Cultural differences between Germany and UK

I agree, the baguettes (and flutes etc.) taste great when fresh and well baked but the range of available bread stops there. Where I used to live in Neuhausen there was a tiny family run bakery and the bread was a dream there. They were not a member of any franchise (i.e. Müller, Wimmer, Ziegler etc.). Actually my local Ziegler is brill. The morning Breze from there is the highpoint of my day

Baguettes only lasting until lunchtime? Man they taste so good that you eat them before then anyway! German bread only last a long time because flies, bacteria fungus and whatever won't touch the crap!!
Actually, thinking about it, the indians, not the French, have perfected breads.

MysteryMan did you go to the tiny eco-bakers called Slanitz in Leonrodstr.? Because they have the best baguette I've ever tasted in Munich bar none (and I've lived in France too).
Katrina

I said it once and I'll say it again.

Hopfisterei. Quality.

Not Müller or the other stuff.

Naw never heard of it: might search it out though (still live close to Leonrodstr.) as I am frantically trying to sample all the delights munich has to offer, that I never got around to sampling. Before I am banished to the styv

Pfister is very often to be found in close proximity to Vinzenzmur deli.

5.30 to 6.30 very cheap.

Slanitz is a family bakery near to the Asia-Thai supermarket (the one that sells Pataks/Ginger Nuts/Marmite/PG Tips etc) between Cafe Freiheit and Rotkreuplatz.
They are all organic (Bioland approved) and open 7 days a week.
Hofpisterei sells out very quickly near Rotkreuzplatz (I like their dark breads not so keen on the white) and Slanitz always keep filling up their stock.

I honestly think this is all stemming from the way children are raised here. Yes, they're taught to follow all the bloody rules but everything else, including manners, is carte blanche.

When I was a child, it was drilled into me that I should wait my turn, play fair, say please, thank you, excuse me, etc. I never see that happening here with children. They're allowed to wander about and say whatever they please, grab at something without asking, step in front of you as you're walking, yell and run about public places, stare at strangers and make comments . . . and the parents either ignore what's happening or beam proudly because it's so cute that their offspring are confident enough to be rude. I once watched a tot about 3 years old walking all over a restaurant grabbing at food from other peoples' plates. And that, apparently, is quite acceptable.

So it's no wonder that these tiny Germans grow up to be adults with no idea about sharing space with others. They must be first, get what they want, and make no apologies to anyone.

The waiters are rude because they spend their days dealing with that mess.

And one more thing about the sense of humor or lack thereof. It is much, MUCH worse up north. I find Bavarians to be easy-going, helpful and looking to have a good time. Just. not. done. up north. Don't bother trying to ask a stranger in Hamburg for directions. Let a smile cross your face and risk being considered a fool. Don't go to a party and expect to meet anyone new. They are the coldest people I've ever encountered.

And here at least, if you stand your ground in the face of rude behavior, you'll likely get some sort of apology or something because people don't even know what they're doing. Up north, you'll only be ignored or challenged further.

and quite exactly how long do you'd think you'd get away with this in england before getting a slapping?
'cause let's face it - it's one cultural difference...
people tend to hit people in england whereas the germans do not hit each other.

take any german town and compare it with a random town in england on a friday or saturday night and see how many kick offs you see or people looking for a rumble outside the chinky/kebab shop.

What means "chinky"?

lived in hamburg for 3 years and munich for 3 years.

give me the fish heads anyday as opposed to the bavarians

chinese take away...those places what sell 'shit in a tray' to quote mickey skinner from the streets.

politically correct? you tell me.

That is the wrong way of looking at it. Manners are by definition the socially acceptable norm (def: The prevailing customs, social conduct, and norms of a specific society). The norms are simply different from those of english speaking countries. Therefore we are judging them based on our standards and that is why if you actually confront a german they will generally be surprised at what you found impolite. Thus there are also things that the germans find impolite, but compared to us the bar is raised.

All that said, there are ignorant assholes here, who are ignorant based on both norms.

I am sure our foodfrau has the motto "Smiles waste muscles"

It would intresting to see what a German thinks of England once they have lived there.

One girl I know said, that we only really talk to each other when pissed. I thought about that, and yeah I guess that's fair comment.

Yeah but yer pissed all the time, so that's alright.

In my cultural communication classes, I describe it this way:

I don't normally assign numbers, usually I draw a line, but this makes is easier to understand in written form. Say politeness runs on a scale from 0-10. 0 is getting shot just because someone doesn't like the look of you. 10 is dinner with all the European royalty. (Just to make it clearer for the smart-asses, that's 0 is extremely rude and 10 is extremely polite.

British behaviour normally runs somewhere from 5-9.
German behaviour normally runs somewhere from 4-8.

On average, let's say, Brits go around at about a 7. Germans go around at about 6. Brits tend to think Germans are rude because they don't come up to their level on the chart, but for Germans, it's normal. Germans tend to find Brits a bit "slimey" because their behaviour is too polite for the situation, but it's normal for British.

The rest here is my personal opinion.

Germans are far more direct than British. I personally prefer that. I hate having to try and figure out what somebody really means when they say something.

Germans don't praise their co-workers or employees as often as British (and even more so, North Americans) do. A good job is expected, therefore is nothing really worthy of praise. Only notable good work will be mentioned.

British have a sense of humour I personally prefer. German humour tends to be more about Schadenfreude.

Germans are one of the most stereotyped cultures in the world. British people are one of the worst cultures for stereotyping others.

That's a great closing line, showem! But shurely you mean the British are one of the best cultures for stereotyping others?

Manners is a strange thing in Germany. I can never figure out why train doors are always blocked by people trying to get ON the train seemingly oblivous of the people getting off. The times I have wanted to say "if you don't let the people off then you can't get on..."

It seems so simple and yet the German just dont get it.

Waiting at a junction to pull out is also time consuming as no-one (except ex-pats) will let you out, and reversing into a parking space on a main road needs lots of bottle...

I stick by my guns: German drivers are pretty bad. They must be glad the Italians exist otherwise they would be one of the worst. There is something funidmentaly Jeckal & Hyde about when a german gets behind a steering wheel - my wife included.

As for Bread. Good? Now I know you are having a laugh. Although the only funny thing I can think of concerning bread is the name of my local bakery is "Fuckers". Sadly I have yet to find a sex shop called Hovis.

Showem is right. I lived with the other extreme in Saudi, where it is unislamic to be honest to the other person, and under their code you MUST lie to preserve the peace. Hence the society always seems calm. However this always leaves a swirling feeling underneath.

With Deutsch people there is no hidden agenda and it is all in the open. There is no sliminess here with true proud Deutsch people. They have many faults but dishonesty is definitely not one of them.

Cultural differences aside (praise, humor, etc.), the Munich residents are rude. Here is what I have observed in the last few days.

- People going through doors, then letting the door swing and hit the next person in the face
- Blatanly cutting in front of a line. Even though it is very apparent the other people are also waiting in line
- Walking into people on the streets (because the person expected the other person to fully get out of the way), and not even acknowledging it with an apology or "excuse me"
- People at the door of a train, who are not trying to get off, don't move when someon tries to get by them to get on the train.
- People trying to get on the train who do not let the others off first.
- Standing on the left side of the escalator and not attempting to move. Even though it is blatantly apparent people are trying to get by.
- Waiters and Waitresses. Self explanatory.

If you are somewhat considerate of your environment and the people around you, you would not be doing most of these things. Munich residents do however. Hence, the reputation for being rude.

The question was put what Germans think of the Brits. I know quite a few Germans, and a couple of them have lived in Britain and now want to return, and some already have. They say that the Brits are friendly, and polite, and shopping is 50 times easier, as you only have to go to 1 place and not 50, and you can almost do this anytime you want.

Another German friend of mine, is currently studying in England, and she wants to stay there, just because she prefers the working environment in Britain. Interesting the other way around !

one of the most arrogant bunch in munich you can come accross - some seem so far up their own arses it's incredible.
it's simple...don't tip and if they get too cocky you can always ask them how much they like doing the shit job and how grrrrrreat it must be to work unsociable hours, etc...

I think the behaviour on the trains here is great. People do sometimes stand in your way when you are trying to get off, but as Sparty said, lots of people actually get off the train to let other out. Amazing. Also, when you are waiting to get on a trina, people GENERALLY let passengers get off first. In Singapore, this NEVER happened. People would fight to get onto the trian without letting other off first, and the problem is so huge, Singapore government actually ran an ad campaign traing to teach the locals to be more polite and think a little bit. Waste of time as a campaign, as Singaporeans have enormous trouble learning anything new whatsoever, but the fact is that it was a recognized problem. People here are VERY polite on public transport in comparison to Singapore.

In India the lack of queuing is worse.

I was once flying into Muscat in Oman on the way to Delhi and as the plane landed i.e., wheels on the tarmac, off came the seatbelts and down the ganway ran a shitload of Indians before we had even reached the end of the runway!

I asked my class of 17 German students today if they would like the option of shopping on Sunday. Every last one of them said no.

But they agree wholeheartedly about rudeness--especially that of waiters/waitresses--and the absence of quality service. One said "Germans don't know the meaning of service."

showem, this is somehow eating at me. it struck a chord you know..how it does sometimes...
you may be right. who knows/cares.

all i would say is in that case they can fuck off.

have a good w/e all.

then how come the shops at the airport and hauptbahnhof are always heaving with people on a sunday? or is buying food on sunday like visiting a sex shop: they all do it but no-one will admit to it???

from my recollections of queuing in india didn't they used to have blokes sitting on life guard style chairs with a big stick to keep people in line at train station ticket booths or was the manali cream twisting my melon?

Made this ages ago, when someone was asking me about what living in Germany is like.
[img]http://www.keithball.net/img/dod_folder/dod_forum4/german-queue.jpg[/img]

Also at banks: guys with massive shotguns to deter the obvious.

Manali? Hmmmmm...memories of 1992 from Leh in Ladakh to Manali in a 4 wheel drive and a kamikaze driver who laughed at everything!

In defence of a few German nationals, I have found some do have manners.
Last Sunday we invited a local family over for lunch. they brought their slippers with them and presented me with a few home made gifts, which I really appreciated and found very thoughtful.
I was offered help in the kitchen at the beginning and end of our meal and the children ate what was presented without question, even though I had chicken nuggets waiting in the wings in the event that they didn't like my stir fry.
The children were not allowed to wander around our home or touch things, which British children frequently do nowadays and asked permission to go to the bathroom, even though a grand tour had been made at the onset and they were familiar with it's location.
The parents accepted a few drinks but were politely refusing more and even mentioned that this would be costly for us to entertain an additional family of four.
I was brought up in a similar fashion but sadly notice the demise of such values even within my own family(Grandson, wee shite touches everything eats nothing!!).
Not all things are bad in Germany, and if a few more of us regarded our families as the Germans do, with a little more respect, then the world would be a nicer place.
When was the last time you phoned home and spoke to your mum? If more than a week, do it now!!
Yes, I to moan about the lack of customer service and rudeness but I can also see the positive picture as well. We should learn from each other.

@Granny:

I ring my mammy sometimes three times a week in Wales. I have so much to learn from them when I thought they didn't know anything when I was young and foolish.

Most doors I push on have a tough closer on it. Gotta use your shoulder and push anyway.

I step right back in front of them and use my shoulder to let them know I was indeed there.
I see them coming and usually brace myself and give them a hard shoulder.

Just lower your shoulder and help them off the train.
Again, shoulders to their teeth often show suprising results.

Um, just put a hand on their shoulder and say "Move it, or I'll give you a shoulder!"

A cold shoulder doesn't work so try a chip on your shoulder. Or just pick an above scenario and apply it with your shoulder.