The school has already given us a schedule for what we can do. We’re going to museums, factory tours, that sort. So no suggestions for any activities to do or places to go to.

I would like some tips on some things I should know about Germany, perhaps some German phrases I should understand, cultural differences, or laws I need to know. Anything important that I should be aware of?

It will be about a weeklong trip

  • ArrowMax@feddit.org
    17·
    1 day ago

    If you walk through the streets and you think passer-bys are staring at you, they probably are not. There is a cultural difference to be aware of, the german stare.

    Here it is completely normal to look at people while passing them, or even look out from a coffee shop or bus at passing people. It might signal Neugierde - interest, or might just be general Aufmerksamkeit - attention of their surroundings. Think of it like a cat acknowleging that you have entered the room by giving you a quick glance.

    Please don’t feel like you are being singled out - you will see that everyone gets looked at :)

    • Pamasich@kbin.earth
      2·
      22 hours ago

      I’ve only ever seen it brought up about Switzerland (as “Swiss stare”), interesting to hear people do it in Germany too.

      Still not entirely sure what exactly people mean with it though. Is it really just about looking at people? Do they not do that in other countries? I’ve always associated a “stare” with something more intense than just that.

      • ArrowMax@feddit.org
        2·
        21 hours ago

        I think it’s less about that we are looking at people, but more about the length/intensity of eyecontact in general.

        Other countries might consider it impolite to inspect a passing stranger’s choice of clothing or keeping eyelock during a conversation.

        Continuous eyecontact combined with a neutral expression might appear condescending or judgemental to foreigners, but that is just my interpretation.