![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Cultural Advice from Abroad
Aug. 3rd, 2005 11:24 amThis week, a local radio station is broadcasting cultural tips for tourists travelling to Germany, found in travel guides from around the world. Today, I bring you China.
What should Chinese tourists know when visiting Germany? You might be surprised.
Do not make Germans too many compliments. They will gain the impression you look down on them if you do, and feel insulted.
Clearly, Germans are strangely - and somewhat rabidly - modest. Or perhaps unreasonably touchy... or both. (Feel free to heap as many compliments on me as you wish, by the way. I might grow embarrassed at some point, but I assure you that I will not be insulted. *g*)
When in Germany, do not whisper. If you do, Germans will assume you have something to hide.
Do not stare at Germans, or they will assume you have something against them.
This one is actually fairly good advice, and I assume it holds true all over the world.
When visiting a German fish restaurant, do not talk during the meal. This is considered rude.
Picture all the poor Chinese tourists sitting in German fish restaurants as silent as the grave for fear of being rude.
But, most importantly, my personal favorite:
Under no circumstances should you ask for milk at breakfast! Germans abhor milk at the breakfast table.
*snicker*
You may want to kindly, but sternly inform any Germans you know of this. It's appalling, the rudeness all around. Only look at all those Germans talking in fish restaurants and guzzling milk at the breakfast table...
What should Chinese tourists know when visiting Germany? You might be surprised.
Do not make Germans too many compliments. They will gain the impression you look down on them if you do, and feel insulted.
Clearly, Germans are strangely - and somewhat rabidly - modest. Or perhaps unreasonably touchy... or both. (Feel free to heap as many compliments on me as you wish, by the way. I might grow embarrassed at some point, but I assure you that I will not be insulted. *g*)
When in Germany, do not whisper. If you do, Germans will assume you have something to hide.
Do not stare at Germans, or they will assume you have something against them.
This one is actually fairly good advice, and I assume it holds true all over the world.
When visiting a German fish restaurant, do not talk during the meal. This is considered rude.
Picture all the poor Chinese tourists sitting in German fish restaurants as silent as the grave for fear of being rude.
But, most importantly, my personal favorite:
Under no circumstances should you ask for milk at breakfast! Germans abhor milk at the breakfast table.
*snicker*
You may want to kindly, but sternly inform any Germans you know of this. It's appalling, the rudeness all around. Only look at all those Germans talking in fish restaurants and guzzling milk at the breakfast table...
