Who has been to Germany?

Question

I am originally from Germany and I am curious how people from other countries perceive us. What are your thoughts about the country, the people, their customs, etc?

Answer 1

I'm Canadian and have lived in Germany for about a year. I live in a small village, so a lot of people here are gossipy, nosy Germans (no offense lol) but when I go into the bigger town near my village, people are really friendly and helpful. They listen to me struggle with my hopeless German, and are happy to talk in English when they are able to... I love the countryside, its gorgeous, the food isn't the best but the alcohol age limit and prices rock! I love the castles, my friends and I picnic on castle grounds a lot. The christmas markets in December are a really interesting custom as well, but I hate that stores can't open late or on Sundays (but the bakeries are the best)

Answer 2

I lived in Germany for 3 years. I found the various regions were extremely different from each other. The people were very nice, but seem to rarely smile, and seem to think I was a bit nuts because I smile a lot. The country is beautiful and has a lot to offer, the castles are amazing. I found it interesting how homes went from ugly brick boxes in the north to beautiful fairy-tale like painted buildings in the south.

The work week is very, very short compared to the US, and you get a ton more time off! Convenience does not seem to be a big priority anywhere, however, doing things right the first time is very important.

It took a lot of effort to make German friends, but well worth it, my German friends are some of the kindest, most loyal friends I have, the type of people who will do anything to help someone out.

I love the autobahn, the beautiful gardens, and the reisling. The worst thing for me was the smoking, everyone seems to do it everywhere.

Answer 3

I really enjoyed Germany. I found the people friendly and out going once the ice was broken. I found it interesting that Germans had certain ways of doing things "the German way". Germans keep their yards basiclly the same, have to have the clean windows and the white curtains, and can make a machine for just about anything. The Germans can make a car drive 200mph and use very little gas, and yet the street sweepers use a witch broom to clean the streets with. I enjoy that the beer is all the same and yet different. Beer gartens, love beer gartens, drinking beer as a family great. In the states drinking beer was something to do in a dark bar where people don't see you, But in Germany you can take the kids with you.
Autobahn, driving a car as fast as it can go and it is legal.
Greeting people at a gasthaus, sitting with strangers at the same table, saying goodbye to everyone when one leaves, the coffee and cake.
The streets, forests, and yards are clean, walking & bike pathes, and shaded canals, country castles. Did I mention the beer?

Answer 4

I was stationed in Germany. I was at Katterbach stadt Ansbach from March 1994 to March 1996. Then I went to Wuerzburg in March 1996 until November 1999.

I loved it in Germany, to me it was alot like my home state Missouri. I spent more time around Germans than I did while I was around Americans. I even learned to speak, read, and write in German, although I am far from fluent.

I really didn't want to leave Germany. In fact if money was not a concern and I could live in any city in the world I would live in Nuremberg. It was a very clean country and much safer than the US.

I traveled all over Germany. I even went to a Biker Party in Bremen. I was the only American there, and everybody went out of their way to make sure I had a good time and plenty to eat and drink that entire weekend.

Germans are great people once they get to know you and they consider you a friend. Until that point they are very cautious, distant and even sometimes rude.

Answer 5

I live in Denmark and has been to Germany numerous times.
In general I think Germany is a great country, but it depends very much on which part of Germany you visit.
The big cities are amazing - lots of things to do and see, and the people are very friendly and welcoming.
But when I went to Harzen I was very disappointed that no-one spoke English. I don't expect the common German to speak English, but I do think that when you stay at a hotel you could expect the staff to be able to speak English. We had no way of communicating with the staff at all.

Other than the language barriers I can't think of anything I don't like - the people are friendly, the country is beautiful, and there's lots of things to see and do.

Answer 6

I'm from england and went to germany twice when i was at school. We stayed in a tiny little town on the river rhine, about an hour or so away from Bonn. From what i can remember the country was beautiful (we went in may/june), the area we stayed in was very green and lush full of forests and vineyards. I remember noticing how clean the streets were.
I think the people were quite similar to english people, the only vast difference was with the food which i found quite stodgy (but that's the only negative thing i can think of).

Answer 7

Lived in Germany for 5 years. I love the Germans and respect their desire to protect the environment. Backpacking, walking, hiking, eating right, driving smart cars for fuel savings and each patient greets you with a Morgen if you are setting in the waiting room. Wonderful people. Found some American's to be absolutely rude to the Germans overseas. I am an American. I did hate the nudity and prostitution that I observed. I would go back and live there forever if I could.

Answer 8

I was born there and have been back twice. Some of the people were a bit cold but for the most part I had a good time. I got a kick out of how in some areas they would not exchange money hand to hand and put in a dish so as not to touch each others hands. Loved the big thick down comforters in the hotels.

Answer 9

I am German as well, so I don't know how well I will answer this question, but I love the country, the friendliness of the Bavarians, the history of the country, the fact that they seem to have more etiquette than some here in the United States and the efficiency of the travel systems etc.

Answer 10

I haven't been back to Germany since 1988 when I was visiting my family. I am much overdue for a trip. I consider myself Austrian-German. I just happened to be born in the USA. My mother was born in Vienna. Except for a handful of relatives, all live in either Austria, Germany or Switzerland.

What I hate is that when you tell people you are German, they automatically think Nazi. Considering my upbringing, I find the American customs strange.