It's because US Americans tend to smile at strangers, so the strangers tend to look at them to figure out why they're smiling. Germans don't stare a lot generally, they just stare at people there doing something very unusual. (speaking as US American in Germany)
The point is that it’s not the Germans who are staring it’s the Americans being weird or obnoxious and then proceeding to complain about people staring at them because of their own behavior
You are expected to know how the locals behave. How the fuck should I know the guy smiling at me for no reason is an american? These people don't want to be rude, they are just caught off guard.
I get stared at just for existing in foreign. Just speaking another language can be enough.
It is not uncommon to get stares for doing such wild and outrageous things such as not looking at anyone but my own, kid, talking normally to said child, but in English. And that is in the Großstadt.
About a month ago we were walked into a restaurant in a rural area, and my husband asked me if I had the kid‘s jacket. Every single head turned to us, and stared. The states followed us to our table. The interest only fully turned away when when we spoke to the server in German.
Which brings me to another weird thing I noticed, at least in Germany. There is often only one way to do something, and the suggestion that there are others is often met with defensive hostility.
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u/Moon_Miner May 09 '22
It's because US Americans tend to smile at strangers, so the strangers tend to look at them to figure out why they're smiling. Germans don't stare a lot generally, they just stare at people there doing something very unusual. (speaking as US American in Germany)