Cultural Shocks Between Germany and North America (USA and Canada) - Dating Edition!
This is always a fun topic to talk about! Yes, love is what we all want as humans, and no matter if you are in Germany or America, people will tell you, dating is hard. But what happens when cultural differences come between you and your sweetheart?
In this video, I bring you a compilation of short videos sharing the biggest cultural shocks I experienced as a Canadian living in Germany. Whether you are an expat in Germany or sitting in your home across the Atlantic, learning about these cultural differences might save you some embarrassment and misunderstandings later. Are you ready to get culturally shocked? Here we go!
1 - Three Things That Helped Me as a North American Dating in Germany:
Men don’t necessarily make the first move in Germany. Has it ever happened to you that someone made eye contact and seemed interested in you but then nothing happened? Well, there’s nothing wrong with you, it’s just how dating and flirting work in Germany, opposite from what you might be used to in Canada and the USA (and even some other parts of the world).
This is probably not that surprising, but as I mentioned in my other video, Culture Shock Compilation: Social Norms in Germany that Confuse Americans and Canadians ( [ Ссылка ] ) it may take time for Germans to open up, so they may seem a bit cold at first. Give them time, and you might be surprised.
Sometimes you will need to clarify if you are in a relationship or not. It sounds funny, but it’s true. Make sure you’re on the same page when it comes to your commitment to one another.
2 - How to Flirt in Germany:
As mentioned before, be aware that staring at one another in a public space doesn’t mean anything is about to happen. The good news is, you have the power to make it happen if you want. And no one will find it strange or weird.
3 - Cultural Shocks Dating a German in Germany:
If you are dating a German in Germany and things are getting serious, these are things you’ll probably notice, especially if you are Canadian/North American like me. The evening bröt instead of dinner and the need for only one warm meal per day. The Coffee and Cake in early hours, but who cares, right? Cake is cake :)
4 - Meeting a German in a Bar:
When you are living abroad, get used to answering the most cliché questions every time you meet someone new. It’s just normal curiosity on their part, I guess, but it can be quite tiring. It gets especially hard when they ask questions you don’t have the answer for, like “When will you move back home?”
5 - German Men Expect to Be Hit on by Women First:
Sure, the drama in this video is slightly exaggerated for comic purposes, haha, but again, it can really hurt your self-esteem at first if you’re not aware of this when you first move to Germany.
6 - Valentine's Day in Germany vs. Canada/USA:
Will you be getting Wurst as a Valentine's gift now that you are in Germany? Haha, relax! No! But also don’t expect the overly romantic Valentine's gestures you are used to in North America. Valentine's Day is just not that big of a deal in Germany. Make sure to either set your expectations right or communicate them well to your German partner :)
What do you think of this Cultural Shocks Dating Edition? Are they familiar to you? Have you experienced different ones? Share your experience in the comments.
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