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The first few fundamental days in my new country brought out the side of me that is more cautious, self-conscious, and reserved. I’ve never lived outside of the Carolinas, not to mention a completely different country on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. I didn’t know what to expect beyond the few lessons and stereotypes I’ve heard about Germany. To prepare for this drastic change, I found myself recalling what I had previously understood as OR what I’ll call “known truths” about Germany, relayed to me over my 5 years of language learning.
The “truth” that stood out to me the most was that Germans do not jaywalk, and to do so in Germany was inappropriate. So, for the first week of my stay, I waited. Having come from a culture of hustle and conveniences, waiting patiently and seemingly meaninglessly was difficult. I was impatient, I’m American. There, things, people, school and life are supposed to be fast, so I found myself wondering why I was waiting to cross an empty street? Eventually, time and experience slowed down my racing thoughts, and after the first week, I gained confidence in my new surroundings. My assumptions turned into observations, which led me deeper into my host country’s culture, quirks and unique qualities that, to me, make it distinctly German.
The first observation that shattered the “known truths” I’d picked up in my life was that some German people jaywalk. I wasn’t shocked to find that this stereotype wasn’t black-and-white, but I was surprised that so many fellow pedestrians broke this taboo to make their commute just more convenient. Has hustle culture truly infiltrated the slow and purposeful Europe that I had imagined in my head? Apparently not as completely and deliberately as jaywalking; I’ve discovered that eating out and the general culture surrounding food is very different than in the States.
Being an American in a German restaurant is where expectation met satisfaction and eventually disgruntlement. Of course, I’ve heard from many travelers (and from my own experience in other European countries) that it is a “known truth” that dining across the pond is very different from eating out in the USA. The waiters actually make a living wage, meaning they aren’t constantly performing for that 20%. They get to the point, taking your order and leaving you to enjoy the food, which I appreciate until it comes time for the bill.
As a subject of “convenience first, connection last” culture, I want to finish eating, get the bill, and leave, no dilly-dallying. However, each and every time I’ve enjoyed a meal out in Germany, I’ve had to ask for the bill. It’s definitely something I’ve had to get used to. Although difficult the first time, I’ve come to appreciate the art of enjoying a meal with others. However, this small cultural friction is nothing compared to the lack of sweet tea and Diet Coke in Hessen!
Independence and freedom are probably the most important themes of national identity in the United States. Independence from outside control and of course political and economic freedom are fundamental to the US identity. However, I argue that there is a freedom closer to the American identity and heart: freedom of the personal vehicle. Cars are central in the States, and to take away that freedom is, to many Americans, like cutting off their left leg. Cities are not walkable back home like they are in Germany. Many times, I’ve taken my car on a 5-minute drive to a location that would’ve taken 30 if trekked on foot. It took a lot of adjusting to having my left leg cut off, but once again, after the initial culture shock, I began to observe and understand the value of making your own way by foot.
Although independence and freedom are not explicitly central to the German identity, I realized that it is highly valued, but in different forms. Germans enjoy their personal freedoms by cycling and walking. Alternative modes of transportation are everywhere, allowing people to go wherever they need to go in their town without dealing with traffic, narrow streets, and high gas prices. There is a reliance on a person’s own two feet that I find staunchly independent. Bike and foot trails litter Marburg’s city center and carve into the countryside, taking the traveler places where cars are not allowed. Even though it may not look the same as it does back home, independence and personal freedom is valued all the same in my host country.
The “known truths” about German culture that I’ve collected throughout my life have blurred. Some remain ingrained in my perception of this country, some have been proven incorrect, while others have evolved into something else entirely. My time here has been short so far, but I am excited to break more expectations and get to know Germany a little better.