Comments
kano OP wrote (edited )
I'm amazed by the obedience/rule following tendency of the Germans, even/especially the German anarchists.
Once I got told off in German Kiosk for putting my hand out to receive change, the guy wanted to put the money on the counter.
The German's lack of a sense of humour really boggles my mind.
Some political stuff, ask me if you want specifics, could end up being really long.
That How are you/ Wie geht es dir in Germany seems to be more often a serious question compared to my home countries, where its a more usually just a greeting. This makes me careful with asking people how they are cos I'm not always ready for 45 minute speech on the person's mental and emotional state.
What I will say is that the language difference causes problems for me sometimes. It can be hard to participate in a group discussion when you are the only non native speaker, we speak about complex topics and it takes a lot of brain power, and sometimes my brain just turns off when it comes to understanding the language, this happens to me every time we have a longer meeting.
I think the cultural differences aren't so huge for the most part, as I'm US American and English and after living in these 3 countries and visiting around Europe I feel that the cultures are really all very similar to each other. Europeans hate when I say that, but I've spoken to Asians and Africans about it and some of them agree w me.
As to the living situation, we all live in one large house, barring a couple people who live in their own RV/truck in the yard. Theoretically we are one group, there are no like complete families here, though a couple of the people who stay here are biologically related, and there are a couple (romantic/sexual) couples. We all basically rent rooms and the rent goes to pay the mortgage of the house.
moonlune wrote
Money on the counter thing might be so that their boss can review footage and check the change is the right amount.
kano OP wrote (edited )
Never thought of that, but it makes sense given what I'm gonna call German surveillance culture. A lot of kiosks have like a little tray you put the money in to pay then they count it and it take it.
Rat wrote
My European family say it's because it reduces unnecessary hand-contact, and especially in an intimate exchange of money, it maintains the social distance between strangers. This culture seems to be found throughout Europe predating surveillance systems.
Bezotcovschina wrote (edited )
Passing money from hand-to-hand is believed to bring bad luck in Russia. One of the most common superstitions. So, when buying something you often expected to leave cash on a counter and pick up change from there too. Maybe similar superstitions in Germany?
subrosa wrote
More of a covid thing, I think. Never heard of that superstition, though the Germans are still a bit of a mystery to me, so who knows.
kano OP wrote
This definitely happened to me before COVID.
I think it's funny you're saying the Germans are a mystery to you as I seen you writing german here I'm pretty sure.
NOISEBOB wrote
Was machts du?
kano OP wrote (edited )
Ich koche, ich mache handwerk(Kernsanierung und Bauarbeit des Hauses), ich suche gerade Arbeit, ich lerne Deutsch. Ich träume von gutes Wetter und Sonnenschein, besonders in der Winter. Ich versuche ein neues Zuhause für mich zu bauen. Manchmal mache ich Dinge, die die Deutschen nicht mögen. Wann sie beschweren sich, mache ich als ob ich nur Englisch spreche.
Ah und ich sage Wahnsinn auf Scheissdeutsch.
NOISEBOB wrote
Deine deutsch ist sehr schön. Ich verstehen nicht so viel und sprechen nur ein bisschen. Ich wollte auch lernen mehr. Aber, Fick Germoney!
kano OP wrote
Danke, Das ist 4 Jahre harte Arbeit. Ich verstehe viel besser als ich spreche oder schreibe. Und yea fick Germoney
NOISEBOB wrote (edited )
I was denied German class in school because of bureaucratic reasons and was forced to attend French instead. Merde!
I learned (some) German from dubbed Fresh Prince in Bel Air from RTL….
kano OP wrote
I actually studied first Spanish and then french in school, because at the time I thought I'd be more likely to use them, since more people over a wider geographic range speak them. Now here I am
ChaosAnarchy wrote
Are you annoyed by the lack of social places in the country side in Germany?
Are you lucky to have not go to unemployment courses because there aren't a lot of companies offering these in the country side?
Does the job market look bad as well? I heard there are fewer places for apprenticeship available compared to the amount of applicants.
kano OP wrote (edited )
Yes, I am and furthermore that most of the social places are conservative leaning(I think this is not unique to Germany) Our project is supposed to combat this, we will have public rooms open in the near future, and give especially a left/anarchist/alternative space because theres hella Nazis in the area. So we want also that the youth can have a different influence.
Well rn I don't have to worry about the jobcentre because I'm not on unemployment. I was last year and they made me go to one if those courses in a nearby town. It was shit. I found a job rather than go there. Idk if they made me cos I'm a foreigner cos I was far away from the only person on benefits where I live and none of them had to go one since I've been here.
Job market is pretty bad, for me it's ok cos im a programmer. Am having trouble finding something fully remote now though. There's under the table work about though definitely. I think what you say about apprenticeship could be true based on what I've heard but I don't know specifics.
Vulgar_Soda wrote
How's the food?
kano OP wrote
Depends on who's cooking. Happily a lot of people I live with make good food. most nights someone cooks a vegan meal for everyone. Will say that for me German food is kind of bland. I like eating chillis and Germans start complaining about spiciness when you put enough black pepper.
kin wrote
How much the cultural differences affect your daily life? I emigrated to Europe 4 years ago and I still feel the cultural shock sometimes..
If feel like sharing, what exactly is your arrangements, do you all live in the same house or each "family" or group live in different houses in the same farm/village?