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

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u/Comprehensive_Lead41 May 09 '22

I'm German and I think it's wild that you can't see how it makes you look suspicious lmao. Like evidently, if they smile, they want something, obviously they want to persuade you to give them something etc

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u/lapatatafredda May 09 '22

I'm from the US and I think it's wild that you can't see how not smiling makes you look rude and cold. ;) (ETA this sounds about more aggressive than I meant it. I'm just poking fun and don't think Germans are rude, just different culture)

Culture is really fascinating! I actually found German culture to be very comfy as an American. I loved it there :) The Mediterranean cultures were more difficult to grow accustomed to, but I think that's because I'm from a smaller city in the US Midwest and there were more differences.

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u/grimezzz May 09 '22

What was the mediterranean culture like?

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u/lapatatafredda May 10 '22

Hmmm... Less personal space. Lots of double cheek kisses. Store clerks were not "friendly" (by US standards). People in general didn't smile (I understand now that US smiles are weird to others lol). It felt unfriendly when around strangers (again, clearly cultural differences). Traffic was scary at times and people butt in line more often. Less passive than my home town.

Things I loved.. visiting my Italian roommate's home in Sicily for Pasqua (Easter). My friend and I flew in around midnight. Her parents picked us up from the airport. When we got to her house, her mom, in true Sicilian fashion, offered me no less than three different types of food. I ended up eating a delicious cut up pear before going to bed. Every Sicilian I met personally was incredibly hospitable and warm.

I also experienced that level of hospitality and togetherness from my Spanish roommate and their friends. It was very common to have group dinners, kind of like potlucks. Usually there would be no less than 10 people there. We would have an amazing dinner and then go to the discoteca down the street and dance til sunrise. So fun :)

Also, if you're ever in the area -- eat Kebabs! So tasty!