You can find more information in our data protection declaration. British author Stephen Green has written a book about German history that can be seen as a love declaration to the country's culture.
Stephen Green: The title was a result of a discussion with my German publisher, and I like it because it reflects some things that are important for me. One is that Germany is indeed a country that I love and enjoy.
I appreciate deeply all of the many aspects of its culture. And "ein Land mit Vergangenheit" [a land with a past] — that is clearly the case: German history still weighs heavily on the present. First of all, you have a beautiful country. It is a country which I have spent much of my lifetime exploring. I've probably seen more parts of Germany than many Germans.
And secondly, it has a deep-rooted and fascinating culture, which expresses itself in the architecture, in the music, in the literature, in the philosophy, in ways of thinking about the world. In fact, I think there is no greater culture than the German one.
Your book primarily covers German history: You praise the country's classical musicians, philosophers and writers. But are Germans still good role models today? Yes, I think Germans are very important role models.
One of the most striking things about modern Germany is the threefold miracle that has occurred since World War II. First, the economic success story, which is one aspect, I think, most people are familiar with. Second, I think there's a political miracle, too, which has not been properly celebrated. What has happened since , when the Federal Republic of Germany began, is the emergence of one of the most deeply rooted and stable democracies on the entire planet.
This was not necessarily predictable at the time, given the previous history of the Third Reich and before that the failed Weimar Republic. And third, there is the way in which Germany has confronted the darkest aspects of its past. This did not happen over night; it took decades of painful soul-searching but it has been astonishingly thorough and remorseless. I think that is a role model for humanity — and not just for the usual suspects Japan, Russia but for Britain with its long history in Ireland, or France with its Algerian past, for example.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg are also crammed with lakes -- there's even a hiking trail connecting all 66 lakes in Brandenburg. A European ranking published in showed that Germany has one of the highest numbers of "excellent" lakes and rivers for swimming.
If all that exercise builds up a thirst for beer, better still. Taking our clothes off in public. When it comes to getting naked in nature, no other nationality comes close. We can't blame you for keeping your distance, just don't judge us.
Getting naked in Germany: A local reveals all. Baking bread. Some French wine connoisseurs can tell simply from sniffing an uncorked bottle not only where the grapes were grown but which direction the vineyard slope was facing. It could well be the same in Germany with bread.
Bread here is more than just a part of the daily meal. It's part of the culture. Each region has its own variations -- there are more than 1, -- ranging from dark and heavy rye breads in the north to lighter wheat breads in the south.
Germans eat an average of 87 kilograms of bread a year each, and there's a bakery for every 2, people. And yes we know all that carb loading is taking its toll on our waistlines. But we're still getting naked in nature. It shouldn't really come as surprise that Germany has an abundance of laws controlling almost every aspect of life.
And while this amount of over-regulation might seem to make us inflexible, it's what gives us our reputation for being efficient. This love of rules manifests itself in many ways. Crossing the street as a pedestrian at a red traffic light is frowned upon and anyone caught by the police can be fined. We're also sticklers for waste separation. Every house has at least four different garbage cans: plastic, paper, organic waste and general garbage. Placing trash in the wrong can risks a fine.
To keep all that potential for social chaos under control there's even a government office called Ordnungsamt, which literally translates to "office of order. Moving everything. When offered for rent, German houses and apartments are never furnished. That means that not even the kitchen or bathroom equipment is a compulsory item. So when Germans move they move with all their furniture -- including oven, fridge, countertops, cupboards and even the sink. Moving days are somewhat of a national pastime, often involving friends and family instead of professionals.
That means laying on enough beer and food to make sure everyone stays until the place is emptied. And, of course, the last piece of trash has been filed in the correct can. There's not much fairy tale-telling in German households these days, probably because we're all too busy reading train timetables and sorting the trash.
Core Concepts. Dates of Significance. Do's and Don'ts. Verbal Direct Communication: German communication styles are quite direct and functionally purposed.
People generally speak honestly, clearly and explicitly to arrive straight to the point. It can also give some foreigners the impression that they are quite brash or blunt. However, it is simply their way of ensuring clear communication. Small Talk: As German communication is quite functionally purposed, people tend to spend less time warming up conversation with small talk. It is not considered rude to jump straight to the point of a meeting or conversation. Germans are usually open to indulging in idle chit-chat when they notice their counterpart wants to talk lightly; however, they are unlikely to initiate it.
Honesty: While it is important to be polite and discreet when delivering difficult news, it is also very important to be honest with Germans. They generally speak openly about what is important to them. Avoid being evasive when you are asked sensitive questions.
Exercise discretion and be honest; indirect behaviour is likely to be interpreted literally. Humour: Germans often laugh about the irony of situations, wordplay and innuendos. However, many of these jokes lose their hilarity when translated into English.
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