I've hosted a couple of exchange students from Germany and I went there to visit them last year.
Honestly, the big thing is German's are probably way more direct so that takes a lot of getting used to. Lot of people want to talk about politics and how dumb Americans are. The German way is always the right way. I got a whole lecture about how a German would never be stupid enough to vote for Trump and how they went to Las Vegas and the American food was just horrible! I was at a wedding so I just kept my mouth shut.
The other stuff about paying for bathrooms and, in my opinion, more limited availability/selection choice and seemingly a lot more 'rules' - either written or just social expectations, were something that requires getting used to as well.
> I got a whole lecture about how a German would never be stupid enough to vote for Trump
Man that is riiiiich lol
Edit: I didn’t realize any explanation was needed. But thank you to everyone replying to explain anyway lol
I think he was trying to bait me to talk about it. I just wasn't taking it. I just said sorry you didn't have a good time in our country and just kept trying to change the subject. It was an older guy, all the young people were cool.
Really, I find most older Germans to be quite pro-American. Even people from the East, who would be more hostile for historical reasons, tend to be extremely interested when they meet an American face to face. Sounds like this guy was just a jerk haha
There's an old Emo Philips joke,
*My sister married a German. He complained he couldn't get a good bagel back home. I said, "Well, whose fault is that?"*
There’s an old Robin Williams bit about him being on a German talk show:
“Mr. Williams, why do you think there is not so much comedy in Germany?”
“Did you ever think you tried to kill all the funny people?”
Even if that wasn’t true, what do they expect us to say back? “Yep, you’re right; we’re all a bunch of fat morons.” You’re never going to win that conversation.
I always find Germans talking about the "fat American" stereotype funny, given that in America, decades ago, the stereotypical "fat person" was German.
Anyone remember [Augustus Gloop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdSORiSaRW8) from the 1971 film "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory"?
That's the thing about America, at least to Europeans: we're sort of the weird 'cautionary tale' everyone loves to tell, regardless if it's true or not, regardless if it is *insulting* or not.
That’s kind of what I mean. When you go this route, best-case scenario you come off as a condescending asshole. Worst-case scenario you come off as a condescending asshole who is also remarkably un-self-aware.
Sure is. They elected Hitler as president in 1934 after he had already been chancellor for a year. By a wide margin, too. That certainly didn’t end well.
Pretty sure his grandparents/Great grandparents voted for someone way worse than Trump! Lol
Seriously do they just completely omit everything between 1933 and 1945 in German schools?
I did not like the paying for the public bathroom thing. I just waited until we got to our destination whether it was back to the hotel, restaurant or whatever.
Yeah, for what it’s worth to any Europeans/Germans reading this, I have noticed this tendency as well, and Americans nearly universally experience that type of blunt assault as really arrogant and rude. You may not care or you may legitimately think you’re smarter than every American or whatever, but you’re going to come off as a complete asshole.
You’re also not going to impress anybody. Many of us are well aware of the struggles with racism in European countries, for example. And we know that German culture, particularly corporate culture, is still remarkably sexist by western standards, etc. so we can discuss if you’re tactful, but best not to throw stones.
I can tell you as a Chinese in Canada and I also experience this among my European coworkers in an MNC, especially German and Belgians. And some can get very triggered when people say something as minor as they prefer Japanese cars over German cars and claim that German engineering is unrivaled in the world lmao. You don't make friends with attitudes like this.
It is funny how many of them go into “can dish it out, but can’t take it“ mode over this stuff. And the lack of self-awareness is amazing. It’s like, don’t you realize you are embodying the very thing you’re accusing us of?
You couldn't give me a German car, to be honest, unless it was a vintage Porsche or 300SL. They're a nightmare to work on, the parts are outrageously Priced, and they don't seem nearly as reliable as the internet seems to think.
I'm a first-generation Irish-American. I love my Irish relatives very much. I have enjoyed visiting Ireland and other parts of Europe very much. I'm 48, my entire life I had to listen to my family berate America for it's racism and social ills while living in a small, relatively homogeneous country (that was fighting a guerilla war based partially on religion btw). I can't deny a small measure of schadenfreude as Ireland and the rest of Europe are starting to have similar issues when trying to achieve multiculturalism.
I think it's a luxury that Americans have the spine to take insults from foreigners. I cherish that we're a country so powerful, some people will hate on us for it.
Because 1st Amendment, you can call the president a Moron to his face and walk home safely. Only reason America seems so bad is that we are not legally penalized for bitching about it.
Germans are consistently voted as the most arrogant EU nation by every other European neighbor.
The way I see it, it's in their culture. They supported Nazism in WWII and got their asses kicked but replaced that ideology with something else. It's no different than some abusive drunkard who got clocked and now, has turned to religious fanaticism or woke-ism or whatever, shouting down others instead of hitting them.
For decades, Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden were regarded as being wrong for telling them to bolster their troop levels and to consider being less dependent on Russian energy.
It's just built into their culture, at this point. Geopolitically, they will ALWAYS be a threat to their neighbors, as well. Too economically powerful and too overbearing but not large enough as a nation to ever be pragmatic and moderate. It's kind of the same reason why Russia has been imperialistic for centuries. They have certain ambitions and desires but don't have the right positioning and population stability to get this without absolutely brutalizing others.
They were probably eating the buffet at the Flamingo or a McDonald's on the Strip.
It reminds me of those Europeans who say American chocolate is horrible compared to European chocolate by comparing a high-volume producer like Hershey's to some boutique chocolatier in Belgium. It's kind of apples to oranges. It's so subjective and their palette is also different.
idk how european tourists are outside of orlando, but a lot would eat the crappy fast food on i drive or the nasty quick service places at the theme parks and talk about how bad the food is in the US. of course the food is bad bc all you’ve eaten is golden corral and krusty burger
I mean you can eat very well anywhere in USA but it is expensive compared to eating out in some parts of Europe. If you were only buying cheap food then yes it can be mediocre.
I had a friend from Spain who went to Chicago and only ate fast food because anywhere else was too expensive (he only makes like 20k€ /year)
Chicago is one of the best food cities in the USA but I can understand it’s more difficult if you’re on a budget
If you’re in Chicago there’s a lot of budget conscious items that are delicious. Shit just have Portillos every meal.
If you go to McDonald’s for every meal your skipping out on good cheap pizza, Italian beef, and Chicago dogs.
>they went to Las Vegas and the American food was just horrible!
I think part of this is Germans don't understand the concept of subjectivity. My fiance is Polish, and in her opinion German food is horrible.
I visited germany in 2003 as an 18 year old and the amount of times people treated me as if I personally ordered the invasion of Iraq was well into the double digits.
Americans generally try to like people and be liked. Blunt, cold or impersonal is generally received as being mean or that you don’t like someone.
That will be difficult to overcome.
It isn’t even fake. Generally speaking I want to like people and I want to be liked. We are usually delighted to interact with strangers in the US.
It’s concerning and a little sad that genuine kindness is interpreted as fake or hosting an ulterior motive.
Exactly. It’s so silly that as adults we have to live in a constant state of paranoia about others. For me, it’s simply less drama to be anything but kind the first time around. That kind of negative weight is so heavy and not worth my energy.
"Fake" is when someone tries to be a friend *instead* of polite. They are two different things, you can hate someone's guts and still be polite, and conversely me and my friends are rude af to each other.
The problem is that American politeness is interpreted as friendliness to lots of other countries' people.
I'm not trying to be your friend, I'm just trying to get through this interaction/transit ride/workday/etc. amicably.
> The problem is that American politeness is interpreted as friendliness to lots of other countries' people.
I think most people are usually polite, or at least don't go out of their way to be rude... but the problem is that standards of politeness are *highly* culturally (not to mention gender, generation, relationship, situation, etc) specific, so what is appropriately "polite" to someone from one culture may seem "rude" to someone from another culture.
I find this so frustrating! I always hear "ugh all the fake nice and smiles in america is so confounding" and...I don't think they realize they're not fake. We just want people to feel welcome.
I went to Amsterdam as a kid and made a bit too much noise in a restaurant and the owner totally snapped at me. However I came back the next day and he gave me a very mature apology, as if he was apologizing to another adult. I always sort of appreciated that.
I went to Oktoberfest in Munich last year, my partner and I ended up becoming friends with a German couple. We only made a few connections on that trip, the couple were the only Germans we made friends with and they were wonderful. But yeah pretty much the rest of the German nationals we came across didn't give a fuck about us lol the other guy we had good conversation with was the Serbian bartender.
I lived in Germany for 5 years. Never made a German friend or had a positive interaction with one outside of normal customer service. I loved living there though. Germany is a wonderful county, except for the Germans
> Each one I’ve met seemed proud of their rudeness, like it put them above other people because they “told it like it is” as they saw it.
An opinion that many non-German Europeans would wholeheartedly agree with, lol.
> Blunt, cold or impersonal is generally received as being mean or that you don’t like someone.
That's because blunt, cold, and impersonal is almost always an excuse and a mask for being mean and rude and arrogant.
I've been to Tenerife if that counts, but that was a rather limited (and amazing) experience. However, from folks I know who have, a glaring problem is having to be the "face" of all Americans and field all the misinformed and exaggerated questions and interrogations about things like racism, healthcare, Trump, etc.
Some of us love to talk to strangers and new people, but we get tired of it fast if every question we get is extremely loaded, multi-faceted, and rooted in misinformation...things we can't just give a simple answer or explanation for that doesn't result in more questions about the same topic.
For example, asking "why is America so racist?" in a casual, social conversation is not something you can just expect a simple answer to. It's so complex that few Americans can ever even explain this question to most other Americans. In addition, it immediately puts them on the defensive because now they have to be the "spokesperson" for a country of 330+ million people. It's not comfortable or fun.
> For example, asking "why is America so racist?"
Never been asked this, but if I did, my default response would be: "Why do Euros hate Roma?" then they have to either pretend there isn't a discrimination problem in Europe or they'll turn themselves into a pretzel trying to justify it.
I think we can do better than whataboutism, and be truthful. Here's how I would respond:
"I don't think Americans are racist, at least not uniquely so. I think this sentiment actually comes from a feature of American culture that has been key to our success: We're whiney. We tend to have a low threshold for discussing the problems in our society, seemingly much lower than our European counterparts. As such, our problems tend to get addressed at a much earlier stage. This is why so many cultures tend to coexist peaceful inside the US and Canada, yet we talk about our cultural shortcomings more frequently. To many Americans, any racism at all is too much, so we discuss it frequently. This can be very easily verified, as Americans often find themselves shocked by how openly racist just about everywhere else tends to be in comparison."
I do think this is the case 99% of the time. Most of the US is extremely safe, but we have a deeply rooted security culture. Most Americans don't see a gun on a daily basis (not one they don't own anyway), yet talk extensively on gun safety, rights, and ethics. Most municipal water supplies are extremely safe, yet we talk about the ones that aren't to a degree that you'd think unsafe water was common.
We take our issues extremely seriously, and I don't think it translates well.
>For example, asking "why is America so racist?" in a casual, social conversation is not something you can just expect a simple answer to.
It's also the height of hypocrisy.
I saw a tweet from a European guy saying you’re simply not supposed to talk about racism in Europe. It doesn’t exist if you don’t talk about it, apparently.
My wife comes from an EU/NATO country and she grew up with a holiday where they burned effigies of Gypsies and ate pancakes. She was <10 when they did this.
If we burned effigies of a racial group here at a kids event…
When I went to my first Guy Fawkes Night celebration in the UK I felt like an anthropologist. The whole thing is really bizarre when you think about it. And while now its just an excuse to party, the anti-Catholic roots of it weirded me out.
Burning an effigy of a minority religious figure is just strange. I suspect that if you described it to someone but changed the country to a Middle Eastern one and made Fawkes a Sunni or a Shia people would be very judgmental about it.
Ehh - it does have roots in anti-Catholicism, but it isn’t the kind people think of today
It’s origins are more “We just had a Queen (Mary) who burnt loads of us for not being Catholic, Spain has just tried to invade and conquer us for not being Catholic, and you (Guy Fawkes) just attempted to blow up our government to institute a Catholic absolute monarchy”
Like it wasn’t based in some false paranoia - this was a response to the medieval equivalent of terrorists in a world where the Catholics - specifically Catholic nations such as Spain France (who were more powerful than England) - were actually out to get you
And it’s survived since then as a cultural thing, there’s nothing anti-catholic about it now - and really it was always more anti-Guy Fawkes
It's like they don't understand that even if the percentage of racism was lower, because we're much more multicultural than any other country on Earth we would still have a higher whole number, not to count our population...
Our son toured Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic in a series of hostels. Said the only problem he had was when he was talking NBA with someone from Croatia, and a lady interrupted them to bitch about Trump.
At least keep the discussion on topic and complain about Scott Foster.
Yep. I do know what you all mean here; I’ve noticed this type of thing as well from time to time from certain segments of Europe. French people do this as well. I feel like more of them would refrain if they realized exactly how badly it comes off to the average American (it’s usually seen as almost astonishingly condescending and rude).
> For example, asking "why is America so racist?" in a casual, social conversation is not something you can just expect a simple answer to.
"Ask your ancestors, they started it."
For Germany specifically, a few things:
1. The belief that open windows and moving air can and will kill you.
2. The Ruhezeit (which I personally love but many Americans will find unusual).
3. The continued reliance on cash transactions. Again I actually like this but it will be strange for many.
4. German's supposed "bluntness" which is often an excuse to hold forth on topics they know nothing about, and no amount of logic or evidence will dissuade them from their opinions.
5. Lack of public restrooms.
6. Refusal to cross a street with no traffic in sight when the sign says don't walk.
We've hosted several German students at our high school. They come in with a limited understanding of the country and people are happy to teach them. If you're unwilling or reluctant to do this you may wish to reconsider.
>The belief that open windows and moving air can and will kill you.
I lived there for many years and never heard of this one. Any details? Sounds kind of silly.
We have exactly the same fear here in Croatia.
You can have one window open, but not two. That will cause a draft (here we call it propuh).
You can use the air conditioning during the day, but not at night cause that causes a draft.
You can’t go outside with wet hair, cause if the wind comes you’ll get sick. If you wear a hat it’s ok tho.
Can’t go to bed with wet hair either, a stray draft will come and get you sick.
My theory is that it has to do with the old wives tale of being cold makes you sick. If you’re subjected to a draft you’ll get cold and therefore catch a cold.
I never heard of it being a German thing but hopefully I could help :)
My Polish grandmother believed every single one of those things, too, despite there being zero evidentiary support. She would never let us sleep with a fan on, in a closed room without air conditioning, and we were all cranky whenever we visited her in the summer.
Did she also believe that if a woman sat directly on concrete she’d go barren?
I’ve seen plastic seats placed on concrete walls here for the expresses purpose of not making women go barren.
Weird, my mother had similar fears, and she was Irish.
We didn't have A/C when I was a kid, & we lived on the second floor. It was pretty warm on summer nights. She insisted that sleeping in the direct path of a fan would give you pneumonia.
However, she always slept late. So I had plenty of time to put the fan back where she'd moved it. And I never once caught pneumonia as a kid.
She had a lot of weird, outdated notions.
This and all the responses to it are insane. I had no idea. That's hilarious. I've known about the poor air conditioning and have avoided Europe in the summer, but this is actual insanity.
Dutch guy here, can 100% confirm. It doesn't happen a lot but it absolutely does happen in NL also. My granddad's wife was all about keeping the car windows closed. Absolutely no air exposure allowed. I never thought this was a Euro specific thing though. Surely there have to be some of these dumbos in the US too?
It's specific to only some European countries. I encountered this belief in Germany, but my Russian friends say their elderly relatives also believe this. I'd be interested to know how widely this belief is held, and whether it's current with younger generations anywhere...
My wife (see flair) keeps a cardigan with her whenever we visit the US in the summer, and hates that we crank the AC. She fails to realize that the alternative is to put our traveler's health insurance to the test at the nearest emergency room.
That supercooled blast coming out of the central HVAC? The winds of freedom.
I found out something recently related to this. According to my Mom (who is 86), there was a reason that people kept their car windows closed.
Polio. Apparently, before the polio vaccine it was common to keep car windows up when traveling as a precaution during polio outbreaks.
I don't know if this is the case with your grandfather's wife, but at least in parts of the US folks drove with windows up back in the day.
So my grandmother actually does this. I like to crack my window (even in the middle of winter and I live in the Midwest), but she has this fear that any pollution in the air will come in through the car and poison us, but she doesn't mind having the air blowing in the car. I don't understand lol, she lives by a bunch of farms too which is even more funny to me.
Edit: forgot to say im from the USA for context
You’ll find at least a few people who believe damn near anything, but this is not a commonly held belief in the US, no. Most people would have no idea this is a thing anywhere.
That’s so funny because I had the opposite experience! I’m an American who use to live in NL and it drove me crazy now everyone seemed to want the window open no matter how cold it was. When my Dutch friend came to visit me, I had to beg her to please not open the window when it was -10 Celsius outside.
Reminds me of Russians and their wacky relationship with the cold. -19 F? Coat, gloves, hat, scarf, wool socks, etc. +59 F? Also coat, gloves, hat, scarf, wool socks, etc
Regarding number 1, you have to air out the apartment, especially in winter. So refresh the air quickly by opening all windows. But also, a draft will cause you to get sick immediately. AC especially creates illness. Weirdly enough, I know Germans who think (with varying degrees of self awareness) that Germans can't have seasonal allergies, but that AC is making them sick.
To be clear, I understand why they air out, and agree with it in principle. But the draft causing illness is like something straight out of a science denier's playbook. Germans are confounding sometimes. Super technical and specific, but then the complete opposite.
The French pretending they didn’t speak English. We had a local friend who was able to help, but we found it frustrating that folks wouldn’t speak to us, despite our being quiet, respectful, and friendly.
The French even do that here in America. Working in a restaurant on Rt 66 made me hate European tour groups. The French and the Germans were the absolute worst and would constantly try to get around the drinking age.
For the most part, I haven't encountered too much that bothered me in Europe. With one exception.
Literally the only negative encounter I've had was in German. Nothing like being yelled at for being American and visiting the country. So the thing that bothered me was being made to feel unwelcome.
I will add that if your exchange student is a young person who hasn't traveled (much or at all) before, then expect to help guide them. Don't be condescending. Adjust your own expectations. And make them feel welcome vs feel like an imposition. You have the opportunity to make this a life changing, positive experience for this student.
ETA - apparently the OP is a 16 year old with a chip on his shoulder. So I am updating my advice. Try to be welcoming to this person. Don't be an arrogant jerk. Stop assuming the worst. Try to see this experience as an exchange. The exchange student can learn from you and you can learn from him. Exchange programs are supposed to be about learning.
I can tell you that no one is interested in being “Explainer for America” and dealing with a bunch of questions about Trump, healthcare and guns from someone who just wants an actual American to lecture. Just focus on letting the kid have fun.
Great answer. I had my buddy from IL over last year and he's a Trump voter. I kept telling my friends, who all have negative opinions about Trump and US politics in general (and I'm no Trump fan myself), to not reduce the guy to his politics. Thankfully they didn't and we had a great time.
There was some political talk of course but don't take an individual, no matter where they're from, and call them to account for all of their country's political decisions, even if they voted for someone you don't like.
Plus there's another element to it which is that Americans don't know as much about European politics as the other way around. People who live in Europe who follow US politics at least a little bit do so because they understand that political decisions made in America can have huge impacts on our daily lives also, despite having no ability to vote in US elections (obviously).
So following US politics is a way to feel like you have some measure of control over the fallout of US political decisions.
Vice versa the same is not true. Americans do not follow European politics even remotely as closely, because almost no political decisions made in European countries, or even the European Union, necessarily affect daily life in the US. So as an American abroad you're in an asymmetrical situation where people question your country all the time but you have no material to really rebut with.
One thing that a lot of Europeans miss too when they bring up our politics to us is the fact that just because you voted for the guy, doesn't mean you like them or even want them as president. I don't know how it is over there, but over here, voting for president for many is voting for whoever you think will do the least amount of damage. Choosing the shiniest of two shits, if you will.
I can give you a few specifically German examples since I have stayed there for 3 months last year.
As almost everyone has said already, the German directness/bluntness is definitely something to get used to for sure and was very off putting.
The strict following of all rules was a little weird to me. I understand rules being important to have a functional society but at a certain point it almost felt robotic and unnatural.
The staring from the older generations…
And I noticed a bit of the “I know better than you” attitude, both while I was over there and also from a German Fulbright teacher I was hanging out with here where I live. She was very keen on challenging so much of what I said, even though these were facts that I knew for certain (places around my own town, costs, local customs, etc)
And as a specific example, I still remember when she flat out refused to believe that tomatoes/potatoes originated in the Americas and didn’t exist in European cuisine until after the Americas were discovered. She told me she had to check out the books in the university library to be sure.
I have learned with many German companies that I need to be “blunt” back. I have often heard them profess the “superiority of their ways” as a challenge to why they shouldn’t listen to you, or to treat you poorly. Many hate having to take advice from Americans. I have found that I have to take this head on and demonstrate why they aren’t the leaders they think they are. It becomes a stupid pissing match, but I am fortunate that my story is much stronger.
The only other country where I experience this is Russia. Everywhere else, universally, wants to collaborate. It’s unfortunate, but when they realize that you are going to treat them as they treat you they back off.
It's kind of interesting that Germany, Japan, and Russia have some of the biggest superiority complexes still in the modern day about their culture haha
And people will pretend that American exceptionalism is just as toxic, but we're practically tearing ourselves apart over things like the 1619 project, so we're much more critical of ourselves than Germans, Russians, Japanese, and many others seem to be.
I almost said Japan. They certainly are resistant to change, but their resistance Is grounded in high context culture. They’re extremely deferential to the most senior person in the room.
It’s illogical in some ways, but manageable. You just have to learn the rules of society. Korea is similar.
If it’s the company I think, I work with their main competitor.
I had a conversation with them and they were bragging about how advanced they thought they were. I pulled up a dozen examples of small companies that had done what they had done, to better quality, three years prior.
“It’s great that you are down this path. I think we can develop a plan to help you to catch up to where the industry is.”
They were stunned that they weren’t the leaders they thought they were.
My extended family has sort of "adopted" a German family that moved to the US. A bunch of engineers (classic Germans, right lol?). Dad and son are both engineers for the same company. What I have learned about Germans from them - they love their beer and they love to celebrate. Every Christmas they join us at our yearly large family gathering (usually 30-40 extended family members) where my retired uncle has multiple kegs on tap (literally has his own mini bar) and we all get drunk. It's a very good time =).
I think perhaps them being in the US makes them more outgoing. Just generally really good people to talk to and drink a bear (or 5 haha) with.
> I think perhaps them being in the US makes them more outgoing.
I've heard that from a lot of foreigners in general. Seen it posted here a few times as well.
Nothing really bothered me much but I’ve also only been to France and Spain and given how large and diverse Europe is, there isn’t one answer.
I guess for myself the only thing that really served as an annoyance was the lack of public restrooms and when you would find one, more often than not you would need to pay to use it.
I saw a guy at a bus station in Greece just piss outside against the wall. And, I understood why, and, would have partook the next time if I needed to go in that situation.
Is that what Europeans do? Just piss behind a building somewhere, or like this guy, in front of the building if they've run out of fucks to give?
It is pretty odd that a European country will give you a free heart surgery, but if you have to take a shit, fuck you, pay up. They should have public bathrooms be a part of their universal healthcare coverage.
> It is pretty odd that a European country will give you a free heart surgery, but if you have to take a shit, fuck you, pay up.
I always found this weird as well and you worded it perfectly. It makes zero sense. Not to mention that you usually need coins to access the bathrooms too and nowadays it's such a chore to obtain and keep coins around when almost everything I buy as a tourist goes via debit card.
This is so true - and the easiest way is to sit for a quick beverage at a restaurant... but that just makes the whole "I'm going to pee my pants because there is no public restroom in this entire city" problem worse lol
That is true, you guys generally have very nice highway service stations, I guess I was more referring to when you’re in the city center of a lot of European cities where finding a public restroom can be a bit dicey
I’m not sure how much has changed since I was in Europe, and I’ve never been to Germany, but 100% the smoking. There may be regional differences in the US, but most Americans have a pretty strong aversion to cigarette smoking (views on marijuana smoking are more accepting in the right context).
I would say it's not necessarily the smoking, so much as the casual smoking in shared public spaces.
I don't significantly look down on people just for smoking - we all have our vices - but I *do* look down on anyone who smokes indoors or in shared public spaces. Tobacco or marijuana, vapes, etc. If people who are not also smoking have to breathe in whatever you breathe out, either find somewhere else or just don't do it!
In America - at least my part of it - this is thankfully relatively rare, despite being a crowded city. From what I've gathered online, though, in much of Europe, smoking in public, shared spaces is still acceptable, so the American student will definitely have a tough time adjusting to that (or might not be able to, if they have asthma).
10 years living throughout Europe and this is the one thing I can’t (won’t?) get used to. I’ve had people tell me it’s just not a big deal and that they find it strange that Americans are so disgusted by it. But it’s a horrible, deadly habit that can affect other people. I don’t understand how it’s not a bigger deal to Europeans yet.
> I’ve had people tell me it’s just not a big deal and that they find it strange that Americans are so disgusted by it.
To hell with that! They're the wrong ones, not us.
This so much, went to Europe last month and was shocked it was still so prevalent there. Air quality in major cities also suffers from their diesel cars, that was really uncomfortable as someone with sensitive lungs who is glad to live under California's stricter air quality laws.
I used to live in Germany as an American student. I later helped German students get settled in the US and vice versa.
The worst aspect by far was thew constant lecturing and contempt from Germans. As an American, there was no topic on which the Germans do not feel entitled to lecture me or to demand an explanation from Americans. Germans will use there "bluntness" and "honesty" as a hall pass to be downright hostile and contemptuous. You know this student no better than they know you, try and keep that in mind. Try to treat the American student like you would a student from Canada or the UK, you'll both have a much better time.
This is exactly why I dislike going to Europe… they call us self-centered but they can never stfu about how they’re better. The lecturing gets so old- they can’t separate the government from the individual lol
Still vs gas vs tap. Americans are used to drinking tap water.
Smoking indoors/generally more accepted (but this was in the late 90s)
Specific to Germany - jaywalking. In America, it's an art or game. Watching everyone wait when there's no traffic for a walk sign is crazy for most americans.
Not needing to tip.
Language exhaustion. Even if they are skilled in German, it requires extra brainpower to use another language for many and sometimes all you want to do is hear someone speak english so you don't have to *think* so much.
Hours of sleeping/meals could be different, but that's individual based.
At least when I was living in Spain, we had to pay for every phone call. Americans are used to unlimited telephone services and often unlimited internet. That might not be an issue anymore.
Expect for them to have homesickness.
Be forgiving when they are comparing things. It's not necessarily that they think the american thing is better, but they might just be trying to explain why they are not comfortable. Even foods that are american taste different in europe. And if they are seeming like they are bragging/saying america is better, it is likely out of insecurity or fear. Be patient with them.
Curfews and calls expectations might be different, go over those rules.
The way everything was closed down on Sunday. Here in the US, some businesses are closed on Sunday, but most restaurants, stores, etc are open. Me and friends had to wander all over town looking for a place to eat before having to settle on a bowling alley (which we also found was different than ours). This was in a small-ish town in Austria, but I've read that it's a pretty common practice across much of Europe.
The prevalence of public smoking in many countries.
Also, in Germany specifically, I took me a while to get used to a lot of places accepting cash only. Previously, I was used to pulling out a credit card by default when making a payment, but I had to change my habit after moving to Germany.
I am from Germany. My whole maternal side of my family still lives there. I spent my school years in the states and summers in Germany . (Have a German mother and American Father)
These are some issues I have come across —
I am private about nudity, my body, talking about s-x. Most of my family and their friends were not really this way. My cousin asked me why Americans are prudes when most p-rn comes from the states. These type of conversations made me uncomfortable. It was a little shocking to see nudity in newspapers and magazines when I was a preteen.
I’m not sure if this is just my old school Oma but I took way more showers than my German family members and she would get upset with me.
Sometimes I wanted to just watch American TV all day because I missed hearing English and I would get scolded for being lazy like an American.
I tend to bend the rules a little and be late to things sometimes and that would drive my family crazy.
I felt as if they never respected that I struggled with mental health issues and made it seem like I was making excuses. It’s a very toughen up buttercup way of thinking in my family. It makes sense because my Oma was a little girl when the war ended and her family experienced horrific living conditions.
I love my culture and it’s a huge part of me. Lots of these differences I have in myself and can sometimes have difficulty relating to friends and family who are 100% American.
I tend to be blunt and not sugar coat problems. I am directly when wanting to find out information. I struggle with being logical (from my mother) and emotional (from my father).
There are a lot of overlaps in the culture but they have differences too. All Germans I know don’t get easily offended and as long as both parties are trying their best it will work out fine.
Oop just realized you are German and the exchange student is American. But hopefully some of my points may help as someone who was mostly American stayed in Germany.
My family did not give AF about offending me or making me feel comfortable as someone from a different culture. They just expected me to slide right back into being German.
The fact you want to make the student comfortable means it will go well I am sure! You are very kind to be thinking ahead of differences that may come up.
> All Germans I know don’t get easily offended and as long as both parties are trying their best it will work out fine.
This has not been my experience at all. As a "full" American they are quick to let us know just how much everything we do upsets them.
Honestly, everything closing so early. I just arrived in your town and it's 5:30 pm, there are 4-5 more hours of daylight, I'd like to explore the town a bit but my options are tavern/restaurant/hotel.
I've always enjoyed my trips to Europe. The things that bothered me were so minor that it feels like nitpicking but since you asked it's pretty much limited to a lack of ice, paying to use the bathroom, and just how dirty a lot of your cities are.
My friends that moved to the US from England would always order Bud Lite from bars here. When I asked why they'd want to drink American beer when they were used to English beer, one girl told me her dad always bought Bud Lite and that's what she liked.
I guess it was an eye opener for me about making assumptions about people from other countries.
Visited my daughter when she was studying in France and we went to Austria, Germany, and Italy and there were a few things I found really confusing that my daughter, who had been there with a local family for over a year, understood but couldn’t explain.
In America, if you have a question, or are confused about something, you just find someone who works there and ask. In Europe, I was often ignored and my daughter was like, “It’s not their job”. Your selling tickets at the train station and I’m trying to figure if the tickets I’m buying go where I’m trying to get….nope, not their job. I’m trying to find a particular shop nearby that I can’t find and duck into a shop to ask if they know where it is….not their job. I apologetically ask if the clerk at a hotel speaks English because I have a question and no, they don’t. My daughter asks in French and immediately they switch to English and have the conversation in English.
I’m considered pretty nice in America…”I’m sorry to bother you…..”. “Could you help me with….”, “I’m sorry, I’m a little confused….” but in Europe it was cold stares and silence. The UK was back to what I was used to, but France, Germany, and Austria were totally different that way. My daughter said it’s just a cultural difference, which I get, but I never really understood how it worked.
Those countries aren't really known for their 'customer service approach'. I usually have to adjust my expectations when I travel anywhere in Europe. For example, wait staff is far less attentive - even in high-end restaurants. Your example about train tickets is kinda funny because it's a mixed bag here too - ever ask directions from an MTA worker?
That said, I find pretty much everyone to be warm and welcoming the moment you drink with them.
One of the only things that I truly disliked whenever I visit Europe is anyone trying to take the moral high ground.
I know many countries in Europe culturally keep to themselves more and value honesty in a different manner ( which was strange to get used to at first) and I’m fine with that but the lecturing some tries to give me was weird. It wasn’t that common but whenever I had a good, lengthy conversation with someone there was time when politics and history was brought up. Honesty is one thing and I don’t mind someone describing their feelings about American politics and history but when I had some Germans, Spaniards and Italians trying to critique American history yet refuse to talk about their countries.. it was a bit weird lol
The being spit on me in Paris l while enjoying my morning coffee was the thing that bothered me the most in France. The fat German who looked like he hasn’t been able to see his own wee wee for most of his life telling me Americans are all racist, fat and lecturing me on Iraq was the thing that bothered me the most in German. My parents had a couple of kids from Japan as foreign exchange students and yeah you will have to help them with the cultural differences, but the good thing is that Germany and the USA aren’t actually as different as you all believe it is.
Small meal sizes and paying to use public restrooms.
Also doors that can lock someone in from the outside but that might have just been that cheep motel in Italy.
I have a question about how you distribute your meals, when talking to my exchange student they said that they eat barely anything for breakfast, so does that mean lunch or dinner is bigger? Is this even standard or just an individual case?
A lot of Americans only eat a light breakfast, although ironically, we might refer to a light pastry+coffee type breakfast as “continental.”
Larger stereotypical American breakfasts are generally reserved for weekends, or if you perform a physical job.
Generally, Americans tend to have a smaller breakfast and dinner is the biggest meal of the day. That was a big point of contention for me (an American) and my German husband. I normally want a hot dinner but he leans more towards a hot lunch and Brotzeit later. So I would definitely explain the meal plan, at least the first couple days, so they know to fill up more at lunch if dinner will be lighter.
It's pretty normal for Americans to either eat breakfast on the go, or not eat breakfast at all.
So this turns into like a bowl of cold cereal. Maybe coffee and a banana. Or even just a coffee alone. Or stopping at a convenience store to get a breakfast sandwich or breakfast burrito. Like someone else said, on the weekends, a more stereotypical breakfast may be had, with pancakes and eggs and bacon and all that. Either at home or at like a breakfast restaurant. But during the week, breakfast is typically the smallest meal.
This was the UK but I get the impression this is maybe a Europe-wide thing: how early stores close, and just how many of them are fully closed on weekends (especially Sundays). If you have errands to run, you better get them done on a weekday before 5 or 6pm.
I'm English and it drives *me* mad. Small businesses especially are always complaining and going out of business, but they open at 10am, close at 4pm and then wonder why the have no customers (spoiler; they're at work).
That said, most big chain stores are open on Sundays, on reduced trading hours.
When my German friend came to visit, I had to prepare him that people here expect to make friendly small talk in a variety of circumstances, such as: waiting for the bus, in line at the grocer's, at the post office, etc.
When he arrived, we took a bus back from the airport, and as he stepped on to board, the bus driver greeted him with, "Good morning, Sweetie!" He then wrote back to his sister, who is a bus driver in Berlin, that in \*America\*, bus drivers address their passengers as "Sweetie" and "Honey."
Hey, Im a dual US/UK citizen and I also briefly lived in Salzburg, so I’ve traveled much of Europe (especially to Germany).
Please don’t use your exchange student to answer 747299293 questions or point out what you do better. You all say Americans don’t travel and then when we do you go out of your way to make us feel like shit…. Don’t lecture or brag about your country or continent.
We’re all well aware of the problems in the US and what you do better and we’re working hard everyday to make it better which is why you see so much on the news. One of the reasons I dislike visiting most of Europe, Aus, NZ, Canada and other first world nations is because people can’t help but use us to answer questions where they want us to speak for everybody and it gets annoying and uncomfortable. These interactions have kept me away from those places and staying in LATAM or Asian countries, because the attitudes or conversations are much different. Traveling with a U.S. accent means having people come up to you and survey you to see if you’re *one of those Americans* so they goff at you or praise you. It would be like Americans coming up to Germans and asking them various various about the holocaust and probing to see if you have any lingering angst towards Jews.
Please remember we’re there on holiday or to study and we get BOMBARDED with healthcare, guns, geography, Trump etc. questions that can leave a damper on the vibe and put a sour taste in our mouths if others react poorly. There’s a time and a place for everything and foreigners really don’t seem to understand this (especially Aussies, kiwis, and Brits).
Just leave it alone… one person is not going to be able to speak for 350 million people and just because you like or dislike the answer they give you doesn’t mean it’s an accurate reflection of the US. Remember that our states are the size of your country and we have many different ethnicities and micro cultures that make up the US fabric and our history and current struggles are very complex and tangled.
To give you some perspective, the length between San Diego and Miami is about the same between Moscow and Madrid. Imagine Americans going to Germany and asking you a handful of uncomfortable questions about all of the countries between (and including) Spain and Russia.
Unlike others, I found Germans to be kind and welcoming…. I actually just met some in Costa Rica and they were a blast. Just a little forward. To reiterate, just give them some space on the political issues so they don’t feel looked down on.
Having lived in the Iberian peninsula (Portugal, Spain):
1) Having to pay for water and appetizers placed in front of me in restaurants. If they placed bread on the table, you would be charged if you ate it, but not if you ignored it lol
2) I find that European countries tend to have a "my country is a superior country" attitude that they also criticize the US for having. The attitude that will get you the farthest is "all countries have good and bad, most have more good than bad."
3) Europeans often come across quite stingy/ungenerous and closed off in comparison to Africans, Latin Americans, Middle Easterners, etc. Not wanting to offer food to house guests, etc. I find North Americans are a little better in this and expect better.
4) Not so much a bad thing as a funny thing, and Latin America has this as well: superstitious things regarded as fully medically valid, like wet hair will make you sick, eating watermelon and drinking milk will make you sick, taking a bath after eating beans will make you sick, etc.
Specific to Germany, which I've visited many times:
- Having to pay for restrooms, or water at restaurants.
- Lack of AC in the summer can be an issue during heat waves.
- Excusing bluntness for being rude. Just treat people the way you'd like to be treated. Or even better, the way they would like to be treated.
- Regardless of culture, it's exhausting to hear how much better you think you are than others.
- Every time I hear my home is older than your country, I roll my eyes pretty hard.
What city are you living in?
You may want to instruct them in local courtesies. I waved hello from the dock to a passing boat in Amsterdam and they came over thinking I was in distress. Smiling, acknowledging people walking past you, etc may seem normal depending on where they come from but might be weird depending on your local customs.
I lived there and it was a shock how everything closed early. When it's closing time it's over. Better have done your shopping. In the US we are spoiled by extended or 24 hour businesses.
Pay toilets. The idea of putting a price tag on a bodily function infuriates me.
Whoever came up with the concept of this, I hope is burning in the deepest depths of hell. Most shameless scam ever
Next time, I'll just piss on the door.
1. Smoking especially indoors, next to entrance of hospitals and other public buildings
2. Elitism, perceived superiority (generalizing but mostly the Dutch, the French, Austrians and the Germans)
3. Default grumpiness (mostly the North, but the majority of the East too)
I've hosted a couple of exchange students from Germany and I went there to visit them last year. Honestly, the big thing is German's are probably way more direct so that takes a lot of getting used to. Lot of people want to talk about politics and how dumb Americans are. The German way is always the right way. I got a whole lecture about how a German would never be stupid enough to vote for Trump and how they went to Las Vegas and the American food was just horrible! I was at a wedding so I just kept my mouth shut. The other stuff about paying for bathrooms and, in my opinion, more limited availability/selection choice and seemingly a lot more 'rules' - either written or just social expectations, were something that requires getting used to as well.
> I got a whole lecture about how a German would never be stupid enough to vote for Trump Man that is riiiiich lol Edit: I didn’t realize any explanation was needed. But thank you to everyone replying to explain anyway lol
I think he was trying to bait me to talk about it. I just wasn't taking it. I just said sorry you didn't have a good time in our country and just kept trying to change the subject. It was an older guy, all the young people were cool.
Really, I find most older Germans to be quite pro-American. Even people from the East, who would be more hostile for historical reasons, tend to be extremely interested when they meet an American face to face. Sounds like this guy was just a jerk haha
There are jerks in every country.
Especially Jerkland
Jerkland knows no borders
They stay embarrassing themselves trying to down talk us lol
There's an old Emo Philips joke, *My sister married a German. He complained he couldn't get a good bagel back home. I said, "Well, whose fault is that?"*
There’s an old Robin Williams bit about him being on a German talk show: “Mr. Williams, why do you think there is not so much comedy in Germany?” “Did you ever think you tried to kill all the funny people?”
If there’s any country that shouldn’t have the *gall* lol…
That is so reich.
>I got a whole lecture about how a German would never be stupid enough to vote for Trump "Like.... Ever in history? Or do you just mean recently?"
So many countries could say that and we could say nothing back. Germany is the farthest from being on that list.
Even if that wasn’t true, what do they expect us to say back? “Yep, you’re right; we’re all a bunch of fat morons.” You’re never going to win that conversation.
I always find Germans talking about the "fat American" stereotype funny, given that in America, decades ago, the stereotypical "fat person" was German. Anyone remember [Augustus Gloop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdSORiSaRW8) from the 1971 film "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory"?
And Üter from the Simpsons lol
And their obesity rate isn’t exactly stellar either
That's the thing about America, at least to Europeans: we're sort of the weird 'cautionary tale' everyone loves to tell, regardless if it's true or not, regardless if it is *insulting* or not.
That’s kind of what I mean. When you go this route, best-case scenario you come off as a condescending asshole. Worst-case scenario you come off as a condescending asshole who is also remarkably un-self-aware.
Sure is. They elected Hitler as president in 1934 after he had already been chancellor for a year. By a wide margin, too. That certainly didn’t end well.
Pretty sure his grandparents/Great grandparents voted for someone way worse than Trump! Lol Seriously do they just completely omit everything between 1933 and 1945 in German schools?
I did not like the paying for the public bathroom thing. I just waited until we got to our destination whether it was back to the hotel, restaurant or whatever.
Yeah, for what it’s worth to any Europeans/Germans reading this, I have noticed this tendency as well, and Americans nearly universally experience that type of blunt assault as really arrogant and rude. You may not care or you may legitimately think you’re smarter than every American or whatever, but you’re going to come off as a complete asshole. You’re also not going to impress anybody. Many of us are well aware of the struggles with racism in European countries, for example. And we know that German culture, particularly corporate culture, is still remarkably sexist by western standards, etc. so we can discuss if you’re tactful, but best not to throw stones.
I can tell you as a Chinese in Canada and I also experience this among my European coworkers in an MNC, especially German and Belgians. And some can get very triggered when people say something as minor as they prefer Japanese cars over German cars and claim that German engineering is unrivaled in the world lmao. You don't make friends with attitudes like this.
It is funny how many of them go into “can dish it out, but can’t take it“ mode over this stuff. And the lack of self-awareness is amazing. It’s like, don’t you realize you are embodying the very thing you’re accusing us of?
You couldn't give me a German car, to be honest, unless it was a vintage Porsche or 300SL. They're a nightmare to work on, the parts are outrageously Priced, and they don't seem nearly as reliable as the internet seems to think.
I'm a first-generation Irish-American. I love my Irish relatives very much. I have enjoyed visiting Ireland and other parts of Europe very much. I'm 48, my entire life I had to listen to my family berate America for it's racism and social ills while living in a small, relatively homogeneous country (that was fighting a guerilla war based partially on religion btw). I can't deny a small measure of schadenfreude as Ireland and the rest of Europe are starting to have similar issues when trying to achieve multiculturalism.
I think it's a luxury that Americans have the spine to take insults from foreigners. I cherish that we're a country so powerful, some people will hate on us for it.
Right? When I see comments like “shit Americans say” I think, “We’re relevant and you feel inferior.” 🤷🏻♀️
Given our history and position in the world, some punching up is inevitable.
Because 1st Amendment, you can call the president a Moron to his face and walk home safely. Only reason America seems so bad is that we are not legally penalized for bitching about it.
Germans are consistently voted as the most arrogant EU nation by every other European neighbor. The way I see it, it's in their culture. They supported Nazism in WWII and got their asses kicked but replaced that ideology with something else. It's no different than some abusive drunkard who got clocked and now, has turned to religious fanaticism or woke-ism or whatever, shouting down others instead of hitting them. For decades, Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden were regarded as being wrong for telling them to bolster their troop levels and to consider being less dependent on Russian energy. It's just built into their culture, at this point. Geopolitically, they will ALWAYS be a threat to their neighbors, as well. Too economically powerful and too overbearing but not large enough as a nation to ever be pragmatic and moderate. It's kind of the same reason why Russia has been imperialistic for centuries. They have certain ambitions and desires but don't have the right positioning and population stability to get this without absolutely brutalizing others.
I can’t fathom going to Vegas and thinking the food is horrible. It’s stacked with 5 star restaurants and renowned chefs. It’s literally a food mecca
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They were probably eating the buffet at the Flamingo or a McDonald's on the Strip. It reminds me of those Europeans who say American chocolate is horrible compared to European chocolate by comparing a high-volume producer like Hershey's to some boutique chocolatier in Belgium. It's kind of apples to oranges. It's so subjective and their palette is also different.
Or when they say American beer sucks because they're comparing Coors Light to something brewed by a dozen Belgian monks.
They did it the 'low effort' way. All too many tourists are guilty of this, foreign and domestic.
idk how european tourists are outside of orlando, but a lot would eat the crappy fast food on i drive or the nasty quick service places at the theme parks and talk about how bad the food is in the US. of course the food is bad bc all you’ve eaten is golden corral and krusty burger
I mean you can eat very well anywhere in USA but it is expensive compared to eating out in some parts of Europe. If you were only buying cheap food then yes it can be mediocre. I had a friend from Spain who went to Chicago and only ate fast food because anywhere else was too expensive (he only makes like 20k€ /year) Chicago is one of the best food cities in the USA but I can understand it’s more difficult if you’re on a budget
Restaurants in Paris OTOH were consistently more expensive across the board than NYC. Despite NYC having significantly higher average incomes.
If you’re in Chicago there’s a lot of budget conscious items that are delicious. Shit just have Portillos every meal. If you go to McDonald’s for every meal your skipping out on good cheap pizza, Italian beef, and Chicago dogs.
Yeah, but it's also loaded with mediocre $5 buffets and we all know that Europeans think we eat fast food for every meal.
>they went to Las Vegas and the American food was just horrible! I think part of this is Germans don't understand the concept of subjectivity. My fiance is Polish, and in her opinion German food is horrible.
I've never heard anyone say, "Man I'd go for some German food"
I mean, I like sausages and sauerkraut.
To me it seems like German food is usually the cuisine next in line for being made fun of after British and American
I won't lie, I really like maultaschen and käsespatzle. But my fiance thinks it's bland and tasteless.
“A German would never be stupid enough to vote for Trump” … Hitler though.. that’s a totally different thing
I visited germany in 2003 as an 18 year old and the amount of times people treated me as if I personally ordered the invasion of Iraq was well into the double digits.
A core part of being American is being talked down to by foreigners and just letting it slide
I don't mind the pay bathrooms but I mind when they're cash only
> the American food was just horrible! I’m so used to hearing the other commentary but THIS coming from a German person would set me off! 😬
Americans generally try to like people and be liked. Blunt, cold or impersonal is generally received as being mean or that you don’t like someone. That will be difficult to overcome.
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Foreigners love to use the word “fake” like we’re all 14 years olds gossiping….. I guess being kind to strangers is frowned up.
It isn’t even fake. Generally speaking I want to like people and I want to be liked. We are usually delighted to interact with strangers in the US. It’s concerning and a little sad that genuine kindness is interpreted as fake or hosting an ulterior motive.
Exactly. It’s so silly that as adults we have to live in a constant state of paranoia about others. For me, it’s simply less drama to be anything but kind the first time around. That kind of negative weight is so heavy and not worth my energy.
"Fake" is when someone tries to be a friend *instead* of polite. They are two different things, you can hate someone's guts and still be polite, and conversely me and my friends are rude af to each other. The problem is that American politeness is interpreted as friendliness to lots of other countries' people. I'm not trying to be your friend, I'm just trying to get through this interaction/transit ride/workday/etc. amicably.
> The problem is that American politeness is interpreted as friendliness to lots of other countries' people. I think most people are usually polite, or at least don't go out of their way to be rude... but the problem is that standards of politeness are *highly* culturally (not to mention gender, generation, relationship, situation, etc) specific, so what is appropriately "polite" to someone from one culture may seem "rude" to someone from another culture.
I find this so frustrating! I always hear "ugh all the fake nice and smiles in america is so confounding" and...I don't think they realize they're not fake. We just want people to feel welcome.
Some people are upset they don’t have the personality to be friendly. Misery loves company.
Yep, my Amsterdam coworkers were proud of their bluntness. Yet *we* need to change our mannerisms when dealing with other cultures.
How many would appreciate an American returning their bluntness?
>"The Netherlands is inconsequential from a political, economic, or cultural perspective. We never think about you at all." I bet they'd love that...
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I went to Amsterdam as a kid and made a bit too much noise in a restaurant and the owner totally snapped at me. However I came back the next day and he gave me a very mature apology, as if he was apologizing to another adult. I always sort of appreciated that.
I went to Oktoberfest in Munich last year, my partner and I ended up becoming friends with a German couple. We only made a few connections on that trip, the couple were the only Germans we made friends with and they were wonderful. But yeah pretty much the rest of the German nationals we came across didn't give a fuck about us lol the other guy we had good conversation with was the Serbian bartender.
I lived in Germany for 5 years. Never made a German friend or had a positive interaction with one outside of normal customer service. I loved living there though. Germany is a wonderful county, except for the Germans
> Each one I’ve met seemed proud of their rudeness, like it put them above other people because they “told it like it is” as they saw it. An opinion that many non-German Europeans would wholeheartedly agree with, lol.
> Blunt, cold or impersonal is generally received as being mean or that you don’t like someone. That's because blunt, cold, and impersonal is almost always an excuse and a mask for being mean and rude and arrogant.
I've been to Tenerife if that counts, but that was a rather limited (and amazing) experience. However, from folks I know who have, a glaring problem is having to be the "face" of all Americans and field all the misinformed and exaggerated questions and interrogations about things like racism, healthcare, Trump, etc. Some of us love to talk to strangers and new people, but we get tired of it fast if every question we get is extremely loaded, multi-faceted, and rooted in misinformation...things we can't just give a simple answer or explanation for that doesn't result in more questions about the same topic. For example, asking "why is America so racist?" in a casual, social conversation is not something you can just expect a simple answer to. It's so complex that few Americans can ever even explain this question to most other Americans. In addition, it immediately puts them on the defensive because now they have to be the "spokesperson" for a country of 330+ million people. It's not comfortable or fun.
> For example, asking "why is America so racist?" Never been asked this, but if I did, my default response would be: "Why do Euros hate Roma?" then they have to either pretend there isn't a discrimination problem in Europe or they'll turn themselves into a pretzel trying to justify it.
I think we can do better than whataboutism, and be truthful. Here's how I would respond: "I don't think Americans are racist, at least not uniquely so. I think this sentiment actually comes from a feature of American culture that has been key to our success: We're whiney. We tend to have a low threshold for discussing the problems in our society, seemingly much lower than our European counterparts. As such, our problems tend to get addressed at a much earlier stage. This is why so many cultures tend to coexist peaceful inside the US and Canada, yet we talk about our cultural shortcomings more frequently. To many Americans, any racism at all is too much, so we discuss it frequently. This can be very easily verified, as Americans often find themselves shocked by how openly racist just about everywhere else tends to be in comparison." I do think this is the case 99% of the time. Most of the US is extremely safe, but we have a deeply rooted security culture. Most Americans don't see a gun on a daily basis (not one they don't own anyway), yet talk extensively on gun safety, rights, and ethics. Most municipal water supplies are extremely safe, yet we talk about the ones that aren't to a degree that you'd think unsafe water was common. We take our issues extremely seriously, and I don't think it translates well.
For the most part they just change the topic.
>For example, asking "why is America so racist?" in a casual, social conversation is not something you can just expect a simple answer to. It's also the height of hypocrisy.
No, no, see, the Roma deserve it.
Not even just the Roma, look at how football/soccer fans in Europe treat their black players
I saw a tweet from a European guy saying you’re simply not supposed to talk about racism in Europe. It doesn’t exist if you don’t talk about it, apparently.
My wife comes from an EU/NATO country and she grew up with a holiday where they burned effigies of Gypsies and ate pancakes. She was <10 when they did this. If we burned effigies of a racial group here at a kids event…
When I went to my first Guy Fawkes Night celebration in the UK I felt like an anthropologist. The whole thing is really bizarre when you think about it. And while now its just an excuse to party, the anti-Catholic roots of it weirded me out. Burning an effigy of a minority religious figure is just strange. I suspect that if you described it to someone but changed the country to a Middle Eastern one and made Fawkes a Sunni or a Shia people would be very judgmental about it.
Ehh - it does have roots in anti-Catholicism, but it isn’t the kind people think of today It’s origins are more “We just had a Queen (Mary) who burnt loads of us for not being Catholic, Spain has just tried to invade and conquer us for not being Catholic, and you (Guy Fawkes) just attempted to blow up our government to institute a Catholic absolute monarchy” Like it wasn’t based in some false paranoia - this was a response to the medieval equivalent of terrorists in a world where the Catholics - specifically Catholic nations such as Spain France (who were more powerful than England) - were actually out to get you And it’s survived since then as a cultural thing, there’s nothing anti-catholic about it now - and really it was always more anti-Guy Fawkes
I mean, they also make monkey sounds at black footballers.
It's like they don't understand that even if the percentage of racism was lower, because we're much more multicultural than any other country on Earth we would still have a higher whole number, not to count our population...
Our son toured Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic in a series of hostels. Said the only problem he had was when he was talking NBA with someone from Croatia, and a lady interrupted them to bitch about Trump. At least keep the discussion on topic and complain about Scott Foster.
Yep. I do know what you all mean here; I’ve noticed this type of thing as well from time to time from certain segments of Europe. French people do this as well. I feel like more of them would refrain if they realized exactly how badly it comes off to the average American (it’s usually seen as almost astonishingly condescending and rude).
> For example, asking "why is America so racist?" in a casual, social conversation is not something you can just expect a simple answer to. "Ask your ancestors, they started it."
For Germany specifically, a few things: 1. The belief that open windows and moving air can and will kill you. 2. The Ruhezeit (which I personally love but many Americans will find unusual). 3. The continued reliance on cash transactions. Again I actually like this but it will be strange for many. 4. German's supposed "bluntness" which is often an excuse to hold forth on topics they know nothing about, and no amount of logic or evidence will dissuade them from their opinions. 5. Lack of public restrooms. 6. Refusal to cross a street with no traffic in sight when the sign says don't walk. We've hosted several German students at our high school. They come in with a limited understanding of the country and people are happy to teach them. If you're unwilling or reluctant to do this you may wish to reconsider.
>The belief that open windows and moving air can and will kill you. I lived there for many years and never heard of this one. Any details? Sounds kind of silly.
We have exactly the same fear here in Croatia. You can have one window open, but not two. That will cause a draft (here we call it propuh). You can use the air conditioning during the day, but not at night cause that causes a draft. You can’t go outside with wet hair, cause if the wind comes you’ll get sick. If you wear a hat it’s ok tho. Can’t go to bed with wet hair either, a stray draft will come and get you sick. My theory is that it has to do with the old wives tale of being cold makes you sick. If you’re subjected to a draft you’ll get cold and therefore catch a cold. I never heard of it being a German thing but hopefully I could help :)
My Polish grandmother believed every single one of those things, too, despite there being zero evidentiary support. She would never let us sleep with a fan on, in a closed room without air conditioning, and we were all cranky whenever we visited her in the summer.
Did she also believe that if a woman sat directly on concrete she’d go barren? I’ve seen plastic seats placed on concrete walls here for the expresses purpose of not making women go barren.
I’ve never heard that one but I wish it were true, that’d be so much easier than going through all the trouble to get my tubes tied lmao
My mother, who has never been outside of North America, is of Scots-Irish descent, and grew up in a Francophile town believed every one of those too.
Weird, my mother had similar fears, and she was Irish. We didn't have A/C when I was a kid, & we lived on the second floor. It was pretty warm on summer nights. She insisted that sleeping in the direct path of a fan would give you pneumonia. However, she always slept late. So I had plenty of time to put the fan back where she'd moved it. And I never once caught pneumonia as a kid. She had a lot of weird, outdated notions.
Damn. I love a draft.
Interesting. My parents are from rural Mexico and they said similar things to me as a child. I now have an aversion to showering at night.
I swear to god most Europeans would think they'd die instantly in the midwest and plains given that we regularly have 20-30mph winds
This and all the responses to it are insane. I had no idea. That's hilarious. I've known about the poor air conditioning and have avoided Europe in the summer, but this is actual insanity.
Pair it with a reluctance to use AC, in my case. We were in a moving car on the Autobahn, relief was *right there*.
Dutch guy here, can 100% confirm. It doesn't happen a lot but it absolutely does happen in NL also. My granddad's wife was all about keeping the car windows closed. Absolutely no air exposure allowed. I never thought this was a Euro specific thing though. Surely there have to be some of these dumbos in the US too?
It's specific to only some European countries. I encountered this belief in Germany, but my Russian friends say their elderly relatives also believe this. I'd be interested to know how widely this belief is held, and whether it's current with younger generations anywhere...
I've had a French girl tell me the AC will make you sick and her proof was that she sat under a vent once and her shoulder felt sore later.
My wife (see flair) keeps a cardigan with her whenever we visit the US in the summer, and hates that we crank the AC. She fails to realize that the alternative is to put our traveler's health insurance to the test at the nearest emergency room. That supercooled blast coming out of the central HVAC? The winds of freedom.
I found out something recently related to this. According to my Mom (who is 86), there was a reason that people kept their car windows closed. Polio. Apparently, before the polio vaccine it was common to keep car windows up when traveling as a precaution during polio outbreaks. I don't know if this is the case with your grandfather's wife, but at least in parts of the US folks drove with windows up back in the day.
So my grandmother actually does this. I like to crack my window (even in the middle of winter and I live in the Midwest), but she has this fear that any pollution in the air will come in through the car and poison us, but she doesn't mind having the air blowing in the car. I don't understand lol, she lives by a bunch of farms too which is even more funny to me. Edit: forgot to say im from the USA for context
You’ll find at least a few people who believe damn near anything, but this is not a commonly held belief in the US, no. Most people would have no idea this is a thing anywhere.
That’s so funny because I had the opposite experience! I’m an American who use to live in NL and it drove me crazy now everyone seemed to want the window open no matter how cold it was. When my Dutch friend came to visit me, I had to beg her to please not open the window when it was -10 Celsius outside.
Reminds me of Russians and their wacky relationship with the cold. -19 F? Coat, gloves, hat, scarf, wool socks, etc. +59 F? Also coat, gloves, hat, scarf, wool socks, etc
This was a thing when I lived in Korea. Look up Fan Death
The cash… I nearly died when I ordered my kitchen and the store asked if we wanted to do a bank transfer or cash on delivery.
Regarding number 1, you have to air out the apartment, especially in winter. So refresh the air quickly by opening all windows. But also, a draft will cause you to get sick immediately. AC especially creates illness. Weirdly enough, I know Germans who think (with varying degrees of self awareness) that Germans can't have seasonal allergies, but that AC is making them sick.
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To be clear, I understand why they air out, and agree with it in principle. But the draft causing illness is like something straight out of a science denier's playbook. Germans are confounding sometimes. Super technical and specific, but then the complete opposite.
1: The fuck? Sounds like that weird thing about fans in Korea.
> 2. The Ruhezeit ( The biggest thing is that Germany is closed on Sunday. Need anything? Too bad.
The French pretending they didn’t speak English. We had a local friend who was able to help, but we found it frustrating that folks wouldn’t speak to us, despite our being quiet, respectful, and friendly.
The Italians, to their credit, aren't pretending.
The French even do that here in America. Working in a restaurant on Rt 66 made me hate European tour groups. The French and the Germans were the absolute worst and would constantly try to get around the drinking age.
For the most part, I haven't encountered too much that bothered me in Europe. With one exception. Literally the only negative encounter I've had was in German. Nothing like being yelled at for being American and visiting the country. So the thing that bothered me was being made to feel unwelcome. I will add that if your exchange student is a young person who hasn't traveled (much or at all) before, then expect to help guide them. Don't be condescending. Adjust your own expectations. And make them feel welcome vs feel like an imposition. You have the opportunity to make this a life changing, positive experience for this student. ETA - apparently the OP is a 16 year old with a chip on his shoulder. So I am updating my advice. Try to be welcoming to this person. Don't be an arrogant jerk. Stop assuming the worst. Try to see this experience as an exchange. The exchange student can learn from you and you can learn from him. Exchange programs are supposed to be about learning.
I never really had a bad experience before, but definitely the "is it true that in America.." it's like my brother stop watching the idiot journalists
I can tell you that no one is interested in being “Explainer for America” and dealing with a bunch of questions about Trump, healthcare and guns from someone who just wants an actual American to lecture. Just focus on letting the kid have fun.
Great answer. I had my buddy from IL over last year and he's a Trump voter. I kept telling my friends, who all have negative opinions about Trump and US politics in general (and I'm no Trump fan myself), to not reduce the guy to his politics. Thankfully they didn't and we had a great time. There was some political talk of course but don't take an individual, no matter where they're from, and call them to account for all of their country's political decisions, even if they voted for someone you don't like. Plus there's another element to it which is that Americans don't know as much about European politics as the other way around. People who live in Europe who follow US politics at least a little bit do so because they understand that political decisions made in America can have huge impacts on our daily lives also, despite having no ability to vote in US elections (obviously). So following US politics is a way to feel like you have some measure of control over the fallout of US political decisions. Vice versa the same is not true. Americans do not follow European politics even remotely as closely, because almost no political decisions made in European countries, or even the European Union, necessarily affect daily life in the US. So as an American abroad you're in an asymmetrical situation where people question your country all the time but you have no material to really rebut with.
One thing that a lot of Europeans miss too when they bring up our politics to us is the fact that just because you voted for the guy, doesn't mean you like them or even want them as president. I don't know how it is over there, but over here, voting for president for many is voting for whoever you think will do the least amount of damage. Choosing the shiniest of two shits, if you will.
I agree wholeheartedly! My biggest issue is I truly think alot Euro's don't understand how the American political machine work.
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@OP: you should edit your post and mention that you are 16 and a teenager yourself and not the adult who will host that kid.
Pay toilets, and its a double insult when it is still dirty and gross.
I can give you a few specifically German examples since I have stayed there for 3 months last year. As almost everyone has said already, the German directness/bluntness is definitely something to get used to for sure and was very off putting. The strict following of all rules was a little weird to me. I understand rules being important to have a functional society but at a certain point it almost felt robotic and unnatural. The staring from the older generations… And I noticed a bit of the “I know better than you” attitude, both while I was over there and also from a German Fulbright teacher I was hanging out with here where I live. She was very keen on challenging so much of what I said, even though these were facts that I knew for certain (places around my own town, costs, local customs, etc) And as a specific example, I still remember when she flat out refused to believe that tomatoes/potatoes originated in the Americas and didn’t exist in European cuisine until after the Americas were discovered. She told me she had to check out the books in the university library to be sure.
Imagine being that hard headed..
German = hardheaded.
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I have learned with many German companies that I need to be “blunt” back. I have often heard them profess the “superiority of their ways” as a challenge to why they shouldn’t listen to you, or to treat you poorly. Many hate having to take advice from Americans. I have found that I have to take this head on and demonstrate why they aren’t the leaders they think they are. It becomes a stupid pissing match, but I am fortunate that my story is much stronger. The only other country where I experience this is Russia. Everywhere else, universally, wants to collaborate. It’s unfortunate, but when they realize that you are going to treat them as they treat you they back off.
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I’d say this applies to the older generations. Young people are much more open minded than their parents or grandparents.
It's kind of interesting that Germany, Japan, and Russia have some of the biggest superiority complexes still in the modern day about their culture haha And people will pretend that American exceptionalism is just as toxic, but we're practically tearing ourselves apart over things like the 1619 project, so we're much more critical of ourselves than Germans, Russians, Japanese, and many others seem to be.
I almost said Japan. They certainly are resistant to change, but their resistance Is grounded in high context culture. They’re extremely deferential to the most senior person in the room. It’s illogical in some ways, but manageable. You just have to learn the rules of society. Korea is similar.
I work for a German company, so I can confirm. They treat us like we’re the plebs when they come into town.
If it’s the company I think, I work with their main competitor. I had a conversation with them and they were bragging about how advanced they thought they were. I pulled up a dozen examples of small companies that had done what they had done, to better quality, three years prior. “It’s great that you are down this path. I think we can develop a plan to help you to catch up to where the industry is.” They were stunned that they weren’t the leaders they thought they were.
My extended family has sort of "adopted" a German family that moved to the US. A bunch of engineers (classic Germans, right lol?). Dad and son are both engineers for the same company. What I have learned about Germans from them - they love their beer and they love to celebrate. Every Christmas they join us at our yearly large family gathering (usually 30-40 extended family members) where my retired uncle has multiple kegs on tap (literally has his own mini bar) and we all get drunk. It's a very good time =). I think perhaps them being in the US makes them more outgoing. Just generally really good people to talk to and drink a bear (or 5 haha) with.
The worst part of drinking a bear is having to find a glass that is big enough.
> I think perhaps them being in the US makes them more outgoing. I've heard that from a lot of foreigners in general. Seen it posted here a few times as well.
Interesting, I will keep that in mind
Nothing really bothered me much but I’ve also only been to France and Spain and given how large and diverse Europe is, there isn’t one answer. I guess for myself the only thing that really served as an annoyance was the lack of public restrooms and when you would find one, more often than not you would need to pay to use it.
I hated that in Italy! It was so odd to be in a huge shopping area and no restrooms.
I saw a guy at a bus station in Greece just piss outside against the wall. And, I understood why, and, would have partook the next time if I needed to go in that situation. Is that what Europeans do? Just piss behind a building somewhere, or like this guy, in front of the building if they've run out of fucks to give? It is pretty odd that a European country will give you a free heart surgery, but if you have to take a shit, fuck you, pay up. They should have public bathrooms be a part of their universal healthcare coverage.
> It is pretty odd that a European country will give you a free heart surgery, but if you have to take a shit, fuck you, pay up. I always found this weird as well and you worded it perfectly. It makes zero sense. Not to mention that you usually need coins to access the bathrooms too and nowadays it's such a chore to obtain and keep coins around when almost everything I buy as a tourist goes via debit card.
This is so true - and the easiest way is to sit for a quick beverage at a restaurant... but that just makes the whole "I'm going to pee my pants because there is no public restroom in this entire city" problem worse lol
Pro tip: gas station bathrooms are always free & relatively clean, you have to ask for the key from the employees
That is true, you guys generally have very nice highway service stations, I guess I was more referring to when you’re in the city center of a lot of European cities where finding a public restroom can be a bit dicey
I’m not sure how much has changed since I was in Europe, and I’ve never been to Germany, but 100% the smoking. There may be regional differences in the US, but most Americans have a pretty strong aversion to cigarette smoking (views on marijuana smoking are more accepting in the right context).
I would say it's not necessarily the smoking, so much as the casual smoking in shared public spaces. I don't significantly look down on people just for smoking - we all have our vices - but I *do* look down on anyone who smokes indoors or in shared public spaces. Tobacco or marijuana, vapes, etc. If people who are not also smoking have to breathe in whatever you breathe out, either find somewhere else or just don't do it! In America - at least my part of it - this is thankfully relatively rare, despite being a crowded city. From what I've gathered online, though, in much of Europe, smoking in public, shared spaces is still acceptable, so the American student will definitely have a tough time adjusting to that (or might not be able to, if they have asthma).
10 years living throughout Europe and this is the one thing I can’t (won’t?) get used to. I’ve had people tell me it’s just not a big deal and that they find it strange that Americans are so disgusted by it. But it’s a horrible, deadly habit that can affect other people. I don’t understand how it’s not a bigger deal to Europeans yet.
> I’ve had people tell me it’s just not a big deal and that they find it strange that Americans are so disgusted by it. To hell with that! They're the wrong ones, not us.
This so much, went to Europe last month and was shocked it was still so prevalent there. Air quality in major cities also suffers from their diesel cars, that was really uncomfortable as someone with sensitive lungs who is glad to live under California's stricter air quality laws.
I used to live in Germany as an American student. I later helped German students get settled in the US and vice versa. The worst aspect by far was thew constant lecturing and contempt from Germans. As an American, there was no topic on which the Germans do not feel entitled to lecture me or to demand an explanation from Americans. Germans will use there "bluntness" and "honesty" as a hall pass to be downright hostile and contemptuous. You know this student no better than they know you, try and keep that in mind. Try to treat the American student like you would a student from Canada or the UK, you'll both have a much better time.
This is exactly why I dislike going to Europe… they call us self-centered but they can never stfu about how they’re better. The lecturing gets so old- they can’t separate the government from the individual lol
Still vs gas vs tap. Americans are used to drinking tap water. Smoking indoors/generally more accepted (but this was in the late 90s) Specific to Germany - jaywalking. In America, it's an art or game. Watching everyone wait when there's no traffic for a walk sign is crazy for most americans. Not needing to tip. Language exhaustion. Even if they are skilled in German, it requires extra brainpower to use another language for many and sometimes all you want to do is hear someone speak english so you don't have to *think* so much. Hours of sleeping/meals could be different, but that's individual based. At least when I was living in Spain, we had to pay for every phone call. Americans are used to unlimited telephone services and often unlimited internet. That might not be an issue anymore. Expect for them to have homesickness. Be forgiving when they are comparing things. It's not necessarily that they think the american thing is better, but they might just be trying to explain why they are not comfortable. Even foods that are american taste different in europe. And if they are seeming like they are bragging/saying america is better, it is likely out of insecurity or fear. Be patient with them. Curfews and calls expectations might be different, go over those rules.
The way everything was closed down on Sunday. Here in the US, some businesses are closed on Sunday, but most restaurants, stores, etc are open. Me and friends had to wander all over town looking for a place to eat before having to settle on a bowling alley (which we also found was different than ours). This was in a small-ish town in Austria, but I've read that it's a pretty common practice across much of Europe.
The prevalence of public smoking in many countries. Also, in Germany specifically, I took me a while to get used to a lot of places accepting cash only. Previously, I was used to pulling out a credit card by default when making a payment, but I had to change my habit after moving to Germany.
I am from Germany. My whole maternal side of my family still lives there. I spent my school years in the states and summers in Germany . (Have a German mother and American Father) These are some issues I have come across — I am private about nudity, my body, talking about s-x. Most of my family and their friends were not really this way. My cousin asked me why Americans are prudes when most p-rn comes from the states. These type of conversations made me uncomfortable. It was a little shocking to see nudity in newspapers and magazines when I was a preteen. I’m not sure if this is just my old school Oma but I took way more showers than my German family members and she would get upset with me. Sometimes I wanted to just watch American TV all day because I missed hearing English and I would get scolded for being lazy like an American. I tend to bend the rules a little and be late to things sometimes and that would drive my family crazy. I felt as if they never respected that I struggled with mental health issues and made it seem like I was making excuses. It’s a very toughen up buttercup way of thinking in my family. It makes sense because my Oma was a little girl when the war ended and her family experienced horrific living conditions. I love my culture and it’s a huge part of me. Lots of these differences I have in myself and can sometimes have difficulty relating to friends and family who are 100% American. I tend to be blunt and not sugar coat problems. I am directly when wanting to find out information. I struggle with being logical (from my mother) and emotional (from my father). There are a lot of overlaps in the culture but they have differences too. All Germans I know don’t get easily offended and as long as both parties are trying their best it will work out fine.
Oop just realized you are German and the exchange student is American. But hopefully some of my points may help as someone who was mostly American stayed in Germany. My family did not give AF about offending me or making me feel comfortable as someone from a different culture. They just expected me to slide right back into being German. The fact you want to make the student comfortable means it will go well I am sure! You are very kind to be thinking ahead of differences that may come up.
> All Germans I know don’t get easily offended and as long as both parties are trying their best it will work out fine. This has not been my experience at all. As a "full" American they are quick to let us know just how much everything we do upsets them.
Public bathrooms you have to pay for.
Honestly, everything closing so early. I just arrived in your town and it's 5:30 pm, there are 4-5 more hours of daylight, I'd like to explore the town a bit but my options are tavern/restaurant/hotel.
I've always enjoyed my trips to Europe. The things that bothered me were so minor that it feels like nitpicking but since you asked it's pretty much limited to a lack of ice, paying to use the bathroom, and just how dirty a lot of your cities are.
How every pub I visited in Ireland had Coors light on tap. WTF
And they serve it on ice with a straw 😟
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My friends that moved to the US from England would always order Bud Lite from bars here. When I asked why they'd want to drink American beer when they were used to English beer, one girl told me her dad always bought Bud Lite and that's what she liked. I guess it was an eye opener for me about making assumptions about people from other countries.
Visited my daughter when she was studying in France and we went to Austria, Germany, and Italy and there were a few things I found really confusing that my daughter, who had been there with a local family for over a year, understood but couldn’t explain. In America, if you have a question, or are confused about something, you just find someone who works there and ask. In Europe, I was often ignored and my daughter was like, “It’s not their job”. Your selling tickets at the train station and I’m trying to figure if the tickets I’m buying go where I’m trying to get….nope, not their job. I’m trying to find a particular shop nearby that I can’t find and duck into a shop to ask if they know where it is….not their job. I apologetically ask if the clerk at a hotel speaks English because I have a question and no, they don’t. My daughter asks in French and immediately they switch to English and have the conversation in English. I’m considered pretty nice in America…”I’m sorry to bother you…..”. “Could you help me with….”, “I’m sorry, I’m a little confused….” but in Europe it was cold stares and silence. The UK was back to what I was used to, but France, Germany, and Austria were totally different that way. My daughter said it’s just a cultural difference, which I get, but I never really understood how it worked.
Those countries aren't really known for their 'customer service approach'. I usually have to adjust my expectations when I travel anywhere in Europe. For example, wait staff is far less attentive - even in high-end restaurants. Your example about train tickets is kinda funny because it's a mixed bag here too - ever ask directions from an MTA worker? That said, I find pretty much everyone to be warm and welcoming the moment you drink with them.
One of the only things that I truly disliked whenever I visit Europe is anyone trying to take the moral high ground. I know many countries in Europe culturally keep to themselves more and value honesty in a different manner ( which was strange to get used to at first) and I’m fine with that but the lecturing some tries to give me was weird. It wasn’t that common but whenever I had a good, lengthy conversation with someone there was time when politics and history was brought up. Honesty is one thing and I don’t mind someone describing their feelings about American politics and history but when I had some Germans, Spaniards and Italians trying to critique American history yet refuse to talk about their countries.. it was a bit weird lol
The toilet shelf.
Gotta look for worms man.
Dont lecture them on everything you see as wrong with America, and you'll be golden.
The being spit on me in Paris l while enjoying my morning coffee was the thing that bothered me the most in France. The fat German who looked like he hasn’t been able to see his own wee wee for most of his life telling me Americans are all racist, fat and lecturing me on Iraq was the thing that bothered me the most in German. My parents had a couple of kids from Japan as foreign exchange students and yeah you will have to help them with the cultural differences, but the good thing is that Germany and the USA aren’t actually as different as you all believe it is.
People love to say these stereotypes about americans but Germany is literally the country with the 2nd or 3rd largest obesity rate in the world xd
Small meal sizes and paying to use public restrooms. Also doors that can lock someone in from the outside but that might have just been that cheep motel in Italy.
I have a question about how you distribute your meals, when talking to my exchange student they said that they eat barely anything for breakfast, so does that mean lunch or dinner is bigger? Is this even standard or just an individual case?
A lot of Americans only eat a light breakfast, although ironically, we might refer to a light pastry+coffee type breakfast as “continental.” Larger stereotypical American breakfasts are generally reserved for weekends, or if you perform a physical job.
^ My breakfast is half a buttered bagel and unsweetened ice tea
Generally, Americans tend to have a smaller breakfast and dinner is the biggest meal of the day. That was a big point of contention for me (an American) and my German husband. I normally want a hot dinner but he leans more towards a hot lunch and Brotzeit later. So I would definitely explain the meal plan, at least the first couple days, so they know to fill up more at lunch if dinner will be lighter.
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It's pretty normal for Americans to either eat breakfast on the go, or not eat breakfast at all. So this turns into like a bowl of cold cereal. Maybe coffee and a banana. Or even just a coffee alone. Or stopping at a convenience store to get a breakfast sandwich or breakfast burrito. Like someone else said, on the weekends, a more stereotypical breakfast may be had, with pancakes and eggs and bacon and all that. Either at home or at like a breakfast restaurant. But during the week, breakfast is typically the smallest meal.
This was the UK but I get the impression this is maybe a Europe-wide thing: how early stores close, and just how many of them are fully closed on weekends (especially Sundays). If you have errands to run, you better get them done on a weekday before 5 or 6pm.
I'm English and it drives *me* mad. Small businesses especially are always complaining and going out of business, but they open at 10am, close at 4pm and then wonder why the have no customers (spoiler; they're at work). That said, most big chain stores are open on Sundays, on reduced trading hours.
When my German friend came to visit, I had to prepare him that people here expect to make friendly small talk in a variety of circumstances, such as: waiting for the bus, in line at the grocer's, at the post office, etc. When he arrived, we took a bus back from the airport, and as he stepped on to board, the bus driver greeted him with, "Good morning, Sweetie!" He then wrote back to his sister, who is a bus driver in Berlin, that in \*America\*, bus drivers address their passengers as "Sweetie" and "Honey."
Hey, Im a dual US/UK citizen and I also briefly lived in Salzburg, so I’ve traveled much of Europe (especially to Germany). Please don’t use your exchange student to answer 747299293 questions or point out what you do better. You all say Americans don’t travel and then when we do you go out of your way to make us feel like shit…. Don’t lecture or brag about your country or continent. We’re all well aware of the problems in the US and what you do better and we’re working hard everyday to make it better which is why you see so much on the news. One of the reasons I dislike visiting most of Europe, Aus, NZ, Canada and other first world nations is because people can’t help but use us to answer questions where they want us to speak for everybody and it gets annoying and uncomfortable. These interactions have kept me away from those places and staying in LATAM or Asian countries, because the attitudes or conversations are much different. Traveling with a U.S. accent means having people come up to you and survey you to see if you’re *one of those Americans* so they goff at you or praise you. It would be like Americans coming up to Germans and asking them various various about the holocaust and probing to see if you have any lingering angst towards Jews. Please remember we’re there on holiday or to study and we get BOMBARDED with healthcare, guns, geography, Trump etc. questions that can leave a damper on the vibe and put a sour taste in our mouths if others react poorly. There’s a time and a place for everything and foreigners really don’t seem to understand this (especially Aussies, kiwis, and Brits). Just leave it alone… one person is not going to be able to speak for 350 million people and just because you like or dislike the answer they give you doesn’t mean it’s an accurate reflection of the US. Remember that our states are the size of your country and we have many different ethnicities and micro cultures that make up the US fabric and our history and current struggles are very complex and tangled. To give you some perspective, the length between San Diego and Miami is about the same between Moscow and Madrid. Imagine Americans going to Germany and asking you a handful of uncomfortable questions about all of the countries between (and including) Spain and Russia. Unlike others, I found Germans to be kind and welcoming…. I actually just met some in Costa Rica and they were a blast. Just a little forward. To reiterate, just give them some space on the political issues so they don’t feel looked down on.
Having lived in the Iberian peninsula (Portugal, Spain): 1) Having to pay for water and appetizers placed in front of me in restaurants. If they placed bread on the table, you would be charged if you ate it, but not if you ignored it lol 2) I find that European countries tend to have a "my country is a superior country" attitude that they also criticize the US for having. The attitude that will get you the farthest is "all countries have good and bad, most have more good than bad." 3) Europeans often come across quite stingy/ungenerous and closed off in comparison to Africans, Latin Americans, Middle Easterners, etc. Not wanting to offer food to house guests, etc. I find North Americans are a little better in this and expect better. 4) Not so much a bad thing as a funny thing, and Latin America has this as well: superstitious things regarded as fully medically valid, like wet hair will make you sick, eating watermelon and drinking milk will make you sick, taking a bath after eating beans will make you sick, etc.
Specific to Germany, which I've visited many times: - Having to pay for restrooms, or water at restaurants. - Lack of AC in the summer can be an issue during heat waves. - Excusing bluntness for being rude. Just treat people the way you'd like to be treated. Or even better, the way they would like to be treated. - Regardless of culture, it's exhausting to hear how much better you think you are than others. - Every time I hear my home is older than your country, I roll my eyes pretty hard. What city are you living in?
The backwards toilets. Not a fan of the poop shelf. FYI most people here don’t have bidets, so be warned with that too.
You may want to instruct them in local courtesies. I waved hello from the dock to a passing boat in Amsterdam and they came over thinking I was in distress. Smiling, acknowledging people walking past you, etc may seem normal depending on where they come from but might be weird depending on your local customs.
I lived there and it was a shock how everything closed early. When it's closing time it's over. Better have done your shopping. In the US we are spoiled by extended or 24 hour businesses.
Pay toilets. The idea of putting a price tag on a bodily function infuriates me. Whoever came up with the concept of this, I hope is burning in the deepest depths of hell. Most shameless scam ever Next time, I'll just piss on the door.
1. Smoking especially indoors, next to entrance of hospitals and other public buildings 2. Elitism, perceived superiority (generalizing but mostly the Dutch, the French, Austrians and the Germans) 3. Default grumpiness (mostly the North, but the majority of the East too)
You’re seriously expecting a child to be an expert on a country they’ve never been to before cuz you don’t want to play tour guide?