Did you know most Germans, instead of asking a question like a normal question, will almost always make a statement and end it with “Oder?” which translates to, “or?” This can come off quite rude to an American, who may ask “Do you want to go to the party tonight?” where a German would instead go “You’re coming to the party tonight. Oder?” Such small differences are crucial to really understanding a people and their mannerisms, so maybe one day when I want to return here to work or live, I won’t be taken aback by their apparent rudeness in speaking.
That same example comes up quite a bit, as it often happens that bluntness translates to work-spaces and classroom culture as well. These smaller differences that show over time take a while to digest and better understand and apply to the larger culture.
Finally, a bit of advice. From all of this I have learned how incredibly important it is to challenge yourself to make it outside of your comfort zone. Whether or not it’s being able to get out of the country (which is absolutely should be!) putting yourself outside your comfort zone is a key part of developing oneself. The skills necessary to handle situations you’re challenged by, like working with diverse groups of people, or communicating through language and culture barriers, or changing behaviors you grew up with, all blossom when you’re forced to encounter them on a day to day basis.
Germany has taught me that there’s a lot more to appreciate in the world than the tiny part of it I grew up knowing, and the only way to realize what’s out there is to do the hard thing and go looking for it.
