Though there are plenty of German web log entries and assembly posts that account America as a lovely piazza filled with genuinely kind people , on the whole , Germany ’s mental attitude toward the United States seems more like that of an exasperated sib . There may be something to that , since more Americansclaim German ancestrythan any other ethnicity . But despite share ancestors , our two culture are quite different . Here , by reading advice intended to avail German visitors navigate American culture , we get a unparalleled look into how modernistic Germans see America .
1. Politeness is both genuineanda survival technique. Still, they don’t really want to be your friend.
German blogger Otto Bucheneggerbreaks it down for both cultures , write , " The primary preconception against Americans : You are superficial and you are dazed . Their superficiality is our misinterpretation of kindness that unfortunately we Germans lack . " He goes on to explain that our politeness is tied to size of the commonwealth mass we dwell and how often we move from place to place on it :
2. Business meetings are run pretty casually …
The calling advice websiteKarriereplanung , which doles out tips to Germans who need to be set up for American meeting and conferences , notes that even business meetings are pretty effortless in nature . “ Americans care to start with a short humor and a heap of diminished talk . Facts and Figures do not play as an of import a role as in Germany . ”
But at least , bless their American hearts , they are willing to work — even if they do n’t acknowledge what they ’re doing . consort to FrankSchmiechen , “ [ Americans ] will start simple , without always needing to cognise everything before - handwriting . If something does not work , there is just a new beginning . ”
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3. … But that doesn’t mean you can dress casually!
The American oeuvre dress computer code is unlike in every concern , construction , state , and county . So Germans encourage other Germans to play it safe and just wear out a courting . Even German women should wear thin suits ; no short doll . And whatever distance your hem is , always wear pantyhose . Americanslovepantyhose .
Americans have a thing called “ casual Friday , ” where , ostensibly , you may wear what you want . It ’s a snare ! No dungaree , no thyroxine - shirt ! In fact , just wear the same business wooing you had in the beginning — but without the jacket . And ladies , prison term to put those pantyhose back on and then pass over up the whole package with a cap . allot to the websiteKarriereplanung , " Normally man can endure suit pant , shirt and voguish place and not go wrong . Women may use a less advanced combination of the blouse and chick or a simple-minded , not too figure hugging dress , with jacket to be on the good side . "
Unless they ’re exceedingly successful ; then Americans can cut back asdopey as they want . Which they do with expectant joy , as keep byFrank Schmiechen :
4. Don’t give short answers; it hurts and confuses them.
Americans expect niceness , even from their enemies and superiors . This means , even at the post , one can not just say , “ No . ” Each negative reply needs to be wrapped in a blue caress of the ego . consort to the siteUSA Declares :
5. Be polite in conversation.
To American spike , the German accent often has a way of making nearly everything a German man says sound like he ’s either enraged or telling an off - colour joke . Compensate for this by observing American conversational mores . When a group comes together , act casual andintroduce everyone present :
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6. Don’t be shocked by how often you hear bedroom language in public.
Not dirty Holy Writ , butintimateones . Americans willcall anyone their lulu :
And though you may not yet be Americanized enough to say , “ Thanks Sweetie ! ” to your waitress or bus topology equipment driver , you must still bevery , very polite to them . Their very sustenance might calculate on it :
Seriously . Your instinct while passing a grinning alien on the street will be to “ look pig-headedly and stiffly at the ground in front of you , ” but that is rude . Youmust keep smiling :
7. Americans can bedummkopfs.
In the German speech forumGutefrage , an American man in Germany need why it was that he was treated poorly when member of his server country learned his nationality . Though many reception were sympathetic and excusatory , other forum members tried to explain to the American man why this might be .
Take exploiter Rheinflip , who said , “ The Germans just think that a masses who chose Bush , Creationism over Darwin and sells machine artillery at everyone , and blow more CO2 into the atmosphere than any other country , reveals a sure deficiency of savvy . Pardon , but not only the Germans intend so . Just ask the Canadians or Mexicans … ”
User Derrolf supply , “ Every other commonwealth has an older cultivation . Most Americans are not familiar with the rest of the cosmos at all , and the President even said thatthe Americans had invented the railroad car . ”
It ’s truthful — Americans did not invent the car . German inventors like Karl Friedrich Benz and Gottlieb Daimler are to be credited with those patents . All Americans did was turn a bizarre robust man ’s plaything into an low-cost everyman ’s asset that modify the world . Now be nice .
8. Americans don’t really want to hear about your ferret, even if they ask.
BloggerScot W. Stevensonsums up the difficulty Germans and Americans can have in communication better than I can :
It ’s probably good to seize that if Scot or any other German visitor told an American woman that her hindquarters looks productive , she would course his black-footed ferret down herself .
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