Culture Differences/Shock in Germany
What is culture?
It’s a kind of uniform behavior belong to a group of people.
Culture shock usually happens when people begin to live in a new continent or country.
Experiences
When I first came to Germany in 2014, here are the things that impressed me quite a lot:
1. electric stove or heater
I guess everyone can cook some Chinese dishes more or less, but when we were in China, we put the pot directly on the open flame to heat, which is more efficient and the taste of the dishes are also different from it made by an electric heater.
2. appointments for almost everything in daily life
For example, if you find a power switch doesn’t work, so you need to contact the company and hopefully to get an appointment to fix it as early as possible. However, it would often be in around one month or even longer.
Another instance is health related, except emergency you still need to make an appointment for whatever a simple check or flu. It’s very likely that if your situation is not that serious, before your appointment, you already recover from it.
3. no private rooms (包厢) in German restaurants
Transparency
Privilege
4. lack of vegetables compared to China: Food is also an important part of culture.
5. tips culture
more tips from relatively elder German customers, tips sometimes make up the day of the waiters.
6. Religion?
7. maybe sometimes improper jokes from German, not always, it depends: Don’t take it personally
8. Wearing masks voluntarily or not during period like corona virus
Phases a person has to experience facing culture shock
1st. Phase – Honeymoon: Everything is new and fresh.
2nd. Phase – Frustration
3rd. Phase – Adjustment
4th. Phase – Adaption
Knowing more about culture differences/shock will help you better understand people from other countries and integrate faster if you really want. Finally please always remember: We’re all humans, learn and respect (凡是人皆须敬).
