不知不覺經已係德國生活咗差不多3個月，等我分享下呢幾個月以來學到或者感受到嘅德國文化啦！
1. 乾杯時嘅眼神交流
同德國人乾杯，同一時間要做三樣嘢！一要碰杯，二要講’prost!'(德文嘅’Cheers!’)，三要同每一個乾杯嘅人有眼神接觸！
2. 出𨋢時講拜拜
係我所在嘅德國城市高樓大廈唔算多，但我返工就一定會坐𨋢！係香港大家坐𨋢咪坐𨋢，到咪出𨋢，就係咁簡單！但係德國，明明三唔識七，佢哋出𨋢都會同你講拜拜。問返我啲德國朋友，佢話因為同你相處過(幾十秒)，所以禮貌上要講拜拜！
3. 遵守自己嘅規則
初初嚟到以為個個都好守規矩，所以我從來都唔衝紅燈。點知久而久之，發現啲德國人都係亂過馬路。有一次有機會同我個德國老闆講起，佢話佢都唔跟交通燈過馬路，除非附近有小朋友，咁就做下榜樣啦！守規矩？自己定個啲咪規矩囉！
4. 啤酒當水飲
係啦！啤酒又平又出名，無理由唔飲嘅！
5. 堅持講德文
有次要去整Residence Permit，辦事處嘅職員明明識聽識講英文，但一去到就係咁同我講德文，我第一句都同佢講，我唔識講德文，佢仲要係咁雞啄唔斷！結果佢咪又係要死死地氣同我整個permit，到問我問題時仲講完德文講英文！雖然我聽唔明佢講咩，不過我覺得佢係話，你嚟得德國，做乜一啲德文都唔識！唔識就咪鬼嚟啦！
6. 要剝衣嘅腸仔
德國出名腸仔，但有一隻腸，即使你去餐廳食，到食個時都係要自己剝咗塊衣先食得！呢隻就係慕尼黑腸(Munich Weisswurst)啦！
7. 去club飲酒望女仔多過跳舞
一向習慣去club當去減肥做運動嘅我，嚟到我呢個城市，發現呢度啲club企係度飲嘢嘅人多過跳緊舞嘅人，搞到我都怕醜唔敢郁身郁勢！(不過我啲朋友話係我個城市先係咁架ja!)
8. 數學勁有因
原因係：呢度嘅火車或交通工具一啲都唔平，但當少不免要穿州過省，就要花啲心機比較唔同交通工具，仲有唔同類型既飛！遲下有機會介紹下！咁成日都要精打細算，數學唔叻就假looo!
9. 夏天最鍾意去Mallorca
唔講可能你唔知，德國人暑假鍾意去西班牙嘅Mallorca渡下假，hea下hea下咁曬下太陽游下水！無計啦，始終德國沿海嘅地方都唔多！
10. 回收規矩
其中一樣我好欣賞嘅嘢係回收嘅政策，基本上每個城市都會回收廢物！但原來每個城市回收嘅方法都唔同，去到一個新地方，都係要請教下啲地頭蟲先得！
Can’t believe this is already the third month I am living in Germany, let me share some of the German culture that I came across so far!
1. Eye contact when Cheers!
When you are cheering with the Germans, there are 3 things you have to do together! First is to make sure the glass ‘clink’ to another one, second is to say ‘prost!’ (Cheers in German), third is to look into each of your friends’ eyes! (I mean those who are cheering with you!)
2. Say bye when leaving the lift
There are not too many skyscrapers here, but such a coincidence that my office is located in one of those! In Hong Kong, we rarely have any communication with other strangers in the lift with us, but when Germans are leaving the lift, they will say ‘Good bye’ to you! My German friend told me that because they felt they spent time with you, and they have to be polite!
3. Follow their own rules
I really thought the Germans follow rules in a very strict way. But when I have a chance to talk to my German boss one day about following traffic light when walking on the zebra-crossing, he said he will only do it when kids are around – because he only follows his own rule! Ohlalaaa!
4. Beer instead of water
Okay it’s really true that beer is cheaper than water and it’s famous in Germany, so, why not?!
5. Only German!
Once I went to the Foreign office to deal with my residence permit, the staff there actually understands and speaks English, but she insists to speak German to me even though I told her – Sorry, I don’t speak any German! She keeps speaking in German while handling my case and whenever she has to ask me something, she actually did it bilingually! I don’t understand any German, but I felt like during the whole time, she felt why you come to Germany if you don’t speak any German!
6. Sausage that has to peel the skin
Germany is famous for its sausages! and there’s a kind of sausage, you will have to peel the skin of it even if you are eating it in a restaurant! That’s the Munich Weisswurst!
7. Clubbing is just drinking and checking girls
I usually treat clubbing as a mean for me to work out and lose some weight. But I realize here people like to stand and drink and check out girls instead of dancing in the club! and I am too shy to dance alone in the club! (Though this is only happening in my city, according to my friend.)
8. Mathematics genius
Germans are good at mathematics, and one of the reasons is: the public transport is soooo expensive. But every one does have some time that they have to take public transport. There are soo many different kinds of tickets, so people really have to research and calculate to see which is the best way to travel!
9. Mallorca is the place for summer
Germans love going to Mallorca for holiday! Just to enjoy the sun and sea! This is no surprise when the coast of the country is not really long!
10. Recycling
One thing I really like about Germany is their Recycling policy. However, there is slight difference between how the garbage is being collected. So better ask a local when you arrive your city!
Related articles
- Ten Reasons why it is OK to be German or Germany: more than beer, sausages, and football (2fehah.wordpress.com)
travel till i drop, and stop, and rock, and travel again...! 