When you travel to different countries, we sometimes receive culture shocks, the challenges that are involved, language barriers, likewise communicating seem difficult to practice. Habits ( Gewohnheiten )we are used to, suddenly vanish into thin air and we must change ways of communicating with one another as well as laying aside our own fixed mind, by rather approaching a culture with an open mind and heart!
With my recent trip to Russia, I’ve come to understand ( Verstehen) what it means ( Bedeutet )when Americans or even Germans travel to either Germany or the USA.
We read articles, books and receive a certain anticipation and picture of what to expect, yet what truly a country presents, one can only experience when traveling to the region by interacting with the locals, their customs and by putting your thoughts and feelings ( Gefühle) about them aside and simply ( einfach ) observe their thinking ( Denken) and way of life. ( Leben)
What was interesting is rather that Russian culture has a fine parallel to the former east Germany, while this is to no surprise to some, it would be interesting to note that in whole Germany more and more influence comes from both East and West, therefore making Germany an interesting place within Europe.
In America its common to see people in flip-flops, T-shirts and shorts when its warm, yes such style can be more comfortable compared to blouses ( Die Blusen ) and jeans. What you will often see is also people with paper cups and sitting along curbside streets to rest or when consuming a meal. In Germany nor in Russia would you ever see this, maybe in larger cities,( Die Städte ) but very rarely.( Selten) The behavior and manners ( Die manieren )are so different to what you’re used to in the states, it makes you wonder. And to some tourists visiting the states as well quite shocking.
Speaking with foreigners in planes and at airports it was also interesting to note, that like in Russia, in Germany you do not greet strangers, we don’t smile, yet if we do smile and say hello it’s a sincere and honest greeting, whereas in the Americas, strangers would walk up to you, greet you, even slur words at you that might be inappropriate if they have a problem with you, or simply speak their mind about you, whereas in Europe and Russia as I have come to find out, people tend not to speak their mind like this. In a way, using instinct and showing respect on how others live and do things.
The most interesting of my own observation is rather children, seeing German families at airports and the children in the US and Russia.
It struck me, that in fact there are differences on how children behave and also are being raised. The German kids are much more calm and patient when there are flight delays, they tend to listen to the parents with understanding after hours of delay in flights for instance.
While I can’t say American kids don’t listen and seem rebellious, the majority of kids in America tend to be very inpatient and often don’t listen to parents, seeing kids being yelled at in public, ordered around and sometimes 3 year olds crawling on the floor in public places as if its okay to put children on the ground there. In Germany nor Russia did I not encounter this.
In Europe you can often find that children receive more explanations as to why things are the way they are, you see parents actually calmly explaining the child the circumstances. ( Die Umständnisse)
I think after observing it also has something to do with the idea in America you can get anything. There is no imagination for the child, a toy store has everything a child can only think of. In a way, they receive too much here and because of that, kids can become bored, tend not to listen most likely and assume everything comes with a click of a button. Whereas in many parts of Europe, young people still understand that one needs to work in order to receive something either from parent or any other resource.
Habits- Gewohnheiten.
understand- Verstehen.
means- bedeutet
Feelings- Gefühle.
Simply- Einfach
Thinking- denken.
Life- Leben
Cities- Die Städte
Blouses- Die Blusen
rarely- selten
manners- Die Manieren
Circumstances- Die Umstände
3 Comments
Dear Sandra,
“Umständnis” is not a German word although it might look as though. You probably mean “Umstand” with “Umstände” being its plural.
Best
Jochen
Sandra-
I am confused by the point of this blog. You state in the first paragraph how we need to “approach a culture with an open mind and heart”, yet spend the next 10 paragraphs pointing out why you believe America is inferior to Germany and Russia. I am certainly open to criticism where deserved, but some of your examples are either completely wrong or isolated examples of some people in America and not a true representation of her people and culture. For example, I have never seen a person sit on a curbside and eat food. Perhaps this is something you witnessed in a large city in the US, which is where you admitted this may also happen in Germany.
Additionally, I take exception to your assertion Americans are insincere or dishonest if they greet a stranger on the street. This is a wonderful part of our culture- that we are friendly and open, not just to our friends, but to those who come into our lives, even for those briefest of moments. One could make a counterargument that Germans are an unfriendly group because they do not speak or make eye-contact with strangers. But getting to know the German people, I know this to be far from the truth. As you stated in your first paragraph, this is a cultural difference that I had to adjust to in order to see beyond my initial discomfort with this unfamiliar custom. It is unfortunate that you would take something as innocent as saying ‘Hello. How are you?’ to the person standing next to you at the grocery store as not “using instinct or showing respect”. Of all the things you could choose to complain about America or her people, this shouldn’t be one of them.
I won’t belabor the point with other examples, as I believe you understand my issue with your piece. Perhaps the next time you choose to write about America, at least be honest with your purpose. If this was meant to be a criticism of our spoiled society and impatient people, then state that in your title and first paragraph and not disguise it as a piece on accepting cultural differences. But if you were truly attempting to write a piece about having an open heart and mind, perhaps you should stay away from words which show an obvious bias for one culture over another.
I love Germany and its people; otherwise I would not be a fan of this page. It is disheartening that you would paint such a negative opinion about another country, especially when many of your examples do not represent the America I know. Perhaps it would be wise to remember that the US is more than twenty times larger than Germany and has many cultures and traditions. As it would be understandable for a German to be insulted if I insinuated all of Germany was like Oktoberfest in Munich, or all Germans were like the rowdy, drunk hooligans causing problems during a soccer match, please understand that it is equally unfair to paint all of America with a single brush stroke.
Dear Heather,
Obviously you are offended by this blog, my apologies, that is surely not what the intentions are to my readers.
However…
In Every culture you have variety, and by no means would it be correct to pinpoint a culture as a whole either, since there are drug addicts, burglars dishonest people anywhere in the world and likewise honest and sincere ones.
Yet my statements do in fact come from people whom I spoke with during my own travels, observing behavior between cultures and foreigners in different lands, whom are different nationalities and either because of work or family travel to the US, explained their assertion of America and what they found. We must also not forget, that even Germans are admitting the america style is crossing borders and reaching them. However that said; “some” Germans even go as far as to state; America seems ignorant to them. I would rather see this as a interesting point, then being offended.
How often do you see people sitting on the curbside street? quite often actually.. We must admit that in fact, in America things are done differently, ( We use more plastic and cars then in europe ) some other cultures either accept this or feel offended, that is where the open heart and mind comes in. Without this how would we understand and tolerate each other?
Every country in the world has variety, Germany has a high population of Turkish communities, Germans themselves are a intermixed culture as well as Russia and any other country, not just america.
Therefore we should not pride ourselves that we are the only ones with this tolerance and intermixture , since everywhere the world is changing ( and I don’t mean, what you read in the news) Though, every country still carries a certain trademark, in which you or anyone else could pick out a person based on behavior from the crowd.
The way the children are raised however is a different matter. The environment and how a child is raised, determines the later life opinion and behavior of a person. And I do find that children receive too much here.
In fact, these are some notes on my part to the differences between cultures, what “can” be expected but what must not be.
To make a list, it would not be worthwhile and extensively long on such a blog here. To fully grasp the meaning of differences between cultures, one must travel and find their own opinion, since each and every person will see their new surrounding either short-term or long-term in a different way.
Plus, how often did I myself as a German hear from Americans, that Germany tends to be lacking in hospitality, we are unfriendly, not helpful yet our beer and cars are the only thing thats good!