American Didn’t Expect These 14 Cultural Differences Between The US And Germany

Very much the same in France. It's delightful, and their independence soars, which is why I guess some helicopter parents don't like it. When I am at cafés and marchés and such I notice that everyone keeps an eye out for any children in the area to make sure they don't wander off too far, etc. "It takes a village" - and you don't see French parents screaming at strangers who correct their children if they need it.

There's a Japanese show that follows *toddlers* running errands, including crossing roads and sometimes taking public transport. It's amazing what kids can do when you don't treat them like babies...

Some kids are too disrespectful to go anywhere unsupervised

I'm an expat living in Germany. You can in fact vacuum on Sundays! However, it's basic common courtesy to keep noise to a minimum: no one plays loud music, does landscaping and renovations etc. More than likely neighbours will come knocking at your door to complain.

You can... you just should keep the noice down (windows closed for example)...and it depends a lot on your neighbourhood. I always do it on sundays

Easy on the filters Gertrude

We need this in Scotland.

Well, yes. Much of Europe too, although some are open.

Arrived when? If it's anything like France quite a few are upon until about noon.

Used to be like this where I lived in US as a kid. "Blue laws" based off religious assumptions. It's all BS, no good reason for stuff to be arbitrarily closed one day of the week. I also have an issue with "banker's" hours. If you service the general public, but open when they are generally available. That's all.

Trashy Panda

Trashy Panda

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We used to do this in Ontario. I don't miss it.

Lee Gilliland

Lee Gilliland

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Canada, too.

I mostly stopped doing that, but sometimes I have to because a customers accent is so thick that I do not understand them. I always explain the problem (I have problems understanding accents and dialects for some reason) and most often than not, they understand. We each want something from the other and communication is key. I understand its frustrating though if you wanna learn and speak the language.

English comes from German, and Viking Norse, and French, but is mostly Germaniv

Not my experience. Not at all. Maybe if you're in major cities, but don't expect this at a rural village bakery

Only a few motorways are still unlimited. We had one in Australia until a few years back, too. Not a freeway, though!

There's a stretch of interstate freeway in Montana I think, the regular speed limit during daylight hours and weather is clear, is 80 mph. But this is on a long, flat road. And you still gotta drive watching out for others.

I have a theory. The American smile, has evolved so people don't read any sort of aggression and start with their right to arms. The lovely manners in Texas is an extension of that.

Cashiers will not engage in conversation with you, unlike when you're going through checkouts in Canada and the U.S.

Loud and smiling all the time? Must be drunk, deranged or American. I recall reading an account of Americans sitting in a train compartment with a local (was either German or Dutch, don't recall). Another American couple comes in and all the Americans started doing what Americans do - talking about where they're from, "do you know so and so?," family, what they do for fun and work, sports, exchanging contact info, etc.) After one group disembarked, the local admitted to being kind of envious of the dynamics and quick bonding.

Lidl's comes to mind. I just shove it all into the cart and bag it at the car.

Lidl cashiers win this imo! As if the sound barrier isnt an obstacle but a goal xD

@GA If you don't know what you're talking about, you should probably refrain from making such comments. In most German supermarkets, you don't have a minute to bag your groceries at the checkout, otherwise you'll disrupt the flow of the checkout.

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Makes it even more complicated having to unpack, repack then bag it. Only takes a minute to unpack then bag it. Bl00dy stupid adding extra step and more faffing about on a bl00dy shelf. Nobody is in THAT much of a rush. Use self service otherwise.

Doesn't look very German.

Just no.

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How very backwards

Yes. Germans follow orders. It's not a false stereotype!

I walked over red three times in the city I moved to. Three times, police saw me and fined me. So, nope. It wasnt much money but I could still use it so I wait. Doesnt take that long anyway normally.

Honestly, as a Brit, this is annoying. It’s obviously clear in both directions, let’s go.