German Culture – A World in Itself

It’s been a while in Berlin and Potsdam and I was slowly getting acquainted with the intricacies of German culture. Coming from India I could easily distinguish the small cultural fragments that existed here, from the countless interactions I had with people, everyday. The way Germans live and practice their culture is so different from other nations around the world. It’s rich and perhaps  what makes Germany a great nation.

The everyday German culture carries a lot of subtle tones that can only be understood by the keen observer. Much like the Bengalis in India Germans are soft-spoken and very courteous. Whether it’s someone with an imposing stature or a short-statured, there is no dearth of politeness, patience and sophistication in the way people communicate and interact with one another.

Men and women do not forget to thank you (Dankey) for even the slightest of gestures, such as allowing someone to cross you in a crowded market place or allowing someone to get down from the lift first. Even in crowded places people wait patiently take care not to inconvenience others in any way.

My first week in Germany was a little difficult. I faced certain problems in interacting with people because not many spoke English. Then there was this transportation system and the direction maps etc. that were written in Deutsche and was not easy to comprehend. However, I slowly got accustomed to the things here, thanks to the help of people I met.

During my interactions with regular citizens I learnt that even though language was a problem the intentions were not. Whenever I asked people for directions or to click my picture people were more than willing to help. In cases where my counterpart could not speak or understand English, I was readily handed a small hand-drawn map on a piece of paper or guided to the nearest information counter. Germans love to be of any little help to others. Only perhaps they expect you to sign-off with atleast a “Dankey,” which you surely must do.

Within a week I felt at home in Germany. I felt that there was nothing to despair or feel tensed about. I was in a safe place – between sensible humans. Add to it the lovely weather in September – neither too hot or too cold – Berlin and Potsdam were heaven. I could not have asked for anything more. To say in German, Es ist eine schöne Welt hier (It’s a beautiful world out here).

In Germany there exists no distinction between men and women, unlike in India where certain cultures consider women as the lesser mortal. Women in Germany are safe and it shows pretty clearly in their gait and confidence levels. The issue of women rights, so often voiced in countries like India is absent here. Be it child rights, elderly rights, women rights or the rights of any group or community, they have all been weaved into everyday practice. Every public system in Germany is sensitively designed to be of equal help to all groups of people – young or old, children or women.

Germans are also brilliant communicators. Social conversations are endowed with a display of balanced timing and message. Germans know where to draw a line during a conversation and also how to begin or end a conversation. Everytime you approach someone in Germany you greet him or her with a quick “Hello” and follow it with your message. The response to any question from your counterpart will be quick, direct and crisp. During my interaction with Germans in various social situations the conversation mostly ended with my German counterpart saying, “I hope you enjoy your time in Germany.” And I would lend an honest smile and say, “Dankey…Thank you very much”