h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Every country has its special ways of how people talk to eachother. Comparing Germany with the USA people in Germany are less polite. So when you're in Germany and someone's in the way and you can't go through just say: "hey, get out of the way" and not "excuse me".

That's right, but you shouldn't. Especially older people tend to get offended, when adressed rudely by foreigners. (Then again, don't they everywhere?).
You may find though, that younger people, students mostly, can be quite delighted to be adressed in English and will try to be extra friendly.
Speaking of manners, there is said to be a north-south difference. Whereas people at the coast try not to open their mouth too often (due to wind and rain), the farther south you get, people become more talkative. Freiburg im Breisgau is supposed to be one of the towns where students are extra friendly. This corresponds to a liking of Birkenstocks, knitted sweaters and colourful ethnic fabrics (this is pure prejudice, of course). In Hamburg, on the other hand you can spend a long time without anyboda saying anything except "Hey, get out of the way", but once you get to know them they are said to be the best friends you can possibly have.
If you get alog better with the Fischköppe (fishheads) or with the southerners is mostly due to personal preferences.

i see, says a fishkopp who lived in the south for a year... my experience is that compared to the people of stuttgart (WAAAYYY DOOOOWWWNNN SOUUUUTHHHH) we northerners have a positively mediterranean temper... we do talk, ya know... we just don't slime... *bg*



StipeyZ.Rickenbacker

I know, I know... "mediterranean", huh? I'll try to remember that when I work in Hamburg in autumn...

try st. pauli... the clubs rock...



StipeyZ.Rickenbacker