My husband placed a tile on the refrigerator door that reads, “Living with a German builds character!” I placed a sign next to his that says, “It is hard to be humble when you’re German.” What makes Germans German? Here is a list of the top 10 traits:
What makes Germans German? Top ten traits. Design © D.N. www.walled-in-berlin.com
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Germans have an intimate relationship with the sun
They absolutely worship the sun. At the first sign of sunshine, Germans flock to outdoor cafés, parks, woods and beaches. They’ll roll up their sleeves and pant legs, lean back and turn their faces into the sun to soak up every single ray. German summers are short making sunshine precious. When I first moved to San Diego, I was incapable of doing anything inside when the sun was out – it was always out.
Germans have an intimate relationship with the sun. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2015. www.walled-in-berlin.com
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Germans love walks of any length
The love of sunshine leads to a love of the outdoors. Whether it translates into a walk through the city park, promenading alongside the river or hiking in the mountains, a walk is always a welcome activity.
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Germans are fond of coffee and cake
Those walks invariably end at a café or bakery where a strong cup of coffee and a piece of delicious cake refresh body and spirit.
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Germans cherish their leisure time
Germans value leisure time (Freizeit) above all. It’s in their DNA. No matter how responsible the position held, everybody from trainee to boss needs time to recharge. A job change consideration often includes a critical evaluation of the leisure time options that come with the new position.
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Germans expect punctuality
There is no such thing as being “fashionable late” in Germany. Whether for a business appointment or a dinner engagement, late arrivals are frowned upon. Being punctual is considered a sign of respect. That said, punctuality flies out the window when it comes to appointments with physicians or at government offices. Then, substantial delays are customary and expected.
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Germans are straight shooters
Germans may not be known for their diplomacy, but you always know where you stand with them. They don’t pussyfoot around but come direct to the point. A yes is a yes and a no is a no.
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Germans value their privacy
Despite their directness, Germans do not care to be asked too many personal questions. If they want you to know, they will tell you. As a result, close friendships rarely form overnight, but once they do, they usually last forever.
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Germans like handshakes
Germans prefer a handshake over a hug unless the other person is family or a close friend. A handshake infuses a little distance, which will make it less awkward should the relationship sour. The formal address used to accomplish the same thing, but it is rarely used anymore. I used to love the option of the formal address, particularly with pesky young men who were not my type.
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Germans do have a sense of humor
Contrary to popular belief, Germans do have a sense of humor. They just don’t like silly slapstick humor. But when it comes to ironic and cynical humor, they keep up with the best. You see the proof during the Mardi Gras season (Karneval in German) when the Germans laugh themselves silly over clever innuendos.
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Germans are thrifty
Germans know how to make the most of every penny. Even the least educated German does a quick cost-benefit analysis before buying anything. Their thriftiness is one reason why you see German tourists all over the world. They are masters of the Stretch-Currency.
For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.
Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.
