When you travel to different countries, we sometimes receive culture shocks, the challenges that are involved, language barriers, likewise communicating seem difficult to practice. Habits ( Gewohnheiten )we are used to, suddenly vanish into thin air and we must change ways of communicating with one another as well as laying aside our own fixed mind, by rather approaching a culture with an open mind and heart!
With my recent trip to Russia, I’ve come to understand ( Verstehen) what it means ( Bedeutet )when Americans or even Germans travel to either Germany or the USA.
We read articles, books and receive a certain anticipation and picture of what to expect, yet what truly a country presents, one can only experience when traveling to the region by interacting with the locals, their customs and by putting your thoughts and feelings ( Gefühle) about them aside and simply ( einfach ) observe their thinking ( Denken) and way of life. ( Leben)
What was interesting is rather that Russian culture has a fine parallel to the former east Germany, while this is to no surprise to some, it would be interesting to note that in whole Germany more and more influence comes from both East and West, therefore making Germany an interesting place within Europe.
In America its common to see people in flip-flops, T-shirts and shorts when its warm, yes such style can be more comfortable compared to blouses ( Die Blusen ) and jeans. What you will often see is also people with paper cups and sitting along curbside streets to rest or when consuming a meal. In Germany nor in Russia would you ever see this, maybe in larger cities,( Die Städte ) but very rarely.( Selten) The behavior and manners ( Die manieren )are so different to what you’re used to in the states, it makes you wonder. And to some tourists visiting the states as well quite shocking.
Speaking with foreigners in planes and at airports it was also interesting to note, that like in Russia, in Germany you do not greet strangers, we don’t smile, yet if we do smile and say hello it’s a sincere and honest greeting, whereas in the Americas, strangers would walk up to you, greet you, even slur words at you that might be inappropriate if they have a problem with you, or simply speak their mind about you, whereas in Europe and Russia as I have come to find out, people tend not to speak their mind like this. In a way, using instinct and showing respect on how others live and do things.
The most interesting of my own observation is rather children, seeing German families at airports and the children in the US and Russia.
It struck me, that in fact there are differences on how children behave and also are being raised. The German kids are much more calm and patient when there are flight delays, they tend to listen to the parents with understanding after hours of delay in flights for instance.
While I can’t say American kids don’t listen and seem rebellious, the majority of kids in America tend to be very inpatient and often don’t listen to parents, seeing kids being yelled at in public, ordered around and sometimes 3 year olds crawling on the floor in public places as if its okay to put children on the ground there. In Germany nor Russia did I not encounter this.
In Europe you can often find that children receive more explanations as to why things are the way they are, you see parents actually calmly explaining the child the circumstances. ( Die Umständnisse)
I think after observing it also has something to do with the idea in America you can get anything. There is no imagination for the child, a toy store has everything a child can only think of. In a way, they receive too much here and because of that, kids can become bored, tend not to listen most likely and assume everything comes with a click of a button. Whereas in many parts of Europe, young people still understand that one needs to work in order to receive something either from parent or any other resource.
Habits- Gewohnheiten.
understand- Verstehen.
means- bedeutet
Feelings- Gefühle.
Simply- Einfach
Thinking- denken.
Life- Leben
Cities- Die Städte
Blouses- Die Blusen
rarely- selten
manners- Die Manieren
Circumstances- Die Umstände
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