Do's & Don'ts when in Germany.
1. Do shake hands when introducing yourself. German etiquette expects you to shake hands upon meeting and also upon saying goodbye to someone.
When you introduce yourself, you shake hands and make eyecontact. If you don't, that will be considered rude. Never introduce with a hug or a kiss on the cheek, unless you know the person.
2. Do ask whether they want you to take off your shoes when you enter someones house. It is considered polite to do so.
1. Don't adress a person that you share no informal relationship with as 'du'. Instead you should aways use 'Sie' when adressing : elderly, strangers, and authority figures. It is okay to use 'du' however when talking to teachers though. 'Du' may only be used when you know the person well or when they tell you it's okay to do so.
2. Don't ask why Germans leave their bottles on the street. In Germany it is common for people to collect empty bottles, since they are a source of money.
Also don't throw water bottles in the bin, after use. You will end up losing 25 cents. This is because when you purchase a bottle of water, you pay 25 cents more than the rate mentioned on the bottle. Only when you return the empty bottle to the shop, do you receive the 25 cents back. This additional charge is taken to ensure you return the bottle for recycling and not throw it into the trash.
3. Don't ever show up late for an appointment. Germans are keen on punctuality, so if you agreed to meet someone at 2pm, make sure to be there either 15 minutes early, and if you're running late, make sure that you are max. 15 minutes late. Whenever you are late, make sure to apologize.
4. Don't get offended by German directness / Reservation. Germans are known to be either very much direct or strongly reserved.
Don't take it personally when a German points out your flaws or mistakes, they're not meant as insulting, instead it's just a way of being honest.
Germans can also be very much reserved, don't worry about it when a German doesn't talk much to you on the first meeting.
5. Don't put your elbows on the table. Table manners are important in Germany. When having a meal with Germans, make sure to say 'Mahlzeit' or 'Guten Apetit' before eating.
6. Don't shout the Nazi salute or raise your hand to the Hitler greeting. This is considered a grave offense in Germany and can even get you arrested, with a 5-year prison sentence. Moreover, it is better not to mention Hitler at all and even if the subject pops up, do it respectfully.
7. Don't talk about money - not about your salary, not about someone else's salary, not about how much you paid for something and particularly not about trickle-down economics. If you're wealthy, don't flaunt it.
8. Don't talk about religion.
10. Don't strike up conversations with strangers at a supermarket or the like; that's considered creepy.
11. Don't wish a German a happy birthday in advance. Some Germans have the superstition that believes a congratulation in advance is bad luck.
(This doesn't apply to every German tho')
12. Don't invade the personal space of a German. Germans tend to be set on their privacy and space. When talking to a German, keep an arm's length of distance between the two of you. Touching them moreover, is considered as an invasion of privacy.
13. Don't adress Germans with their first name. Upon meeting someone, make sure to never use their given name, unless specifically asked to do so.
The title Herr (for men) and Frau (for women), should be used before their suname.
14. Don't greet Germans with 'how are you?' Unless you want to spend the next 15 minutes listening to their complaints. 'Guten Tag' will do just fine.
15. Don't eat with your fingers. Most Germans dislike the idea of touching food with their bare hands. Only bread is permitted to be broken by hand. Even pizza can sometimes be eaten with a knife and fork. So watch out the next time you order a slice of pizza in Germany.
16. Don't place your knife and fork crossed on the plate when you have finished a meal. Putting your knife and fork side by side, indicates that you are done eating, when placing them crossed means that you are not,
or are just waiting for the food to set in. This is a common mistake made by foreigners.
17. Don't hand out white or red flowers. When presenting a host a gift, do not hand them white lillies or red roses. White lillies are funeral-related flowers and red roses are considered to be romantic.
18. Don't ever cross the street when the traffic light is red. Wait for the green man. Jaywalking is not tolerated in the country. You can be fined for doing so.
19. Don't ever compare Ossis with Wessis. East and West Germans don't really get along very well. East Germans consider Wessis to be impolite and too easy going. West Germans think Ossis are up tight and too formal. In order to not walk on a slippery slope, avoid this subject at all costs.
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