What to Expect in Germany

So, I composed the following list after 1 year of living in Germany. I just found it again and thought I would pass it along.

Hope you all enjoy!

What I Wish I Knew Before Coming to Germany.

So, your planning on traveling to Germany sometime soon?

Just some little facts that I didn’t know when I first came.

FIRST PIECE OF ADVICE I CAN OFFER: “When in Germany, do as the Germans do.”

If everyone is putting on their jackets to go walking, put your jacket on too. If everyone at the table is using a fork in the left hand and knife in the right hand, THAT IS NORMAL!!!

Most of the time, you need to pay for the toilet. Whether there is an actual money taker on the door or a plate outside of the door, you are expected to add between 0,20 and 0,50 Euro.

When walking on the sidewalk, there is an area specifically for bicycles. (Normally, I find myself always walking in this area.) Usually there is a painted bike on the path to show the difference, but if there isn’t, the path is closest to the actual road where the cars drive. Most bicyclers also have a small bell. If you hear the small bell, just look behind you to see which side the biker is coming on and step out of the way.

When you see this letter ‘ß’, don’t be afraid, it is just a fancy writing for double ‘s’. For example: Berliner Straße is exactly the same as Berliner Strasse.

I have noticed, throughout Germany, that the police are not as respected here as they are in the U.S. I only say this because I was taught that when approached by the police to be polite, courteous, and respectful. However, in Germany, I have seen police being treated very badly (cursing at them and rude name calling). Just F.Y.I.

When on a train and/or bus, just keep to yourself. Germans don’t usually create small talk between themselves. They keep to themselves. If you have any questions, ask the porter in the train or the driver of the bus. However, it is very likely they do not speak English.

Usually, beer is cheaper than water. It is just the way it is. Beer is also sold everywhere a coke is in the States. My first experience with this was really funny. Seeing a beer in the hand of a friend at the movie theater, I asked him where he got it. He said he bought it at the ticket counter.

On the subject of beer, 16 year olds can drink beer here. So if you are at a bar and see underaged kids, its ok.

And all water that you order has bubbles in it. So, if you do not want to make a major intestinal problem, it is better to stick to the water that you normally drink (tap water is called ‘tafelwasser’).

The best soft drink to go with are the classics: Coke and/or Pepsi. All the other variations (Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper) taste quite different from State-side. However, a drink that I found that is quite good is a Spitzi. It is half coke and half orange drink (think the off brand of grape or orange soda at your local grocer). It tastes quite good, but in the States, it doesn’t taste as good that Germany (Go figure, huh?)

Germans really like "Fresh Air". They want to be breathing fresh air all the time. In the dead of winter (with 2.5 feet of snow on the ground), they will bundle up and go walking for an hour. Really weird. I even have a friend my age, who tells me she needed fresh air, so she went for a 1.5 hour walk. I understand going walking when it is a nice day, but I really don’t understand is walking in the snow.

I will think about what needs to be added to this list. Now I have 3 years of experience here. I will continue to muse on this subject. I will get back to y'all when I have something good.

:)