoirs / urinals.
Often times there might be a "number 2" announcing itself when you put pressure on the "stomach" to pee, so why bother with the urinal?
What is an "ish"????
I like your humor very mutch!