Since the World Cup is coming up, many seem to have a hightened interest in how to interact with Germans. Take a moment to read this short piece on flirting with Germans from SPIEGEL ONLINE. Basically, don't be direct in flirting and a heated political discussion can be construed as flirting with a German.
Germans often complain about Americans being so superficial. They are shocked when an American invites* them to go out for coffee. How can someone be so friendly so fast??? In Germany, you get to know someone before going for coffee. In America, you go for coffee to get to know someone. It's a neutral way to be somewhere long enough to have a conversation in an informal setting. In Germany, you have achieved something if you ever get asked out for coffee or dinner. In America, you've achieved something only if you get asked a 2nd time. (I invite my German and American readers to comment on this in the comment section.)
*Be careful about "inviting" Germans. In German, the equivalent verb "einladen", means that you are not only asking them to share their company with you, but you are also offering to pay, which is not always the case in America, where everyone often pays for his own coffee.
Additional thoughts on German/American interaction.
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3 comments:
hi karen, i enjoyed reading your post about germans. well, i am from Austria but we have a lot in common :) i wish the relationship between people was like in the US. It is so much easier to get in touch with...I enjoyed living there and I am looking forward on going back.
you can write me anytime, if you feel like it. greetings from Vienna, Symone
Being a German, reading this Spiegel article made me rotfl for two reasons:
a) It is exaggerated beyond belief.
b) It is absolutely true.
Now try to distill some information out of this statement :-)
Hi Karen. Great post...and so true it hurts. I am from Germany.
Being asked out for a dinner is way more hard to achieve than for a coffee. If asking someone out for a dinner you'll be expected to pay basicly; on coffee I wouldn`t say that. :)
regards from Lübeck
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