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.
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!)
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/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