Germany Survival 101

Here are the top tips I've picked up on after 2 years of living in Germany. A lot are to blend in and not stand out as ultra-American or a slob 😅, but some are to respect that we're living in someone else's culture and to try to adapt, even if just temporarily.


-Always have Nutella in the house. This is just common sense.

-Learn the difference between "Gute Nacht" and "Gute Nackt".

-Make sure to have bottled water for guests, even if the tap water tastes fine. And it helps to acquire a taste for sparkling water or Sprudel, too.

-Never turn down an offer to have beer with a friend. (Also always have a cold beer in the fridge ready!) (...And make sure you pour it in the "correct" glass...)

-Show up on time to things. Be "punktlich" (even the word sounds punctual somehow!)

-Acknowledge or greet everyone in the room once you get there and say goodbye when you leave (tschüß!). This includes hospital waiting rooms or little shops. 

-Learn how to use the language even if it's wrong, it's the only way you'll get better!

-Be a good host.

-Ask for help if you need it.

-In turn, always be willing to help another out even if there's nothing in it for you.

-Greet everyone you pass by on the street.

-Have euros on hand always. We're really bad at this one.

-Go on walks.

-Don't yield to every single person or you'll never move. That kind of courtesy isn't common!

-Open your windows.

-If nothing else, learn how to order from a menu and basic greetings or asking for help in German. It goes a long way to show that you're trying to communicate, even if you have to switch to English shortly after.

-Eat your pizza and fries with a fork and knife in public.

-Get used to people pushing past you to reach something. You generally won't hear an "excuse me" but know that they don't usually mean offense by it.

-Let people in front of you in the checkout line at the grocery store if they only have a couple of things while you have a cart-full. You'll get dirty looks if you don't.

-Use the fact that everything is closed Sunday to take a day of rest and spend time with your family or friends.

What did I miss? What's one cultural difference you struggle with getting used to in another country?