• Latest Posts
  • Study in Germany
  • My Thoughts
    • India
  • Places and Travel
  • Motivation
  • About Us
    • Impressum
    • Privacy Policy
Follow us
Facebook

7 mistakes to avoid when you arrive in Germany

May 3, 2018
by Gautam Sawala
4 comments

It doesn’t matter which country you come from. Arriving for the first time in Germany can be intimidating. Here are the seven mistakes most people make when they first arrive in Germany

1. Jaywalking

The moment you arrive in Germany, you are in a culture knit in discipline and following the rules. Breaking traffic rules is a taboo, which includes jaywalking. Disrespecting the red man might invite an angry stare from the passerby. Even if the street looks empty with no car in sight, unless the signal is green, do not cross the street. Even when you see others jaywalking, wait there.

Meanwhile the ducks in my town!(It’s a fake video, but you get the idea)

KAISERVIERTEL: ENTEN WARTEN AUF GRÜN.

KAISERVIERTEL SAARBRÜCKEN: ENTEN WARTEN AUF GRÜN.

Dieses Video aus dem Kaiserviertel erreichte uns gestern. Die Enten warten wirklich bis es grün ist. Danke noch an Oliver, Dennis und Julian für das Video.

Posted by Ed Saarland on Thursday, May 3, 2018

 

2. Not carrying cash

If you’ve heard the phrase, ‘Cash is king in Germany’ and have been ignorant about it. You would regret it. You’ve had dinner and done with the desert, only to know that the restaurant does not accept the card and now you have to look up for the closest ATM to withdraw the money.

SEE ALSO: 7 things only who live in Germany understand

Don’t forget to like us on facebook

The Honest Blog

3. Being late and not apologizing

In some cultures, being late is okay. In some, it’s a sign of importance. However, in German culture being late is considered a sign of ignorance. It will take some time to understand that when someone says we meet at 10:00am, (s)he assumes that you will be there by 9:50- 9:55am.

4. Walking in the bike lane

When you arrive in Germany, you will notice that many footpaths have a division with different color marking. One side of the lane is marked with a bicycle symbol. It should be obvious that you should not walk there. However, being oblivious and unhabitual to the practice, you are sure to walk in the bike lane and irk a few cyclists.

Do subscribe to the blog if you wish to learn more interesting things about Germany

5. Signing a contract without reading

When you first arrive in Germany, you will need an apartment, sim card, internet connection etc. When you go out to get one, you will find really attractive offers. You will be tempted to hop on to one and sign the contract without reading the fine lines. Only to find later that, the price would skyrocket after initial year or two. The cancellation policies are strict and trap customers into paying more. Thus read the contract carefully, if you can’t understand German, take help of someone who can.

6. Sunday blues

Because it’s Sunday, you decide to take a walk in the city and do some shopping. Only to your displeasure, the city center is deserted and shops are closed. Furthermore, Sunday is a quiet day in Germany. Meaning, you are not allowed to do anything that makes a loud noise. This would include vacuuming and using the washing machine if you have a nosy neighbor.

SEE ALSO: 7 Tips to mentally prepare for studying in Germany

7. Mixing up your garbage

Waste segregation is taken very seriously in Germany. There is a different dustbin for plastic/packaging waste, biowaste, paper/cardboard waste and other waste. In addition, there is community dustbin for brown glass, green glass, and medical waste. Learning which garbage goes into which dustbin would take some time. In the beginning, you will be surprised how annoyed your neighbors get when you mix up the garbage. Some of you might end up paying fines too.

SEE ALSO: 7 Reasons why living in Germany is awesome

Don’t forget to check: The ultimate packing list for Germany

What do you feel about living in Germany? Have you lived or living in Germany? How many points do you agree with? Let me know in the comments.

Do subscribe to the blog if you wish to learn more interesting things about Germany

More from Study in Germany

FAQs about Studying in Germany | Airports | Preparation and Arrival | Masters | Bachelors | PhD | Student in Germany | Life in Germany | Part-time Jobs | Working in Germany | Driving in Germany | Housing in Germany | Integration | Comparisons between Countries | Traveling in Europe

  • 52
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  • 52
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
life in germany, Prep and Arrival
To Blog

About Gautam Sawala

Gautam is a self-proclaimed blogger and web-developer. He lives in a small town in Germany which no one has ever heard of. He writes shitty answers on Quora. He calls himself a published author just because Quartz picked up on one of his articles. He also loves boasting about himself in third person.

4 comments

  1. The Honest Blog | 7 Reasons why living in Germany is awesome - The Honest Blog
    | May 3, 2018 @ 9:57 am
    Reply

    […] SEE ALSO: 7 mistakes you will make when you first arrive in Germany […]

  2. The Honest Blog | The ultimate packing list for Germany - Students - The Honest Blog
    | June 22, 2018 @ 5:51 am
    Reply

    […] SEE ALSO: 7 mistakes to avoid when you arrive in Germany […]

  3. The Honest Blog | Do not move to Germany if... - The Honest Blog - Being Honest
    | July 2, 2018 @ 4:53 pm
    Reply

    […] Read Also: 7 mistakes to avoid when you arrive in Germany […]

  4. The Honest Blog | Myths about Germany - Debunking 7 popular myths
    | August 2, 2018 @ 11:19 pm
    Reply

    […] SEE ALSO: 7 mistakes you will make when you first arrive in Germany […]

Leave a Comment

Click here to cancel reply

Submit Comment

Like us on Facebook
The Honest Blog
Join our Group
 
Studying and Living in Germany
Facebook Group · 60 members
Join Group
Welcome to the group! The members will advise you on the application process, opening a blocked account, selecting the university that fits your inte...
 
Subrscibe for Updates
Categories
  • Germany vs UK
  • Germany vs USA
  • India
  • Living in Germany
  • Motivation
  • My Thoughts
  • Places and Travel
  • Preparation and Arrival
  • Study in Germany
  • Studying in Germany
  • Working in Germany
Recent Posts
  • Can I live/ sleep in the car in Germany?
  • 15 things to know before you start working in Germany
  • Can a student with a Fachhochschule Degree pursue a Ph.D. in Germany?
  • Things to know before moving to Germany!
  • What don’t they tell you about moving abroad?
Archives
  • November 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
Tags
bachelors in germany Comparison dieting driving in germany Food and Drinks Housing in Germany india inspiration integration life in germany living in germany masters in germany moving abroad Part-time Jobs in Germany PhD in Germany Prep and Arrival quotes student in germany study in germany studying in germany travel Traveling in Europe Working in Germany
Blog
Then & Now: Paris
7 Reasons why living in Germany is awesome
The Honest Blog | What not to do in Germany - 7 mistakes to avoid in Germany
class="post-template-default single single-post postid-125 single-format-standard samba_theme samba_left_nav samba_left_align samba_responsive wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-5.4.5 vc_responsive"