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Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut






Looks like I have to head to Germany for 3 weeks later this year for work. Anyone have any advice about what to expect as far as cultural differences? How's the driving? What's the Covid situation like? etc.

Thanks.
   
Made in de
Krazy Grot Kutta Driva




Nickin' 'ur stuff

A quick google search and I found this: https://www.expatrio.com/living-germany/facts-about-germany/10-tips-living-germany

Depending on how long you'll stay most of those are true (although the requirement to always have an ID on your person is a myth, you should always know exactly where it is though )

Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like soup. Now you put soup in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put soup into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now soup can flow or it can crash. Be soup, my friend. 
   
Made in de
Boom! Leman Russ Commander






Regarding Corona: I would recommend finding out in which federal state you will stay and find the webpage of that federal states current Corona rules. They differ a bit from one state to the other and sometimes change. It's good to know where to look if you currently need a test to enter somewhere etc.

~6550 build and painted
819 build and painted
830 
   
Made in ca
Fresh-Faced New User




Germany is pretty cool (haven't been there in covid times though). Its my understanding that they have a pretty high vaccination rate but I am not sure what the masking protocols are. If it was me - I would plan on masking up.

Driving is similar to the US but they are much better about lane manners and traffic signs. Also pedestrians always have the right of way. Parking is a b*tch in the larger cites. Unless you have to - i would use public transport (Err covid dependent)

The Beer is good and the food is good. I have found the people to be friendly and engaging but a little more reserved by nature.

Not sure if this is your first time out of the country or to Europe - if its not you probably already know this.

My standard rules for Americans abroad:

Learn how to say hello, good morning, good evening, please, and thank you and "I am sorry - do you speak english?" (it sounds stupid but it helps grease the wheels). I have been around the world with that philosophy and with the exception of parisians, most people are ok with americans not knowing stuff, but not ok with being rude. Of course - if you know german that will help a lot.

Be aware of how loud you are being. i know this sounds stupid but we Americans are loud without realizing it. I bet that if you pay attention walking down a European street you will hear Americans half a block away. Even on a busy street. Especially true indoors where EU co workers will give you the side eye pretty hard.

Always greet the store/shop/restaurant owner/manager. Its a standard politeness and if you don't generally they think you are being rude or up to something...

Tips and tax are included in almost all western EU countries. If you want to tip usually rounding up is OK. Breakfast for 14 euro on the menu? Thats what will be on the bill.

Depending on where you are - don't assume that people will speak English fluently. Its a safe bet in Berlin, but outside of Berlin be prepared to point and smile (See above). Google translate may help there.

Be aware of personal space. Americans and Canandians are used to about 24-36 inches of personal space, Europeans 12-18, Asia counties 6.

Use cash machines in Banks, not independent ones one the street (hard lesson learned there). Also make sure your credit cards have chips, a pin and are enabled for Germany - it will save a lot of fumbling around.




This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2021/09/16 14:59:00


 
   
Made in in
[MOD]
Otiose in a Niche






Hyderabad, India

Can Americans travel to Germany now, I thought they took the US off of their approved list.

 
   
Made in de
Longtime Dakkanaut




 Kid_Kyoto wrote:
Can Americans travel to Germany now, I thought they took the US off of their approved list.
I think there's been some restrictions but it can change.

Here's the site of the institute that's responsible for that type of regulation (the links to the various document are shown in german/english so you have just to click on the one you are interested in):

https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Transport/BMG_Merkblatt_Reisende_Tab.html

And here's probably the most useful one (available in a bunch of languages):

https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Transport/BMG_Reisende_Tab.html

And the direct link to the English version:

https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Transport/Merkblatt_Reisende_EN.pdf?__blob=publicationFile

Here's the list of high risk areas:

https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete_neu.html

And the English list:

https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Transport/Archiv_Risikogebiete/Risikogebiete_aktuell_en.pdf?__blob=publicationFile

The entry for the USA: United States of America (high-risk area since 15 August 2021) so you'd need to act according to what it says for "high risk area" in the other documents.

Our masks standards are these: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FFP_standards which is, I think, a tiny bit different than the masks the USA uses. At the moment you need FFP2 masks if you are a customer in any store and for any public transportation and I don't know of US masks would count as the same. There might be some differences, depending on where you go.

You can get them at any store or pharmacy (the costs vary from under 1€ to 2€, depending on the store). Of course there's a bit of a Catch-22 of how to get into a store or pharmacy to buy masks without having one. They are generally not too draconian about people who need to buy these masks first (people generally buy the mask and then go shopping or the rest). It shouldn't be a problem to enter a store if you have an US based equivalent mask and want to switch to our standard to comply with the rules. There's also probably some solution at your point of entry.
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut






Thanks, all. As far as restrictions, I work with industrial equipment for pharmaceutical packaging, so I classify as an "essential worker" most places. I got into the UK last December without having to quarantine because a machine had to get fixed.

That was an interesting trip. Between the time I left the USA, had a connection in Frankfort, and landed in Birmingham, all of Europe shut down flights to and from the UK due to a variant. Had to get a cab down to London so I could get a direct flight to the USA.

Hopefully things go more smoothly this time.
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut





Mario wrote:

You can get them at any store or pharmacy (the costs vary from under 1€ to 2€, depending on the store). Of course there's a bit of a Catch-22 of how to get into a store or pharmacy to buy masks without having one. They are generally not too draconian about people who need to buy these masks first (people generally buy the mask and then go shopping or the rest). It shouldn't be a problem to enter a store if you have an US based equivalent mask and want to switch to our standard to comply with the rules. There's also probably some solution at your point of entry.



I would think it a somewhat safe bet that a duty free shop in the Frankfurt passenger terminal would likely have some available to at least make things a tiny bit easier
   
Made in de
Battlefield Tourist






Nuremberg

Germany is pretty cool. Cultural differences, Germans don't worry too much about smiling and seeming nice, if they're in a bad mood it'll show on their face, but it's nothing personal. Politeness is built into the grammar in German so they don't bother with all the extra niceties you sometimes get from Americans and British people in English. But Germans are pretty nice and willing to help you despite what can seem like a frosty exterior.

Coming from the US depending on the state you might be surprised that shops close pretty early and are not open at all on Sundays.

And a common mix up with English speakers is that to 'invite' someone in German implies that you're going to pay for them, which can lead to some confusion if someone mistranslates in rare cases XD

But generally Germans are pretty used to Americans and know what to expect so I doubt you'll have too much to worry about.

   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut






Thanks!
   
 
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