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Life, Culture and History - What Germans are like
   
People are People Wherever You Go!
First, let us preface this article by reiterating the fact that no matter where you go, humans have a lot in common.

They laugh. They gesture. They love. They live. That being said, there are some idiosyncrasies that the inhabitants of every country share, and Germany is no exception.

Truly, there are some definite “German” ways of doing things and behaving, and you should know about them before you visit this land.

For instance, although Germans do use deodorant (especially the younger ones and those in business), their ideas of hygiene might be a little different than Americans.


They are less likely to wash their clothing after each use, and thus might have a more natural odor.
germany

Germans are also known for being incredibly direct; thus, many people feel very intimidated when they come face-to-face with someone who appears hostile. However, you just need to accept that while they might seem more abrupt, they are not actually angry with you; it’s simply the cadence and forthrightness of their speech.

A slightly humorous (from a States point of view) acknowledgement about Germans is that they are generally more comfortable with their bodies than are Americans.

Hence, you’ll find many areas where public nudity is a-okay and you’ll be expected to avoid staring open-mouthed. (Prostitutes can also freely sell their wares in Germany; just politely decline their advances and move along if you’re uninterested in their type of “souvenir”.)

Finally, realize that Germans are very law-abiding folks.

They have guidelines for many of their customs, and they’ll let you know about it if you unintentionally break the rules. Again, just grin and bear it and know you’ll have a great story to tell others when you get home!