Visiting Germany

If you are planning to go to Germany for an extended visit or even to live there for a while, it would be helpful for you to realize that there are some differences between North American and German culture, perhaps more than you would have expected. There are little things that we don't often think of. Most of us think that all western countries are basically the same with the exception of language and a few different customs (not to mention, of course, continental Europeans' decidedly relaxed attitudes towards sex and nudity as compared to that of their North American or British counterparts).

When you first get to Germany, you will probably notice that the prices for gasoline are much higher than they are in the U.S., usually somewhere around three times as expensive, and even higher than in Canada. There is no such thing as full serve at the gas stations, either. You will just have to get out and pump the gas yourself if you are used to this small luxury.

If you plan to stay in a Gasthof or Gasthaus (literally, "guest house,") be aware that not all of them come equipped with private baths. Be sure to clarify with the desk whether or not your room comes with a private bath. Modern German hotels should come with full bathrooms for all rooms, however.

If you are used to going to the store at 3 o'clock in the morning with an ice cream craving, you'd better learn to quell it. Germany is one of the last places in Europe to hang onto comparatively outdated, short store hours. They have recently become more lenient with this, and the debate rages on. Until recently, stores were only open until 6:30 P.M., Monday through Friday, with an exception on Thursday nights, when they were open until 8:00. They are still open until the evening on one Saturday each month, called langer Samstag (long Saturday). They are now open until 8:00 P.M. throughout the week. Saturdays stores are open until 4:00 P.M. Stores are still closed on Sundays.

Grocery shopping in Germany is also a bit different. Shoppers either bring their own bags or they buy them at the check-out counter, where the clerk sits on a stool or chair instead of standing when she rings the orders. Shoppers must insert coins into their carts to remove them from the other carts to which they are chained. Customers also bag their own groceries; there is no such thing as a bag boy in Germany. Personal checks, credit and debit cards are not widely accepted for grocery purchases. Coupon-clipping is unheard of. Eggs are generally not refrigerated in the stores in Germany. Bread is usually purchased in loaves from the bakery, then brought home to be sliced by a machine made for that purpose. Germans are very proud of their seemingly unending variety of breads, and they usually prefer darker, heavier, rye-based breads. Low-fat fare is becoming more widely available, but it is not as popular as it is America. You can buy beverages cheaply in Getränkemärkte, or "drink markets." These are stores that are often set up adjacent to the supermarkets, but with only beverages inside: sodas, spring water, beer, and juices. On bottled water in Germany: most Germans tend to drink carbonated mineral water (Mineralwasser), but it is possible to find non-carbonated spring water there. Mineralwasser has a slightly salty taste compared to Quellwasser (the non-carbonated variety of spring water). The farther south you travel, in countries such as Italy, the more likely you are to find non-carbonated spring water. Both kinds are readily available throughout Europe, however.

The copyright of the article Visiting Germany in Germanic Culture is owned by Colleen Thomas Ryor. Permission to republish Visiting Germany in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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