Sun, 27 May 2012
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“If cleanliness is next to Godliness, it's clear why the Pope also comes from Germany,” muses US expat Emily Rasch; just one of her many observations on her integration path into Bavarian culture.When I moved to Germany, I really had little notion of what life here would really be like. Frequent visits, sometimes for a month or more, hadn't fully prepared me for life in Germany. I noticed then how traditional, conservative, and homogenous the German culture appeared, which became even more apparent when it was part of my daily life. At times it was a struggle --learning the language, finding certain ingredients, making friends, and getting accustomed to being the foreigner weren't so simple.
Navigating critique
Navigating the tricky terrain and constantly being critiqued on virtually everything I did was a major adjustment. The locals’ emotional detachment and need to comment on my personal life was odd, especially because I continually tried to do things as they did and in their language. Sometimes it made me to wonder why I was trying so hard to communicate with people who treated me so poorly. I chalked it up to being out of their realm of understanding, because chances were good they had not lived outside their comfort zone; or perhaps they were so unhappy that belittling others made them happy.
Sounding Swiss
Now when I speak German I'm often asked if I'm from Switzerland, which gives me a slight smugness when I correct people. They still don't seem to believe me when I tell them I'm actually American.
Over time, I've discovered shops and restaurants where friendliness and kindness are prevalent and I return again and again. After an extended absence from one of my favorite restaurants, the owner even asked where I'd been. It was nice to be missed. These small milestones make me feel fortunate to have two places to feel at home, both in the US and Germany. I often wish I could meld the two together.
Emily Rasch is an American expat from Ohio who loves to travel. Visit her blog at http://munichbavaria.blogspot.com/Photo Flickr © _M-j-H_
This article is fun to read and packed with wisdom. My daughter just moved to Germany this week (Heidelberg) and I want her to read this ASAP. I spent considerable time with a German visitor to our home last summer and found him baffling. No thank yous, no smiles, did not "get" my attempts at humor, and so on. It is a very different culture but I am determined to find the common ground. Thanks for your great article (she said in a very American sort of way:) !
This article is fun to read and packed with wisdom. My daughter just moved to Germany this week (Heidelberg) and I want her to read this ASAP. I spent considerable time with a German visitor to our home last summer and found him baffling. No thank yous, no smiles, did not "get" my attempts at humor, and so on. It is a very different culture but I am determined to find the common ground. Thanks for your great article (she said in a very American sort of way:) !
Want to move to Germany but haven’t figured out the details? Check out Expatica’s overview of the German permit system.
In part one of our two part series, we cover the driving culture in Berlin, where to park and buy gas and, most importantly, the laws.
Our comprehensive guide includes information on how to find work, recruitment agencies, employment contracts and labour law.
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