Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Pointless Points of Pointy Cultural Differences

So here are some things I've learned about German-speaking Europe:
  1. Europeans don't like any breeze of any kind. It can be 90 degrees outside, but if there is a breeze, you will see them with a scarf around their neck.
  2. They eat sandwiches for breakfast.
  3. Never use the word "napkin" in public.
  4. There are four kinds of recycling in every household. If you don't get it right, chances are you will hear about it from the crazy old ladies who inhabit the recycling shelters outside.
  5. If you are American and you say something in German to a store employee, they will raise their eyebrows and then acknowledge that you tried to say something in their pristine language. This is usually followed by "bitte?"
  6. Almost every major film and television show is from the U.S. and dubbed in German.
  7. In the summer, it's perfectly acceptable to walk around naked in your own yard.
  8. Carbonated water is standard drinking water here.
  9. Despite eating tomatoes with practically every meal, no one seems to mind the ridiculous levels of absorbic acid.
  10. Americans dress for comfort, Europeans dress for style.
Just some thoughts ... pointless, but interesting nevertheless.

No comments:

Post a Comment