German traits can quickly become part of everyday life after living in the country for a

while. We asked which habits you just can't shake off, which ones you like – and which
ones you try to avoid.

We received a high number of varied and interesting responses to our questionnaire –

thanks to all who took the time to get in touch. We were glad to have the chance to read
all of your answers.

What are the most common habits you’ve picked up from living in Germany?

Paying in cash, peeing sitting down (at least for our male readers), waiting for the green
light to cross the road and enjoying different types of food: these are some of the habits
our readers told us they'd picked up since settling down in the Bundesrepublik.

Unlike some other places like the Netherlands and Scandinavia, Germany is still not on
board with paying for everything with a card. And this is a trait our readers found they
had developed since moving to the country.

Christopher Rastin, who came from Canada to Düsseldorf in 2013, said: “I almost only
pay in cash... the idea of a credit card or EC card to pay for something now seems
bizarre, whereas it was the only way I paid before.”

Rastin added that paying in cash had made him “much more sensitive to my spending
habits” and he now has more savings than when he lived in Canada.

On the topic of Germany's love affair with Bargeld (cash) Laurie Hall, who's from the
UK and now based in Munich, added: "This is one I resent only because German shops
are too stingy to let you pay for anything under €10 with a debit card. And you can
forget credit cards."

Crossing the road is a serious business in Germany. If you walk over when there's not a
green pedestrian light you might face a telling off from a fellow pedestrian or road user
– or even a fine.

READ ALSO: Daily dilemmas: Is it ever acceptable to cross the road at a red light
in Germany?

Tonia Brauer from California, who moved to Berlin in August 2018, said she often used
to cross the road in the US when there was a red light (if it was safe to do so). But in
Germany she never does it.

Photo: DPA

Meanwhile, Brauer has picked up other German lifestyle habits such as cycling
everywhere.

"I love riding my bike even in the rain now," said Brauer. "I never chit chat and I'm so
fast at bagging my groceries!
"Kaffee und Kuchen is the best idea ever! I found myself adjusting to these new habits
fairly quickly. I did notice because it is so different from my behaviour in the US."

Vija from India, who now lives near Hamburg, said he now always cycles to work and
"follows traffic lights like a pedestrian even when there is no vehicle traffic", echoing
the stereotypical German love of rules and order.

Hasyin Iqbal from Bangladesh, and now based in Heidelberg, has also changed a few of
his habits.

"Ever since my arrival, I always take my bags for grocery shopping instead of buying
plastic bags," he said. "I regularly check the mail box and buy stamps. I use more cash
than my debit or credit card."

Some readers say they've picked up the German trait of practicality and planning
seriously.

Jose in Münster plans things “three to six months" in advance since he settled in
Germany.

Being on time – and direct

Is it a myth that the Germans are always punctual? Well, maybe not completely. For lots
of foreigners, punctuality is something they've become more invested in since living in
Germany.

READ ALSO: Five German lifestyle habits you should think about adopting

Amber Dase from the US and now in Munich said: "I am much more punctual for
everything. Back home, I would be on time for work or for specific appointments with
offices, however, I would be much more relaxed about showing up late for social events
– meeting a friend, a lunch date, going to the movies.

"It's almost unthinkable for me now. And it's nice to actually show up for a lunch date
and my friend actually comes on time too! Imagine that! I I have to hold my tongue
when I go home for a visit and a friend shows up 20 minutes late for a coffee date. It
drives me crazy now!"

Omair, from Pakistan and now in Salzwedel, said he is now always on time – and he
had become more direct, like the Germans.

He added that he plans ahead in detail, has become more organized and opens windows
in the morning to let air in "even when it's freezing outside".

For some people, food habits were a major change, from getting a Wegbier (a beer to
carry with you for the road) to drinking more coffee.

Photo: DPA
"Every meal had to be hot or warm in India," said Yurvaraj Govindarajulu. "Now I do
not mind if even two of my meals (breakfast and dinner) are cold. I think I picked this
up from my German friends."

Others said they'd taken to enjoying "Brotzeit", a traditional German meal of bread and
other snacks.

READ ALSO: 13 things foreigners do that make Germans really uncomfortable

Attitude to nudity and toilet habits

For many foreigners, Germany's more casual attitude to nudity is a major cultural
difference. People in Germany don't tend to cover up in the changing rooms of gyms
and in most saunas you have to be completely naked.

Zaid from Pakistan said he's now adapted to Germany's open gym showers although he
feels "a little bit weird" about the nudity.

On the other hand, Maria from Spain, who's now in Berlin, said she enjoys the Free
Body Culture (FKK) attitude in Germany.

"Tried it once, now forever a nudist," she said. "I even feel uncomfortable wearing a
swimsuit when I really have to."

Some of our male readers pointed out that they now sit peeing down on the toilet seat
since that behaviour is encouraged.

Laurie Hall said: "It is so frowned upon to stand up that I started doing it pretty much
immediately."

Others pointed out that they now always clink glasses with eye contact. Well, the
Germans do say that you face seven years of bad sex if you don't...

Lauren Barry, who's originally from Florida, said she now spoke English with German
grammar. Barry also folds her duvet in half on the bed (a very German trait), and puts
"the bar down on the grocery belt so others behind you can put their stuff down" in the
supermarket.

Germans are known for not being afraid to speak up if they think someone is doing
something wrong. It's all part of the country's correcting culture.

Do you prefer to pay in cash? Photo: DPA

And Barbara Born, who's originally from South Africa but has been in Germany 20
years, says she's picked up that habit.

"I find myself telling people what they shouldn't be doing," she said. "I'm quicker to
speak up, but sometimes stick my nose where it shouldn't be!"
READ ALSO : Are Germans really rude or just avoiding politeness overload?

Which German habits do you dislike or try to avoid?

Respondents said that being negative, not very polite, not engaging in small talk and
staring too much were habits that they didn't like so much or tried to stop doing.

Tonia Brauer said: "I like all of the habits I’ve picked up except one. I find myself being
aloof and not smiling which is not me. It is my least favourite thing about Berlin. Life's
too short to walk around avoiding eye contact."

"Germans smile a lot less than most people around the world," said Hasyin Iqbal. "I
wasn't like that before. When I first came here, I would always have a smile on my face,
but now, I would rather smile less."

Neil Insh said he tried to avoid the German habit of "staring at other people
unashamedly", while Rutuja in Wiesbaden doesn't want to "eat Kartoffeln (potatoes)
with every meal".

Meanwhile, Christopher Rastin said he hates that motorists in Germany can sometimes
"tailgate" while driving.

"I cannot accept 50 cars all doing 150 kph on the autobahn only separated by 5cm," he
said. "I will never understand how the 'Germans are great drivers' reputation evolved."

Lots of respondents said there were some habits from their home country that they're
stuck with.

Laurie Hall said: "As an Englishman I say please, thank you and sorry all the time to an
extent that Germans find bizarre. Don"t think I will ever stop doing that."

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Khausik - 30 Jan 2020 14:14
Hey, I am living in Germany sinc