Dining

When you are eating in a restaurant in Europe there are several differences then in America.

The first is, don't be surprised if there is a seat open at your table and someone comes to sit with you. It happens the stranger just goes about his/her normal business without bothering you. They see nothing wrong with this, nor do I.

This is in the Hofbrauhaus in München. You are bound to meet new people in here as it is very crowded.

When you want to pay, you must ask for the bill or you will sit and wait forever. There is no rush for them to kick you out like in American restaurants. They let you sit there for as long as you feel like.

When they do come with the bill, however, you let them know how much you want to give tip included. I was caught off guard by this as I was wondering why our waitress stood at the table as I got my money out. They give you change on the spot which is nice.

The last thing I noticed and what really makes you stand out as an American is how you eat. At least in Germany, they don't switch there knife and fork like we do.

They keep the knife in there right hand and fork in there left the whole time. They think we are silly for always switching silverware back and forth.

Pünktlich (Punctual)

One of the very first things I noticed in Berlin, is they are a society that runs on a schedule. The first time I got on the U-Bahn or the german equivalent to our subways, I noticed a clock hanging above that said exactly when the train was coming. And it was rarely ever late.

German U-Bahn in Berlin

They even had a schedule saying when every bus or train was coming for every day of the week. So one could plan exactly when to leave to catch each ride at the perfect time without having to wait.

Coming back to the United States and using the Subway system in New York, City or in Trenton, it is a joke. Even if there is a schedule, you don't know because most of the time it's not posted and if it is the train is late anyway.

Yes I like not always living on a schedule and switching things up occasionally, but here in the U.S. it seems we are always waiting on people, whether at the doctors office, for a train, or whatever the case may be. It makes for a better society if everyone is always on time.

 I am not saying everyone in Germany is on time, its most Germans like to make a point to keep a strict schedule.

Smoking

Compared to the United States, smoking is quite popular in Germany still. It is not nearly as frowned upon in public places as in the United States.

In fact on the streets in many German cities, you will find automatic cigarette machines.It is not necessary for you to go to a store to buy cigarettes.

The strange part is, Germans continue to smoke even though the package of cigarettes says directly on it, Rauchen kann tödlich sein or Smoking can kill you.

I guess if you follow the rule, everyone dies, then I see why they smoke so much. It doesn't make sense though to spend money on such an unhealthy habit.