Differences Between German Culture & My Own

A lot of people hold stereotypes about the Germans with them being “cold” and all that but I’d have to disagree. Most of the Germans that I came across were very warm and friendly, and were actually more open to things than most Americans that I know. In my experience with the Germans, I also found them to be more genuine and honest than your average American. Even total strangers would go out of their way to help me. Like the first time I was trying to find Schönnefeld Airport, I asked a woman waiting for her train and even though she didn’t speak English, she walked over to the train schedule to make sure I was on the right train, and made sure that I more or less understood what she was telling me. Another time when I wasn’t sure I was on the right train, I asked someone if they spoke English, trying to see if they’d be willing to help me. She didn’t speak English, but the woman next to her said, “I do!” When I asked her if I was going in the right direction, when she said that I was, about five other people on the train nodded their heads “yes” in agreement.

Anyways, my favorite difference between Americans and Germans is their taste in music. As anyone who knows me knows: I love electronic music. And so do the Germans. The underground music scene is huge in Germany. Even in the more mainstream clubs, house tracks are played more often than in America. Also, the clubs are much cheaper, and far more luxurious. For example, I paid $15 to see Steve Aoki in Tallahassee at a club that was part of a strip mall. In Berlin, I paid 14€ ($17) to see Steve Aoki at a way smaller club on the fifteenth floor of a skyscraper in downtown Berlin. Seriously?!

Another thing that I’m sure all Americans found funny was the label “Black Music” for hip-hop. Also mistakenly called R&B, this “Black Music” is actually extremely popular, as are most American mainstream songs. I’m not talking just the Top 40 Hits either: on numerous occasions The Backstreet Boys were played full blast with the German kids rocking out and singing along. Which brings me to my next point: most of the Germans I came across don’t really care what others think of them. They don’t feel like they’ll be judged for rocking out to The Backstreet Boys, while I find it hard to just jam out to “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back).”

Then again, that may just be me…