Last Updated on 04/09/2024 by Arun jain
In July 2022, I fulfilled my lifelong dream Moving to Europe.
When my husband and I got married in January of that year, we didn’t choose a regular wedding registry. Instead, we sold, donated, or threw away almost everything we owned. Even our car – which we sold two days ago We left the US – Had to go.
We headed to Germany, a country we had never visited before, with a few suitcases and our two cats. As soon as we arrived, we noticed a lot Cultural differences.
Here are seven things that surprise us about life in Germany.
Most places do not have air conditioning.
After a seven-hour flight from Boston to Frankfurt, a three-hour drive from the airport, and six flights of stairs to our apartment, we arrived in Düsseldorf and quickly learned that air conditioning isn’t really a thing in Germany.
The large tilt-and-turn windows at our place had no screens, just metal rolling shutters. This meant that we could not open the windows fully for fear that our cats would try to get out.
Instead, we cranked up the metal shutters in the early morning to keep the hot air out and then rolled them up at night to let the cool air in.
We also stayed hydrated, added ice cubes to the cats’ water bowls, tried not to use the oven, took cool showers and ordered a standing fan.
It blew my mind just to find out about it One of the eight German homes use air conditioning. However, we had no choice but to adjust to that lifestyle.
Public transport is easily accessible in most major cities.
Growing up in the Massachusetts suburbs, I relied on my car and only used the train to get to Boston. Although I now have a German driver’s license, I have not driven in the last two years.
My husband and I have been to several different cities within Germany, and luckily, we always have easy access to public transportation.
Most shops are closed on Sundays.
We landed in Germany on Sunday and soon learned that most shops—even grocery stores—were closed, forcing us to use a food-delivery app.
Because Sundays are rest days in Germany. Most people are not supposed to work or shop, although there are a few exceptions for tourist spots and gas stations.
Most apartments do not come with kitchens.
When I was apartment hunting, I was surprised to find that many rentals did not have kitchens complete with refrigerators, ovens, cabinets, counters, washing machines or dishwashers. Instead, there was usually an empty room with only appliance hookups.
That’s because, in Germany, tenants often take most of their kitchen with them when they move out, or they sell the main parts to whoever is moving in. This allows tenants to personalize their spaces, can help landlords save costs, and Encourage tenants to stay longer.
Cash must be carried.
To avoid fees and security concerns, many restaurants, local businesses, market stalls and cafes only accept cash as payment.
Fortunately, many large businesses, grocery stores, and malls accept credit and debit cards as well as other forms of digital payment.
There is no social expectation to tip.
In Germany, tipping is appreciated but not expected.
In restaurants, it is not common to add a tip to the receipt. Instead, people will leave a few euros on the table as thanks.
The first time I went to a hair salon to pay, I was ready to tip 20%. However, the stylist explained that while she appreciated the gesture, a 5% to 10% tip is typical. She also said some salons don’t process tips by card, so cash is preferred.
Sparkling water is preferred over still.
In Germany, restaurants automatically serve sparkling water without ice. If a customer wants ice in their water, it clearly signals that they are American.
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