These are some things you may not know about this lovely, and somewhat strange, country where I live. This is a land where:
1. Fresh air coming in through a window or door is toxic
Many of us might welcome a breeze in a hot, non-airconditioned office, but no, here in Germany, a draught can lead to unhealth. You will hear “es zieht” (literally “it pulls”), which means all windows must be buttoned down and that dangerously fresh air must be kept where it belongs – outside. Fresh air is also lethal when combined with wetness! If, for instance, you are at the pool on a very hot day, it is essential to be completely dry – dry clothes, dry hair, dry body parts – before leaving for home. If you aren’t, you never know one of those terribly dangerous breezes might combine with your own wetness to track you down and if not actually kill you then knock you into your sick bed for days.
2. “Thanks” means “no”
Confusing, no? Let me tell you how! If you are at the bakery, and the person behind the counter asks you if you would like your bread sliced, make sure you say “Bitte” (please) or “Ja”. If you go the (perhaps overly) polite Anglo-American route of saying “thanks”, your bread will be handed to you, nicely wrapped, but whole.
3. Bare feet bad, shoes good
It may be 35 degrees and a heatwave outside but being barefoot leaves you open to a multitude of unnamed dangers. We moved back to Germany in the hot, hot summer of 2003 and one evening took our two little girls for a walk in their respective prams. It was about 37 in the shade and their feet were at no point going to touch the ground, but our friends looked upon us in shock, saying “What? No shoes?”. Also, in the winter, if you are home, it is essential to always have clad feet, despite a heated house. If you don’t, you welcoming in pneumonia, at best.
4. People of all ages suffer from bad circulation
“Kreislauf” or the failure thereof may not actually kill you, but it may force you to call in sick and spend a few days lurking on the sofa, watching DVDs. It is not something only old people get, but is a lovely umbrella term that covers all sorts of problems: need for a mental health day, a hangover, avoiding that work deadline. What in England would be called pulling a sickie, is here a medically acceptable self-diagnosis.
5. If you want to pull a sickie, have used Kreislauf once too often, turn to that great source of sick notes: your doctor
I discovered that, when my job was boring me to tears (often) I could go to my GP, mention tiredness, headache, perhaps mutter “Stress” and my GP would give me a sick note for three days. Fabulous! I injured my left wrist falling off my bike once (I am right-handed) and got two weeks off work. I spent that time on the sofa watching Wimbledon, nursing my debilitating sprain.
6. People say exactly what they think
This I have come to find refreshing, but it has taken a LOT of getting used to. No need for that Anglo-American overly polite white-lie telling that oils the social wheel, no, you will be asked if you are pregnant when you’re still not showing, you will be told that your children are not warmly dressed enough, the weeds in your garden will be mentioned, in the street you will be asked why one of your children screamed all night. Daisy’s first summer here was a difficult one for her: it was hot, she was nearly two, she wouldn’t sleep and she screamed a lot. One of my neighbours gave me a child-raising book (as if I didn’t have enough of them), saying it would help me work out what I could do to help Daisy (as if I wasn’t already trying).
7. Tats and tans are the summer accessory of choice (winter too)
I have mentioned these before, but still can’t come to terms with them. All I want to say is that the best way to accessorize your orange tan is with butt antlers: it’s apparently the only way to go.
8. The hot lunch rules
I’ve gone native on this one. It suits me to cook a hot meal for my kids at lunch, so that in the evening, when I’m devoid of energy, I can slap a yogurt or a bowl of cereal down in front of them. However, the weirdness comes in that the whole society is predicated on the home-cooked lunch (work canteens provide the same for the poor deprived souls who can’t get home for their meal), and in our town, most shops close down for the two-hour period in which lunch must be cooked, served and eaten. It’s one of those unwritten rules on which Germany is based, without which the fabric of society would be rent.
9. Rules are rules
Speaking of rules, there are lots here. It’s evidence of how “eingedeutscht” I have become that I no longer find any of these really strange: no washing cars or mowing lawns on Sundays; no playing at playgrounds between the hours of 1300 and 1500; no shopping on Sundays; no disturbing the neighbours after 2100; no barking dogs (dogs here are strangely silent) especially after 2100 or between 1300 and 1500 or before 0900. Friends of ours arrived here with three unruly barking South African dogs. They were soon getting letters, from the relevant town officials, asking them to keep their dogs silent during the quiet hours, and preferably always. They wrote back to say they had informed the dogs. Now they live in the country and their dogs bark when and how they please.
10. Work and play are separated
Another weirdness I’ve grown used to. Back in SA, you had to be best friends with someone and preferably had got drunk together the night before, before you could ask them to do something for you at work. Here the opposite is true: you barely even need to know their names, and you certainly don’t care about the health of their children or their elderly parents. When visitors are in town for work, it is always the ex-pats who make the effort to take them out and show them around; the Germans tend to melt into the shadows at 6pm. Work is work, play is play, and the twain should never meet.
I especially like #1 — my in-laws live in Spain and they have the fear of the draught as well. No matter how many times we tell them that GERMS make you sick, not AIR, they won’t believe it. Aargh. I hate stuffy rooms.
Also — my husband’s grandmother was shocked that I was barefoot in the house while pregnant. She said I would damage my ovaries.
Wow – what great tidbits – I never would have guessed. I’m someone who likes windows up at all times and prefer to be barefoot in the summer, so its good to have a heads up in case I ever go to Germany! I love the hot lunches rule especially. Yep, I think I could live quite nicely in Germany. I might have to move…
Fresh air and barefeet – two things I couldn’t live without. The only danger that going barefoot has ever presented is not being able to feel the stone embedded in my heel. I do like the bad circulation self-diagnosis, though. And the hot lunches. But, I think, if barefeet are bad I could only ever visit Germany… despite the cake and coffee shops.
Do you want to hear the truth? I’m from Germany and I can tell you, that we also open our windows and let the fresh air in and we don’t think that it makes us ill.
We also walk barefood. In my hometown there’s also a special tour for walking barefood (walking through water, stones, wood, mut, sand…)and it takes 5 kilometers. It goes also through our park, where a lot of germans go everyday and no one says anything against it!!!!
Thanks. I read this and couldn’t stop raising my left eyebrow with an annoyed face. We ALWAYS have fresh air in the house, but in a way that it doesn’t blow your face off.
Great list! I used to live in Germany, where I would constantly defy the laws of nature and run around with wet hair but yet not drop dead on the spot. I’m amazing, I tell you!
PS – thanks for the diet link. I will check it out!
In the Philippines it is having a wet or sweaty back (!) that will make you ill. The kids go around with towels across their backs, tucked in under the collar of their t-shirts. Wouldn’t this just make them hotter? No, apparently it is vital for child development and health.
Never having bare feet must also be a British thing. It was my instinct to run around barefoot as a child but it was seen as akin to running around naked. It was drummed into me so much that now I keep my feet covered, even in the house, even if it’s 40 degrees outside. I draw the line about putting shoes on the baby although I go on a guilt trip if he’s not wearing socks (why I put them on him I don’t know because he promptly tears them off again).
.. I reckon that Germany has allowed me to indulge a couple of things that would be considered really rather working class in the background I come from.. one is the outside verses inside shoes, which I love, because it makes my home a haven of clean floors that I can run around bear foot in without indescribable things sticking to my feet, which I really loathe. The other is that I have a clear demarcation of work and pleasure, meaning I can make my colleagues into friends, but only if I want to. This is so cool. Work is work (and Germans work short but very hard hours), but the rest is all mine!!
Oh come on, Emma, welly boots are deeply posh …
[...] Someone from Germany recently commented on my blog, so I checked out their site and found this article about how life in Germany is different. A few excerpts : they don’t like having windows open to get fresh air; “thanks” means “no”; you can tell your doctor you’re stressed or mentally tired and he might write you a note to miss 3 days of work — and your employer is okay with this; people say exactly what they think (I have to admit this would be refreshing); shops close down during lunch because people go home to cook; you don’t wash your car or mow your yard on Sunday; you don’t shop on Sunday; etc. It’s interesting. You can read more here. [...]
My name is Danny, I am 24 year old, and doing research on wordpress. I would like to show my stuff I have been here. Is that ok? I like your blog.
wow amazingly i am sitting in germany with barefeet and all three windows in my room are open!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah my mother in law is not here. LOL. that no barefeet thing is so true. my son is two and he screams if i take out to throw something away and he has no shoes on. even if i am carrying him!! i love germany, but some of there customs just border on stupid. i still can’t get over that not being polite thing. i hate that!
Ha. Would your mother-in-law get mad at you if she found out about that? I think some of these rules are funny. I’m only 13, though. xD Americas my place, but i think traveling is really awsome. To see other cultures and things.
I love this bog. See? I’m doing this assignment for my social studies class about immigration. Its actually a really interesting topic to study. If anyone has anything to contribute? xD Like, whats your story? Did you immigrate? Are you living in another country? Why did you choose to move? My teacher recomended getting stories.
kaythxsomuchbaii.
OH that was a fantastic read – I have spent 20 years married to a German (I am Australian) spent several years living there and have been travelling back and forth from various ex-pat postings ever since….you just nailed it so beautifully. Our 19 year old daughter has just gone over to spend a GAP year working as an au pair and is already complaining about all the things you mentioned – I am sure that after a year she will return to us, close all the windows, and start cooking a hot lunch.
A few years back my in-laws paid us a visit to Sydney in January. on the 2nd day she preceded to make Goulash for lunch – it was 41 degrees. To make matters worse, she was too proud to ask me to translate my spice drawer and used Cayenne instead of sweet paprika….we all sat at the table and ate…it was easier than trying to explain that Australian’s don’t eat like this in Summer!
Hey there was surfing through the internet and found your page on google . Enjoyed the good read wanted to say Happy New Year and keep up the good work.
Charlotte I´m from Argentina and is yhe firs time I visit this blog. I like it very much. I teach English here and I´m going to use the article you wrote (10 things I find Weird About Germany) in my classes for students to read and compare with the rules in our country. Congratulations!
Sorry, please when I wrote my reply I made two mistake. Where I wrote yhe the right is the and I wrote firs instead of first.
I spent nearly two years living in Hamburg and recognise the overall attitude if not the details. Rules, rules, rules. On the other hand, at least it’s applied even-handedly. The speaking your mind thing really took some getting used to, as did the tendency for second helpings to be whisked away if you were foolish enough to do the British thing and politely decline first time around, expecting your host to politely insist.
Wonderful blog. A lot of personal detail. Life.
rr
LOL…indeed, der zug. In people’s minds, this dangerous breeze of wind is connected to sickness and back/joint pains. Very accurate portayal of living in Germany…
Your site was recommended to me by a mutual friend of our – Susana Rapela.
I love this particular blog entry because I, too, am a non-German, living in Germany (Wiesloch) and, having been since 2004, have noticed all sort of things, many of which are on this list.
I’m Canadian, married to a Belgian, and we live here in Germany, so lots of customs and cultures meet, intersect and (sometimes) clash around here….
This is a wonderful web site in general – I must thank Susana for recommending it to me!
“MfG”,
K.
Hi,
I lived in Germany for two years and had to leave before i went crazy. I am also married to a German. German men are very romantic though well at least my husband is.
He allways wears socks with his sandles when i point this out to him he says i am German! (duh)
My inlaws do my head in and we dont really get on at all. My German is basic so we dont talk at all.
Anyone considering moving to Germany should think carefully. Taxes are high and dont expect them to hold things back they say what they want.
I live in Colorado, USA. I loved this post. Thanks for sharing.
It’s interesting to see how people from other countries see german behaviour. I never recognized that It’s so strange. Since I’m born here I’ve been living in Germany all my life, wich is only 19 years, but anyway….
So this is how I see it:
1. I love to have the Windows open when it’s hot and in my car I still rather open the windows than turning on the air conditioner. But sometimes, when there’s a bit more than a refreshing breeze coming in and I’m sweating like a gorilla, I start to freeze, so I close the window. So what???
2. Never in my life I said “thanks” instead of “no”. Very few people I know do it. If at all, I say both: “Nein, danke”, wich I think is said in english too: “No, thanks”
3. What friends do you have? I wear shoes when I need them. Everyone does.
4&5. Ok, I think that’s right, I find it terrific! Didn’t know that’s different in other countries.
6. I say what I think if it’s not abusive. I think nothing of this superficial politeness that makes you think you have thousands of friends but you have none. Friends of mine were living in California for a few years and they were very dissappointed when they recognized their new “friends” treated every stranger like that.
7. Each to their own. I don’t use it. Also never noticed so many germans doing it.
8. I like the ot lunch- rule, but still, there’s not always time for it. Most of the days we have lunch at about 6pm. But I have to admit that’ not the normal time. My family’s a bit different at that.
9. Totally agree. That’s how it is here in Germany and I find it appropriate. You might think different, ok, but there you’re right, I guess most germans think so.
10. Finally, another thing I don’t find weird at all. You CAN make friends at work, but you don’t have to. Thank god! If I had to be best friends with every colleague of mine! Some of them are really not on my wavelength. I want friends I really like.
Ok, that’s it, bit long, do’t expect anyone to read it, I was just bored and thought this was a good possibility to practice a bit english.
Anyway, thanks!(Not meaning”no”, keep that in mind ;-D)
I´am a 20 year old german and I can say that from all the people who posted here, you are the only one whom I believe that he/she knows this country. I dont believe most of these people have REALLY been here, because most of these stereotypes are either wrong or extremely exaggerated.
4. and 5. What the hell? You do know that most people are barely ever ill over here, if you´ve really been here. That is, they do get ill, but dont stay at home. My father for example is only once in two years at home due to illness.
8. Hot lunches yes, but only on weekends, between 4pm and 6pm
9.Those rules also apply mostly for the weekend, but also for the night.
I´ts okay to party at night, as long as other people can sleep, but I guess thats common sense and goes in every country.
Your post is the really best! It’s the only one I can agree with. Every other posts are just creating a negativ picture of germans. me, I’m also german and my life is the one you described.
interesting reading.
I’m Dutch, born in Amsterdaam, and currently communting between Toronto and Vancouver, fairly regularly, however, I have to admit I don’t find these rules at all odd.
Mind you, the Germans are quite a bit more tightly wound then the Dutch, but that has always been the case. The window thing and the barefoot thing is entirely new to me, however the question about the bread makes perfect sense.
It is a yes or no question, so therefore answer it with a yes or no. Saying thanks = no, because you didn’t say yes. Common sense.
As for speaking one’s mind? I bet that 110% of all anglo-american issues could be solved much more productively if folks followed that route rather then constantly blowing smoke at each other, then talking about it behind their backs.
Yes, work is work and play is play. If you mix the two, then you have conflict and gossip, and all the plethora of idiocy that goes along with familiarity.
All of this will be a good education for you, as long as you can realize that it is never right to bring one’s own country to another and then act surprised when things are not the same.
it is more cultured and educated to just fit in, learn the culture and assimilate. After all, i’ve heard enough of the Americans and Canadians here whine and complain about “well they should go back to their own country then” so the shoe, being on the other foot, applies absolutely.
It isn’t that any of these things are strange. it is that you are not use to them, and as such have not yet fully assimilated, in order to show Germans the respect that they deserve, as it is their country.
I think that is the only right answer.
you are so weird maybe more weird than Germans , and yes it is strange and you are strange, and it is not cultural neither educated to fit in just for the sake of it , what do you mean by fit in, do you want others to act weird like yourself , do you call that being educated ? what type of school did you go to ? what type of work do you do , you are insulting the majority of the world who find your behavior odd , everyone who been to germany or even spoken to a german person can tell they are odd , so you think everyone is less cultural and educated than yourself? , if the majority of the world thinks its strange then your opinion is useless but again its useless to talk to you because you are weird , I hope you aint sad after reading this am trying to fit in and speak my mind like your weird self , I have nothing against germany but when someone like you post something like this insulting everyone who does not want to fit in and act weird like then maybe thats why you are the strange one anyway you happy new year.
You´re words are proof for you´re own lack of education and reading this post makes me think that you are an immeasurably weird person. That being said: “your opinion is useless but again its useless to talk to you because you are weird”.
You should probably try to read James Van Leuvaan´s post again and please do it properly this time, so that maybe you will be able to actually understand it.
Great post! One day I hope to find out for myself.
You could go on to mention the Double Moral , .. Neighbour moaning about a slight noise coming out of the bedroom window of young Johnny 200 meters away , because they despise him because hes into heavy metal music, has a tattoo and just finishing off his degree in Law and will become a Judge, and then, passing the time of day and being really nice and friendly to the arsehole on the other side who snorts cocaine smokes stinking joints on the street ,deals and is a loud mouthed two faced >xyzabc
Or You get one nice day and decide to BBQ and they exercise their right to complain and even call the police to get you to stop it…because it apparently is disturbing them,
But don’t think twice about allowing their Doberman to poo on the pavement in front of your door…
Hey I got the T shirt , I hear you ,
Very true words… had to get used to it myself.
Living in Germany now more than seven years.. born and bread in South Africa, and I am still finding it sometimes hard to get used to all these rules.
When I just arrived in Germany.. found, how to recycle your waste somehow confusing, my neighbours end up writing notes and stick them on the rubbish bin, I thought that was great.. untill the next morning, when I went out with the rubbish, and found out that it rain during the night.. was very confusing to try to read those notes. At least I know now how to recycle my waste.
Hahaha so true, so true. About the wet hair thing. It is believed that when there’s wind (der zug!) while youve got your hair wet, your head will lose warmth. That will cause either a) a cold b) a pneumonia c) “kreislauf” or d) all of them.
And yes, doctors are really nice when you want to stay at home. My friend couldn’t get a paper for school done in time, so she saw a doc who wrote a nice little letter that she couldnt finish on time because of her health problems (“maybe its cause I didnt dry my hair after swimming last week…”).
About the saying what we think. My bf is american, I’m german, and he is shocked by that. I never realized we were that direct until he told me. Its still really hard for him to deal with it. I see the positive side of it. Its kind of polite after all – you dont waste the time of people you dont like at all by making them think you like them. something like that.
Too many rules? At least we can drink wherever we want without putting it in a red cup haha
[...] you on a melodious ride. Everything from spliced up Wu-Tang to Claude VonStroke to Noob to some weird ass German shit. All hail [...]
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Ha ha.
Uta loved the bit about “butt antlers”
And she agrees that Germans are hyperchondriacs.
I lived in Germany for 15 years and I have to say: just no. 8 is right, the other ones are not!
I just came across this site and found it quite interesting.
This article describes me to a “T” and my great grandparents emmigrated from Germany to the US in the 1800′s! Maybe it was passed down generation to generation?
I have lived in the US my whole life and know many people from Germany. We have even opened our home, for a year at a time, to 5 exchange students from there.
Perhaps now I understand why the students have always felt so at ease.
I am planning a 1 month trip to Germany next month and am really looking forward to it now.
Thanks for the fun information!
Heh! Where I live in Germany you are actually obligated by rental contract to keep your windows open for 2 hours a day. Must be regional.
I’m Rena and i’m from Germany. The last 11 month I have been living in America though and I REALLY miss the hot lunch rule. When I first came I felt like I was starving all the time because I didn’t have any hot lunch.
It’s funny how you are talking about “Kreislauf” problems. My complains all the time about that.
People don’t say just thanks for no. It’s no thanks, “nein danke”.
Great blog, keep it up!!
Everything is so true! LOL I am a peruvian who lived 12 years in Germany before moving to OK.. I have mixed feelings about Germany. I miss the “Promenaden” where you can walk a lot while shopping, and the culture..here I have to grab the car for everything, so I gained 10 pounds in the last year
. On the other hand germans are really strange..they really say what they think and it comes very rude at times. The service at stores is really bad, they seem to be bored or tired of their job. Here is more like in my country, people are just smiling more and more friendly and less complicated 
i’ve lived about half my life in the u.s. and half in germany, and a little bit in the u.k.
1. i think some people are misunderstanding that rule. the issue is about fast-flowing cold air. the theory is that it cools you down too much. makes sense in the winter, less so in the summer.
2. never heard someone say “thanks” for “no”. maybe it’s a regional thing.
3. never seen someone barefoot in the u.s. either. basically no shop/restaurant/whatever will serve you if you’re barefoot. shoes in the house: big no, no. socks on cold hard wood floor: duh.
4./5.: yeah, people are abusing it.
6. yeah. i prefer people being straight-forward, but combined with the less sunny outlook on life that some people have in germany it can be annoying.
7. ?
8. never had 2 hour lunch breaks, but it sounds like a great idea. spain has the famous siesta which i think lasts even longer. wonderful!
9. yeah, some neighbors can be “kleinkariert” about some rules but i’ve not found it to be worse than in the u.s. there is something nice about being protected from loud neighbors. no shopping on sunday is also not really a german invention — it’s part of the judeo-christian heritage which prescribed a day of rest / going to church/temple. as a kid i hated sundays, but i’ve come to appreciate having one day to deflate at the end of the week. you can still do essential shopping on sundays (beer/cigarettes at the gas station
.
10. i’ve not found that to be true. it might be based on the type of industry you have and how much interaction with others you have in the job.
—
let’s add some weird things:
11. it’s considered acceptable to smoke/drink immediately after sports or even during sports. i’ve seen people bike while smoking and drinking.
12. as soon as the clouds lift people will sit outside to eat/smoke/walk no matter how freaking cold. not necessarily weird, but not something i’ve observed in the u.s. / u.k.
I’ve been here 12 years and I think it is time to escape these people. They are full of double standards, always moaning and trying to mind your business for you.
My neighbours are not very nice, due to the fact they partly park one of their cars on my side of the garage. They have so much junk on their side that they can’t park their car properly.
They made a cash offer to by my garage , but I said why would you possibly want to buy the garage when you park for free. So the conversation continues for a short while , when suddenly I formed the nice lady that I would call her firm and ask them why their products where cluttering her garage. Needless to say I haven’t had any problems with the Boese Frau seitdem.
But I think it is time to go somewhere else, sick of their long moaning mannerisms.
Darren
I’ve been here 12 years and I think it is time to escape these people. They are full of double standards, always moaning and trying to mind your business for you.
My neighbours are not very nice, due to the fact they partly park one of their cars on my side of the garage. They have so much junk on their side that they can’t park their car properly.
They made a cash offer to by my garage , but I said why would you possibly want to buy the garage when you park for free. So the conversation continued for a short while , when suddenly I formed the nice lady that I would call her firm and ask them why their products where cluttering her garage. Needless to say I haven’t had any problems with the Boese Frau seitdem.
But I think it is time to go somewhere else, sick of their long moaning mannerisms.
Darren
i’ve been here for a bit over four years and i think it’s time i’ve made my escape. i’ve gone from loving germany to couldn’t quite care less, and that depresses the daylights out of me. you could state the obvious, such as no one begged me to move here, but it doesn’t explain why everyone is so content with being such a negative nancy.
let’s take customer service, for example. okay, so after throwing such things as my american superficiality and all those needless niceties by the wayside…would it be so horrible to conduct yourself in a way that might afford you the opportunity to enjoy your mundane little job? I’m sure going about your business, cold and unforgiving, makes the hours just fly by. geez louise.
someone get me on the next bullet train to northern ireland…
Looking at the comments made by the Germans and the Dutch reader, I have to comment as well. I am also a Ausländer living here in Germany and I just feel that the people here have their ways and their differences which I find no problem with. But what I do find bad about the whole thing is that we are expected to become part of the society here. I don´t see a problem with that either, we do what we are expected to do but why on earth do we have to give up our culture and adopt the mentality as we´ve been told to do?
Why do we have to? Why can´t we be the way we are. It´s not to say that because we live here that we have to be the same as everyone else. We still have our individualism. Ever watched the movie Riddick with the Necromongers. “Conform or die!” That´s the thing, let us walk bare feet, let us die from the fresh air if we want to, let us talk too loudly if we want to!
Let us swim and walk around with wet hair. We don´t even notice immigrants in our country, because we feel that everyone has a right to their own ways and opinions. We don´t expect others to do everything our way because they now live there so we expect the same here. We don´t tell others to do as we do or go back to their own country!!!!
THE END!!!!!!
I have a severe allergy to pollen and particulates from vehicles. Often results in severe asthmatic reaction when the pollen count is high or pollution index is high. There’s enough O2 indoors to stay alive. The opposite myth is that keeping windows closed is unhealthy? Do a carbon dioxide test if you’re really obsessed about getting “fresh” air.
Going out with wet hair won’t give you the cold virus, but it gives me a bloody headache. Then I have to take ibuprofen. Just dry the hair, seriously.
DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, DIFFERENT CULTURES
(ooopppsss Germany actually has a Culture)
1. The windows are 99.9% more open in Germany then in the USA, actually you can open windows fully unlike in the USA where people think AC Air is soooo much healtier. We actually still have places and Cities where there is HEALTHY AIR (the only american place I experienced healthy air is ALASKA) The Pool story is 100% not true (but you may want to consider the Temperature difference in certain places in Germany ~ the getting fully dressed is called manners, at least we don’t try to fit in a Size 4 if we actually have Size 16) we teach our kids not to run half naked through the city
2. If someone asks you “Would you like your Bread sliced (coming from ~ we actually still have fresh baked Bread instead of Toast slices) why would you answer THANKS instead of PLEASE DO SO (learn to complete the sentence) and JA means nothing else then YES to the answer and if we do say No-thanks that is wrong? OH and as you mentioned we actually still have Bakeries not Wal-Mart and mass production chemical driven grocery stores!
3.Hmmmmhhhh looks like in Germany you actually can take your kids for a walk in the evening and not being robbed, stabbed or shot, and just because one person says NO SHOES? That does not mean the whole country……… Me and my friends walked and ran around plenty of times barefoot because we actually knew how to walk instead of hopping in a car or get chauffeured around by our parents. In the winter time being fully clad is weird and maybe wearing socks on a cold floor or house shoes is weird? A heated house (you must be talking about the USA where you can only heat the whole house or not at all) in Germany you heat each room individually! This statement coming from a double morale American who starts law suits because their Neighbor wears a Mini Skirt (because she is a size 4) and they feel offended ~ that statement is a good one!
4.Oh so now you are weak and mentally sick if you have a weak “KREISLAUF” meaning weak movement of the blood through veins and arteries which mostly elderly people have because they still don’t mind walking even though it is 37 Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) unlike Americans who I experienced are too damn lazy to walk ½ mile and rather jump in their car to run to the corner store!!! YES some may abuse that they can go freely to any doctor they want to without being afraid of going bankrupt but out of my own experience here in the USA they call it Workers Compensation or they abuse the FMLA Law!!!! So I think we are equal on that one!
5.Ohhhhh poor Baby are you jealous that we actually have Health Insurance and can afford to go to the doctor unless like 15 Billion Americans who don’t even know how to spell HEALTH INSURANCE and we are somewhat protected by law so if we injure our wrist and have to stay at home we are not getting fired from our job unlike in the USA where you would be kicked to the curb within 72 hours?
6.Well at least we are not two faced smiling in your Face (oh how are you my dear so nice to see you) and then turn around and stab you in the back (oh my god did you see what that bitch is wearing?). We do not put our kids on drugs just because someone states “Oh my God your child is to hyper” and therefore we need to drug them and let them run around half brained and in a daze! If your child does scream all night then yep you have a problem which you can’t solve because we check what is wrong with the kid instead of beating it half to Death with a belt or switch!
7.Hahahahaha I live in Florida where the Majority runs to a TANNING SALON during LUNCH, where you see a Tanning Salon on every corner and the Tanning Industry is booming and the highest one in the world~ give me a break is all I can say to that stupid remark! At least we German’s know what do to with a Beach in front of our House!!!
8. I say to each his own but typical american the wife has to work all day and then come home and cook a dinner (most likely add oil mix together and put in the oven because the majority don’t even know how to cook thx to McDonald’s & Burger King & Co) while husband watches Football, Basketball or baseball
9.Mmmhhhhhhhhhhh maybe that comes from that we take our dogs inside and they go with us most of the times, we walk our dogs and try to integrate them into our lives instead of tying them up in the front or backyard and leave them there for the rest of their life. You as a PERFECT AMERICAN should know the Christian way (after all Americans wave the Bible in everybody’s face ~ so you should know what Sunday stands for)! Don’t you think it is better that your Wife/Husband is at home with you on the weekend instead of working her butt of at some store and saying 500,000 times a day HOW MAY I HELP YOU (even if she frankly don’t give a damn how you really are) but it is part of the Job description! Only in the USA is it that you not even entered the store completely that you have already 5 sales people jump at you ~ How are you, how can I help you, can I be of assistance blah blah blah but then they have 20 cash registers and only 1 person works one and the other 4 hide because they are glad that you told them you can help yourself and you let them kindly know if you need assistance! OH and by the way don’t ever go to SPAIN where people actually close their stores for 3 hours (all stores) which in Germany it is mostly the small stores, where the people also get up at 2 am to make sure you have your fresh bread for Breakfast! Don’t let me get started on the Car Washing and lord knows what else you poor down the drains or canalization if you lucky and have one so I rather be weird and strange but I know my kids still can enjoy NATURE one day because I actually helped to preserve it!
10.Hell yeah work and play is separated ~ we don’t kiss our Boss’s Ass 24/7 just because he pays us 8 hours! And when it comes to relaxing and having fun, trust me Americans don’t even know how to spell the word RELAX because the love to stress around 24/7 We don’t go to lunch and take the work along. We go and chill with our REAL friends after work or with our Families instead of bringing work home and ignore our kids and spouse just because we have to ass kiss to maybe get a promotion one day ~ oh and one last question to you. WHY DO YOU LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE PEOPLE ARE SO WEIRD? Get out if you don’t like it, nobody forces you to live in Germany (that is what you would say to me if I would insult your holy America in this way) . Instead of whining and complaining you may should learn the Culture of the Country and broaden your narrow minded Brain!!!!
There’s no purpose or wisdom in getting angry or defensive. This post is one person’s opinion and it does not need to be “corrected” with insults. Weird is OBVIOUSLY a relative term and a matter of perspective. There is no absolute reference point that you need to defend and by doing it without tact and evident immaturity you undermine your own credibility and the clarity of your motives. Chill out.
Exactly, Matt. Especially because the poster didn’t take the time to see that I’m not American AND that I’ve written a post on the things I love about Germany.
This post actually shows a certain degree of purpose and wisdom, you just did not understand it. It should be obvious that the writer used stereotypes and exaggeration in a simmilar manner like charlotteotter, the main difference being that he corrects the wrongs in her post, using our stereotypes about americans, instead of just naming our own biased views without purpose, like she did.
By the way, did you ever consider the fact that germans are easily angered when it comes to such, usually rather stupid, stereotypes, as are people of almost every other nationality, including yours?
As for the matter of Charlotte being non-american: its mostly americans ( yes I´am being a bit biased here) who spout such nonsense, so its easy to make such a mistake. Also, it does not matter that this is a single persons opinion. She is presenting the things she writes as FACT, thus making other people think that its really like that, even though we as real germans dont know anyone like that here. I´am living in Berlin-Brandenburg, the capital area with at least 5% of the total population around. I should know, shouldn´t I?
Thank that was really necessary ! Danke ich kann es garnicht leiden wenn über uns so schelcht geredet wird
Ha, ha.
Super, Charlotte. Du liegst vollkommen richtig mit Deinen Beobachtungen. Viele Deutsche bemerken aber ebenfalls genau das, was Du beschrieben hast.
(Das meine ich nicht ironisch.)
Stefan
(born and raised in Germany)
[...] the post that get the most hits – 17,776 as we speak – is still this one: 10 Things I Find Weird About Germany. If you have five minutes to spare, go and take a look at the comments. I have archived a couple of [...]
I’m an Australian who spent 3 years in Germany in the mid 70s. (found this site actually looking for a crossword clue!) I’ve often thought that if I went back some of the things I liked would have changed .. enjoyed the discussion here. Makes me want to go back!
Glad to hear the lunchbreak is still happening (in some places). I loved the way everyone would shut their doors and say Mahlzeit.
I liked the way people said what they thought, but being Australian that’s probably closer to our culture. I found it more difficult to remember the niceties in England.
I found strangers very helpful on a personal level, especially in bad situations like a car accident and hospital… although in some post offices etc people were rude and impatient, but again, Australian service isn’t very polite either.
I liked the way staff and customers would acknowledge when you came into a shop or when you left .. different words in different regions. I loved the knock on the table in a Gasthaus to say hello without interrupting the conversation. For years after my return I would feel the silence in those situations.
Yes, I did find people telling me what I’d done wrong, like jaywalking, or crossing the street before the lights changed, but I made an effort to speak German, which people seemed to appreciate – and when I was in trouble I sometimes couldn’t remember any German at all : )
The thing that I noticed about health was that no-one would drink water out of taps, which Australians are used to doing. But I liked the custom of airing the bedrooms and putting the bedclothes over the window ledge to freshen in the sun. (sorry no Umlauts)
Thankyou for the memories!
I would like to see the “FON” (wind over the alps) mentioned here, it brings death and destruction to everyone. Especially if you breathe through your mouth and not your nose (another deathwish!).
Love german people culture, etc – but still have perspective to see the quirks!
I am from South-Africa and I find some people in my own country weird…I think you get them everywhere!
I met a German girl here about a month ago and for me she was very intersting.It was so facinating to hear all the stories she told, where she lives, what she was taught growing up, all of those things… My language is Afrikaans and some german words are the same, its so cool!!!For example: Yes – Ja its the same and some of the words sound the same, but are spelled diffrent, but still has the same meaning…
I want to go and visit her someday, and I have already started to try and learn how to speak german just to be able to undestand what she’s saying when she speaks german…
I don’t really care about the things german people do, if they are rude or not, to me it does’nt matter. For me there is many good things that we can learn from them aswell. Its just a new adventure, that’s all!!!
Ii agree weird people are everywhere
German’s are very weird!!! And Strange!!!! I’m sure most men are Autistic or the society in general is very autistic!!!
You are right. The men are autistic and the women are even weirder. And it’s not getting better. (Convince yourself: Just drive ten minutes on the Autobahn.)
They’re just rude people talk without thinking is not being straight forward! It’s like they don’t feel! “Like aliens”!!!
“They’re just rude people talk without thinking is not being straight forward!”
In that case, I think you just called yourself rude, because you obviously talk whithout thinking.
I’m American-German but My mother from Germany now that think about it she kinda direct although she moved to American at 13 shes now 64. I would like to go to visit Germany some time I hear Munich is nice i wanna go where West Berlin use to be. Well now I know more then I did before about Germany.
HA! Oh so true…I’m seeing the same things are noticeably different than the US! You would think they would be a bit like us! Certainly keeps things interesting, huh?
Germany has many different regions. You have Bavaria which is probably the cliche Germany….where people run around in leather pants or at least people think that. Go to Berlin and you are in a different world. From the stories above I do not think they apply to Berlin at all. But I can imagine them in other parts.
I am German but live in Asia. People here no mater if you go to China, Thailand, Japan, or wherever else are absolutely fascinated by German culture, products, people, the country in general and love it. i have not heard any bad comments about it over here. It is funny how opinions can differ around the world.
I think from ourselves that we are probably weird in some ways for some but not in a bad way. Any country has its weird things, so its always relative to say sth like that.
Is 6 actually proven though? you may be overgeneralizing due to just one experience….
Brilliant! I’ve been living in Germany for over three years, and have borne witness to many of these annoying quirks as well. I wrote my own ‘catalogue of grievances for my blog a few months ago: http://chandlerhill.eu/blog/post.php?id=8. You’ve hit on a few things I left out: the bare-feet phenomenon, for instance. This is very true indeed; I have met many people here, including my girlfriend, who are convinced that you can get a bladder infection from walking barefoot in your flat.
P.S. The story of my rather amusing dealings with my downstairs neighbour might also be of interest to some of you here: http://chandlerhill.eu/blog/post.php?id=7.
hi,
i’m German and i have to admid it was fun reading how you see Germany (I came her by searching for the word “weird” on google. congrats on 1st rank xD). Some parts are very true indeed, especially the “rules” and “hot lunch” ones. Though the latter is really a good thing when you think about it.
Anyways… as Denis already pointed out: Germany has many regions and they are quite different though we are not such a huge country at all. There is also quite a gap between the middle-aged and elderly people (45+) and the younger ones, who are way easier on rules (and disturbances) and also don’t mind running barefoot (their grandmothers are shocked!) or opening a window once in a while
Greetings,
Amras.
this has been one of the most interesting blogs Ive read in a long time. Im American with a German Father who moved to calif. in the late 50′s. Ive married a French man and am currently living in France…I had a good chuckle at all the comments and found them to be true for the most part, but not ‘bad’. Im direct, but considerate, most of the Germans ive been around are similar. They aren’t complete crazies running up to you about everything, and if that has been your experience, bummer! you had a bad one but that’s not how everyone behaves…breezes…hmm, found that to be true in Germany but not so much in the states…its also here in France:D…also, Id like to agree with the comments of the various regions and times of year, so happens that on the coast of Calif. from roughly SF south, we are free to go barefoot 9 months of the year regardless of flooring in your home because its very temperate but if you live inland or north, that changes quickly and you’d be though an idiot or at least slow witted if you did the same thing…shrug, I think all the comments are like that, it just depends on so much, are your neighbors cool or not? shrug, maybe you’ve had the misfortune of being next to rude neighbors…that can happen anywhere in the world, I say lighten up to any of you who become too defensive about your own culture, just roll with it. Say thankyou when people offer strange but honest comments…smile at the grim clerk and say have a nice day, forget the bad moments and dwell on the good, ‘when in Rome…’
enjoy the differences, its part of what makes us human…
charm
I live in germany since I was born.
And nothing of that is true.
Really? this is so weird. All realy ALL of this 10 weird things are wrong. In point one, you have to close the window (only in winter) because the heating would waisting energie! point two: danke means thanks and not no! only if you say nein danke you mean no because, first you say nein-no, and than you say danke-thanks cause of courtesy! i can say all these points are false cause i live in germany! please dont trust these racist idiots. And sorry for bad english ^^
I came across this while doing research for an article I’m writing for work. It’s HILARIOUS! Especially the Kreislauf bit. And the well-behaved dogs. So true
I’ve been living in Germany for 5 and a half years now, and while I do love it some things will just never cease to be weird!
Even though it’s years later I am reading it! I don’t know if you’ll ever read this but I want to thank you because I am about half. German and have always desired to move to deustchland. You have showed me that I am right in knowing I belong there in germany and thank u. By the way if u see this please respond I’d love to be in touch with someone in germany who can answer my questions. Thanks again
The window thing is hard to believe. I’ve been living here since 2009 and I was FORCED to open the windows in my room by my in-laws, you’re actually sort of required to open your windows. The barefoot is probably true. I love walking barefooted even in winter, at first my in-laws kept offering me house shoes, but I always said no, now when we go to visit someone they tell them “She doesn’t need house shoes”. Yea, I get stared like I’m out of my mind.
I’ve read the blog post and the many responses. Though I’ve never been to Germany, I have an inate fascination and appreciation for other cultures (Yes, very strange, coming from an American, I know.). Personally I find much of what you call “weird” refreshing, and understand some of the animosity from some of the German readers. However, keep in mind that the blog title indicates that the author finds these things “weird.” I am not sure that “weird” is meant solely as a negative thing, but more as a poorly chosen synonym for different than she is accustomed to.
Hopefully I can visit Germany someday, and expose my daughter (who is half German) to her native land and it’s customs. Maybe we’ll learn something while we’re there that we will carry with us back home. We will NOT travel to Germany, however, until we’ve learned SOME German linguistics, however. I do believe that if we are interested enough in visiting a country and learning some of it’s customs, we should be interested enough to attempt the language. I am sure Germans will laugh at our attempts, but my hope is that they will at least appreciate the attempt.
Things i find weird about the USA:
1….
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10000….
I think you can’t compare the american and the german culture
because the way of life is too different.
I spent the last 2 weeks in Alabama together with my father and there was no
daily life on the streets. and if I say No i mean it.
We don’t see any persons walking around. Not on the street not in their front yards not in their gardens.
They’re ALL just drive their car even if they have to go 1/2mile.
Another aspect is that the political system in the USA is the biggest Problem they have there.
1. To refer to the assassination last week: The firearms law is a law that has to be changed as soon as possible, – BUT – their would be no change because of the power the A.E.C.A.C and the NRA have.
The president does not even say something about this theme because he might lose important votes in the south states.
This CAN’T BE the truth.
2.The youth protection laws: If I start to write what I realy think about this
my reply takes place on the whole page.
To this: The Youth Protection Act draws on a generation after another of young people not able to make experiences in everyday life.
)
And then suddenly at age 21 they can do ANYTHING (exept renting cars
American politicians: You need only look to Mexico (Cancun) where 14-year-olds are unconscious from the alcohol and have unprotected sexual intercourse on the streets.
(I’ve even seen everything!)
It builds up too much pressure on the children. and if too much pressure is created it must also escape.
In my opinion, the American laws should be revised and liberalized immediately.
And that much for the “promised land”
Why does everyone in the comments seem to think that the author is American? The spelling conventions and literary style she uses point to the fact that she probably isn’t, and if you took the time to read a few more of her posts, it wouldn’t be too hard to work out where she’s from.
I realise that half the people under 50 in this country – ‘educated’ ones too – suffer from an unhealthy obsession with American pop culture, but it’s no reason to equate the English language with the United States systematically and to assume that anyone who happens to be a native speaker is a gun-toting, cowboy hat-wearing hillbilly. Have you ever heard of the UK? Ireland? Canada, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand? These are all countries where a sizable amount of the population, the majority in most cases, speak English.
Brilliant, now you all just need to accept this, stop posting about “weird german habits” and acknowledge the fact that germany is quite similar to the english speaking countrys, just smaller. We have Rheinländer, Bayren, Hannoveraner, Sachsen, Berliner and many more with different habbits, some being exactly the same as yours, many being different. And thats true no matter where you are from.
By the way, for those that think differently, we usually arent rude, we are direct and honest and dont like to act nice if we dont feel like it. We just are being honest with others, without trying to put on a facade, but we can be incredibly nice as well and we are almost always helpfull, if the need arises and you ask us. That of course doesnt go for everyone, but its quite regularly true.
I’m moving to Germany for a year to be an au pair and this is extremely helpful…I’m an American but I think ill like Germany just fine (:
Hi there dear, me plus my mother are as well watch funny movies except after I finished my homework
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These aren´t facts, but stereotypes. You say that all germans do the same and think the same, that is not correct. As a german i can tell you that they aren`t all the same and that you should think first and then post something. Sorry for the bad english.
This person clearly knows nothing about germans ^^’
Damn, I hate Americans. Most of them are shallow, ugly and uncultured.
Dear Charlotte,
Im a German currently living in Taiwan and i must say i was smiling all time while reading your post
Its funny how you put it in a nutshell and its funny how true it is even though it sounds strange when reading it here.
Thanks for giving me 5 min smile
Greetings, Ferdi
I love this country. Moved here from Canada in 1999 along with my wife(German). The people are straightforward and honest. It does take some time to get used to the rules, but at least there are rules and I know what to expect when people promise something. There are no surprises. You have to speak the language and respect the rules. if you don’t you’ll never be accepted, and you know what? That’s the way it should be. Germans are perceived differently, depending on the culture of a person. I hear a lot of complaints from people who moved or immigrated here. I don’t give a damn what others think about Germans. I get respected by all my colleagues, neighbors and German friends. In addition, I have full benefits ranging from health insurance for the entire family to 6 weeks of vacation. I do pay higher taxes than an average Canadian or American. However, I have a job security and I’m not worried about old age pension. Forgot to mention the good food we eat here and it’s much cheaperto buy grocery here than in e.g. Vancouver or LA. And the beer in my opinion is the best. Additional facts-
- Low crime rate
- Excellent education system- incl. apprenticeship programs for young people who are unable to pursue higher education for certain reasons. Unlike the UAS where university fees are extremely high. Here fees range from €350-500 per semester.
- Great health insurance system
- People take environmental issues seriously. They are also aware of what’s going on in the world.
Love it!
Steve
Just went to Germany (as well as Europe) for the first time last month. Frankfurt, Munich, Regensburg, Passau, back to Frankfurt and Wurtzburg for a day. Here are some observations:
1) Germans walk and walk fast. My next door neighbor here in the states is 85 years old and walks all of the time. She’s been here 40 years.
2) I walked past a male who dropped his package on the ground in the rain. He was walking so fast I touched his arm and attempted to call attention to the drop.
He spun around like I had attacked him and the guy behind him just handed him the rain soaked package. He never thanked me for stopping him just took off. I assume touching someone is a problem.
3) One rule is Germans stand to the right on any type of escalator. We ran into an overly rude passenger who objected to boarding passengers putting their carryon’s in the overhead bearth before seating themselves and yelled and jumped up to show his disgust.
Later in the Atlanta airport he got on the escalator and looked around him (no one there) he moved quickly to the right as if he’d broken some rule of etiquette.
It was interesting.
4) Many people stop if you’re at the subway or the train station and try and tell you in English where to go. If they the word “crossover” they don’t mean accross the track they mean upstairs and a different train route.
5) I got locked out of the subway and only had my hotel key to find my way. I asked many taxi drivers did they recognize my hotel and they didn’t….even though it was 4 blocks away. That was Munich. I finally asked someone in a store and she left her register, took me through a side exit and said it was accross the “house” . I only saw a parking garage and I think that meant “house”. She was wonderful and didn’t speak alot of English. So helpful.
6) Dogs were on very short leases, always well behaved, traveled on trains and with owners in bars we were in. That was great.
7) I’m 69 and my daughter is 42. We do laugh and chit chat and I felt people staring at us on a train or anywhere. I felt this was unacceptable behavior but really,,,,can’t change that much.
8) Cold outside but inside the hotels in Munich and Frankfurt we were burning up. The desk said there is no way to change the temperature but 1 degree — just open the window. That’s what we did. Can’t take that much heat.
9_Food was fabulous, everything was beautiful. We had a wonderful time.
Im German, i read this … and im left with the the thought…. WHAT THE FU/%/(&/????
I was born in germany, am 32 and lived all my life here, except for one year, when i lived in italy.
I can tell you, that germany can be even worse than what was written. It mainly depends on your personality. If you like a lot of rules and laws and security is your first priority, then germany is fine for you. But if you love your freedom of speech, thoughts and lifestyle and want to be rewarded for hard work with more money than germany can be a hassle.
Most people i met(and i met a lot) were boring, self-righteous, arrogant, unreflected and greedy. but paradoxically they also can be helpful, friendly, humble, intersting and self-conscious at the same time.
My diagnosis is: most people here are crazy. A lot of germans want to be the best in the world in everything. They dont get enough, they dont know when to stop. Espescially the youth can be terrible. i dont want to list all the faults of this poor, suffering people, that did terrible things to others and that expierienced terrible thing themselves.
I just know, that i dont want to bring up my children in this sick educational system, that treats kids like cattle. if you skin colour is not pig-pink, than a lot of people will look down at you. ah, it doesnt matter, there will always be a lot of people looking down at you for whatever reason.
Ausländer will always be Ausländer for the majority.
I will emigrate with my mother in three years to an english-speaking country and am counting everyday, like a prisoner waiting for the day to be free.
oh, and the weather is shit
Wouldn’t agree with that list. Saw lots of barefoot girls walking around every summer. That germans are always “direct”, nope wouldn`t say so, they`re just two faced like Anglosaxons but in a short way. Then they want to get rid of you they just say “Entschuldigung, das tut mir leid”….meaning: Get off my back.
And yes, it’s bloody windy in Germany. You didn’t mention the general rudeness in Germany either….maybe that’s what you meant by: Germans speak their mind in a direct way…no they don’t, they’re just selfish and rude, thus appearing to be honest, but again no, they are liars and they are backstabbers…
Thinking about it there are lots of rules here…it’s just that nobody really follows them. Besides, if it weren’t for all those rules it’d be much harder for people to be the beloved oddball, german self identification of choice. The one with “bitte” and “danke” is really confusing. I’m native (raised bilingual though) and I don’t get that either. Strangely even I make some mistakes there and get stared at by saleswoman. To the question “du willst also nicht, dass…” both yes and no end up meaning NO. You’ll have to say “doch, dass will ich SCHON”…weird.
We just don’t take comments so seriously. Coming from another country you might be quick to think that all germans are asses, but they don’t mean any harm.
Open windows really aren’t very popular around here..but hey, IT’S COLD!
And we could catch a cold, couldn’t we?!
But there are always tough, healthy people that walk around barefoot, EVEN in winter and tear up every window on their way. And those that go to work with a flu… -.-
Not everybody here always says what they think. Maybe it’s less frowned on, kinda like a pact: You can insult me, and I can insult you
Hot lunch: Not necessarily, I know plenty of people that actually have yogurt for lunch…In school we always have a warm lunch, just so disgusting that I really can’t eat it…but there’s cold food like sandwiches too, it’s just about how you like it best!
What I think is strangest about gemany, is that if you say anything critical about another goverment you are and outlaw. (“I don’t think we should have to pay so much money to other european countrys, just to have them call us nazis!” – Racist! What’s your problem?!) Ever since WW2 german people think they need to be super friendly and accept all immigrants to show how over it they are…
Well, sometimes living here is strange, but overall not worse than anyplace else
What about the German sense of humour? It’s pretty countrified and unsubtle. They don’t get sarcasm either, prefer slapstick stuff.
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I have to chime in on this as well:
I am a native German still living in Germany, however, mostly exactly due to the points mentioned in this post, I’m prepared to leave as soon as it appears feasible.
What took me to this post was a Google Search for “Why do Germans hate fresh air?”!
I’m in a restaurant, which has lots of beautiful tables outside at the riverside. It’s 20C outside and hardly any clouds visible. That’s already TOP NOTCH weather for Germany!
Now I already saw that ALL tables outside were empty so I was a bit confused. Walked inside and asked “Okay to take a seat outside?”
They looked strangely at me, mumbled something to one another and then finally “OKed” my extraterrestrial wish.
Also funny: there were a few kids playing outside. Each time they went in or out, their dad instructed them to definitely close the door after the act!
Open Close Open Close Open Close — be sure not to let ANY of that evil fresh air inside!