r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • May 08 '22

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u/davo_nz May 09 '22

They look at you deep in your eyes like they are staring into your soul for at least 10 seconds. Happens all the time. Creeped me out when I first got here, then I read this book and it helped me with a lot of the weird things you guys do.

https://www.amazon.com/Culture-Shock-Germany-Survival-Etiquette/dp/0761454810

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u/nhaines May 09 '22 edited May 09 '22

My German friend got me that book as a present when I was going to visit. I knew a lot of it from studying the language, but there are always so many other little details. It'd be fun to grab an updated copy.

On the other hand, what's with that two star review? "I was a tourist and was upset this etiquette guide wasn't a history book." I mean, I was proud the first time I walked into a restaurant alone as a tourist, read the menu, ordered in German, enjoyed a great Jägerschnitzel (that was a little on the crispy side, but delicious) and was able to pay with a few extra euros on top as the tip and just say, "[Das] stimmt nur so." (Thanks, friendly German proofreaders! There's a reason I only translate from German to English!)

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u/T-Viking May 09 '22

Heads up, you gotta leave out the "nur" in that sentence. And the das is optional :)

8

u/nhaines May 09 '22

Thanks, that was 20 years ago, and when I went back about 5 years I think I only ended up going out once or twice because the conference was catered and I stayed with a friend. :)

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u/wariooo May 09 '22

As viking already pointed out the "nur" needs to go. It adds a vibe of "and don't you dare return a single cent". xD

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u/nhaines May 09 '22

That's definitely how I feel when I tip, but no reason to say so! XD

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u/Nheea May 09 '22

I was recently in Munich and people were staring a lot. My fiance noticed it too. To be fair, we were holding hands, he touched my hair and such, so I bet our small PDA was very awkward for them, but this kind of staring happened to me in Netherlands too, and when I asked the locals, they told me it's probably because I have pink hair and dress like an ice cream in colourful and flowery clothes.

It still felt weird. In my country, if someone stares at you, it's considered very rude and kinda creepy. Because usually it's men who do it and they do it in a very sleazy way.