Germany wants to present itself as the perfect host for the 2024 European Championships. To help foreign fans and tourists adjust to the peculiarities of the people between Lake Constance and Buxtehude, Lufthansa has published a brochure that gives passengers a few insights into the country and its people before they arrive.
The booklet is entitled “How to meet the Germans” and is intended 2024 European Championships 2024 European Championshipsas a self-deprecating handbook for newcomers to Germany who are traveling to the country for the European Championship. In ten amusing keywords, it lists in German and English what typically makes Germans German and how you can adapt to this. Point one deals with the German penchant for TV crime dramas, especially “Tatort”. “When making small talk with Germans, it is advisable to talk about corpses”, the first sentence reads. However, this ignores the fact that “Tatort” is on a summer break during the European Championships and no new episodes are being broadcast.
Point three of the brochure takes aim at the German barbecue obsession. Without an expensive barbecue set, Germans are not taken seriously by their fellow countrymen! It is probably a bit of an exaggeration.
Point five is interesting. It deals with the “service desert” that is Germany. The guest is prepared for the fact that friendliness at the checkout is an extra that can be hoped for, but not expected. A tip for visitors from abroad: smile, even if you are snapped at. This is how you earn the respect of the service staff. That’s quite a thesis!
This is followed by point seven. “Germans behave like footballers in queues, defending their position in front of a corner with their elbows.”
Point ten “Only cash is king” fits in with this. While Apple Pay or at least card payments have long been standard in the rest of the world, Germans carry kilos of coins around with them, it is suggested. Exaggerated? Not really, but every tourist should be familiar with signs saying “No card payment possible” or “Cash only”. Incidentally, “cash only” is also becoming more and more common in Austrian tourist resorts. Especially when hiking on Austria’s alpine pastures, nothing works with a card! You have to be prepared for this, so make sure you have enough cash in your rucksack! jwm
Sources: Lufthansa, Berliner Morgenpost