My Culture Shock Experiences in Germany

Intro

As I reflect on my time in Germany, I've come to realise that I've somewhat adapted to living in a country that's slowly become a third home. As a TCK, I'm no stranger to culture shock, but the one I've experienced here is significantly different from what I experienced in Senegal. In Senegal, I could easily adapt and fit in, because if I'm being honest, apart from differences in religion and language, Ghana and Senegal are pretty alike. We share similar values regarding hospitality, food culture, and caring for your neighbors. Blending in wasn't hard once I got the hang of the language. The same can't be said when I moved to Germany. Even though I mentally prepared myself for it through research and hearing stories from family, living through it was something else. Now, after three years, it took some getting used to, but I've gotten used to Germany's quirks.

Abendbrot

I had my first Abendbrot when I was visiting my grandparents in the countryside. It had been a long day, and all I wanted was a plate of something hot and filling, similar to what I was used to back home. Now, I wasn't expecting a plate of Jollof rice, but more so a pork steak with some potatoes, or even grilled chicken with a salad on the side. What I needed was something heavy that would put me to sleep after the long journey. Alas, as I was called to the dinner table, the dinners I had in mind quickly vanished. Instead, there was a myriad of sliced sausages, cheese, and bread on the table. To me, in my African mind, it seemed like we were having a picnic for dinner. A make-your-own charcuterie board, if you will. But I did learn a lot about the different cuts of sausage and how they're processed at the butcher. I got to try different combinations that I wouldn't have had the opportunity to if I were back home. Grapes on a bread roll with a slice of cheese is my personal favourite. While Abendbrot isn't what I would think of for dinner, I appreciate it on the rare occasions I have it.

Bagging your Groceries

Having to bag my groceries made me appreciate the grocery stores back home. In Ghana and in Senegal, it's common for the cashier or someone else to bag your groceries. Even at the buutik—small kiosks in Senegal—bag your items before or after you pay. My first time grocery shopping in Germany was quite overwhelming; there were a lot of people behind me, and the cashier was rapidly scanning my items. I was just barely halfway through my groceries before they announced my total. Which sidenote is another weird thing I notice that Germans do. They announce your total right down to the cent. With that being said, I thought since I wasn't done scanning my items, maybe they would wait a minute or two before starting to scan the next person's items, but lo and behold, I was wrong. The cashier kept going, and I was still scrambling to bag my items. I felt so embarrassed that day because the line was quite long, and I could feel everyone's frustration; it might also have been all in my head. It's a funny thing how the universe works: hours later, while I was doomscrolling, I came across a funny reel that described what I went through, down to the tee.

Punctuality

While researching Germany to get a feel for the culture, I noticed one common trait that was constantly mentioned: punctuality. People making jokes about Germans arriving 10 minutes before a hangout starts or Germans scolding you when you're one minute late. So, I naively thought that, since Germans value punctuality so much, their transportation system would surely reflect that belief. I was sorely mistaken. Coming back from the city center is always such a hassle. I was coming back from a class outing and was in a hurry to get back to campus because I was starving. First, there was a five-minute delay, which I didn't mind at first because that's usually how it goes; it should honestly be considered a miracle if the train comes on time. And when it does, it's usually when you're running late, and you end up missing the train altogether. After five minutes passed, the train was still nowhere to be found. Then we got the announcement that it would be twenty minutes late. At this point, I should've just gone to a restaurant and had dinner, because by the time I was done with my meal and maybe even had dessert, I'd still have minutes to spare. Thankfully, these delays seem to happen most often with regional transportation. So far, I haven't had any bad experiences with the ICE or IC trains (fingers crossed).

Conclusion

No matter how much research you do on your future new home, you'll inevitably experience culture shock. It doesn't have to be a bad thing, though; sometimes it can lead you to discover new things. It's up to decide how we deal with what we consider negative traits. For some, it's a blip they can live with, and for others, it's something worth leaving the country over. As for me, I've decided to just accept Germany for what it is and embrace it: the good and the bad. It was difficult at first, but, as cliché as it sounds, it gets better over time.

Written by Akousa Enam Zigi