The importance of cultural Understanding when planning a trip overseas.

For the cultural visitor On business or pleasure

According to Chamberlain, Culture represents the values, norms, and traditions that affect how individuals of a particular group perceive, think, interact, behave, and make judgments about their world (Chamberlain 2005: 197)

There is nothing more terrible than ignorance in action. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 -1842)

As cited in Flamini, R 1997 Passport Germany: Your Guide to German business, customs and etiquette, p. 18, San Rafael, World Trade Press.

Destination Germany

Germany is the seventh largest country in Europe. Germany has shared boarders with France, Poland, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland. It has a population equivalent to 1/3 of the population of the USA ( in a much smaller area).

A Google search reveals many potential sources of information.

957,000 results

Guidebooks offer many insights into understanding the dos and taboos of other cultures Germany is a land where many things are done differently .

What is knigge?

Knigge a term the Germans use when referring to correct behaviour. Baron von Knigge lived from 1752 to 1796 as a writer and philosopher in northern Germany and coined the term Knigge with his publication "ber den Umgang mit Menschen" (How to Associate with People), which first defined the behaviours that signal a good upbringing and how these should be passed from one generation to the next.

How Do Germans view themselves?

Ridged yet Romantic, full of wanderlust (a zest and love of travel), organised, reserved, educated, successful, strong sense of national pride, straight forward (take everything at face value), direct, strive for consensus and stability and are very house proud and environmentally focused.

Germans are not the stereotypical personas that some travellers think of.

Greetings

Shaking hands is the established form of greeting in Germany. . Hand shakes with everyone including children and ladies before men. Say Guten Tag (good day), not how are you!

When being introduced to a woman wait to see if she extends her hand.

Introductions

Do use title and last name to address people. Say Herr (Mr) or Frau
(Mrs.) and do not use the formal pronoun du when talking to elderly people unless invited to.

Addressing someone: Should I use "Du" or "Sie"? The use of "Du" or "Sie" is usually an important indicator of the type of relationship that people have with each other. As a general rule, "Sie" is used with anyone who is not a close friend or a family member.

Communicating
Germans mean exactly what they say (almost to the point of bluntness). Small talk with strangers does not have a significant social function. .

Germans are usually a little more reserved and dont like talking about private matters.
Generally avoid topics like politics and religion. Maintain a reasonable distance of personal body space. Germans keep a large personal space around them approx 80 cm. Try to learn some German words as this will be well perceived.

DO
Maintain eye contact when greeting someone.

DO - BE ON TIME
Dont be late. Germans attach great importance to punctuality. You will win their favor if you keep your appointment on time! Apologise if you are late!

Germans can be considered the masters of planning.

German culture values forward planning and knowing what they will be doing at a particular time. Careful planning in ones personal and business life provides a sense of security. Rules and regulations allow people to know what is expected and plan their life accordingly.

Dress Etiquette Dont wear flashy jewellery and accessories (especially in East
Germany where such ostentation would be tactless, considering there is a lower standard of living). .

Do wear understated, formal and conservative clothing for

business.

DO

DONT

Essen und Trinken: Eating and Drinking in Germany

Generally if you know your table manners you should be alright. Although, if you want to be more specific

There are a few things you are allowed to eat with your hands. Wrstchen, the German version of a hotdog is one.

Dont
Put your hand in your lap while you are eating.
Put your elbows on the table.

Cut all of your food at one time cut one piece at a time
Start eating before every one else. Eat with your hands No burping and slurping at the table.

DO
Wait for every one to be seated. Wait for the host or hostess to propose a toast before commencing drinking.

If invited for dinner bring a gift for your hosts.

Place your napkin next to your plate if you need to leave the table (not on your chair!) Say Guten Appetit before beginning to eat.

Public Behaviour
Dont get drunk in
public. (Public drunkenness is frowned upon)

DONT

Dont Jay Walk

(German drivers may not stop)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCBd0KS rQVo (dinner etiquette) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JEPwFlx MHU&feature=related

Bibliography
APA: Cultural competence (n.d.) Source: Answers.com. Viewed 18 June 2011, Source: <http://www.answers.com/topic/cultural-competence> Bernstein, E 2004 Culture and Customs of Germany, Greenwood Press, Westport. Chamberlain, S P 2005 Recognizing and responding to cultural differences in the education of culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Intervention in School & Clinic, 40, p: 195-211. Source: www.answers.com/topic/cultural-competence, Viewed: http://www.answers.com/topic/cultural-competence 17 June 2011.

Flamini, R 1997 Passport Germany: Your Guide to German business, customs and etiquette, San Rafael, World Trade Press.

Flippo, H 1996 The German Way, NCT Publishing Group, Lincolnwood/U.S.

Germany Travel Taboo Guide Dos and Donts. (n.d.), Viewed: 17 June 2011,Source: <http://www.traveltaboo.com/>. Leigh, J (Ed.) 2006, German Culture Profile, Diverscare, Westend, Viewed: 16 June 2011, Source: <http://www.diversecare.com.au/upl files/file 34.pdf>. Lord, R 2003 Culture Shock Germany, Times Books International, Singapore. Wilson, P 2009 Culture Wise Germany The Essential Guide to Culture, Customs & Business Etiquette, Survival Books, London.

List of Images
Image 1, Source: www.cartoonstock.com Viewed: 15 July 2011<www.cartoonstock.com>. Image 2. Source: Greenwich Mean Time. Viewed: 15 June 2011, <wwp.greenwichmeantime.com>. Image 3. Source: Google. Viewed: 15 June 2011, <http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&source=hp&q=german+dos+and+don%27ts&oq=germany+dos+a&aq=0s&aqi =gs1v1&aql=&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=19465l25106l0l13l13l0l1l1l0l485l2000l5.1.0.1.3l10&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=f134 c59cefb8f2f7&biw=1230&bih=506>. Image 4. Source: Google. Viewed: 16 June 2011, <http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=german%20guidebooks&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1230&bih=50 6&wrapid=tlif130861985139431&um=1&ie=UTF&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi>. Image 5. Source: wikiquote. Viewed: 16 June 2011, <http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Adolf_Freiherr_Knigge >. Image 6. Source: Word Press. Viewed: 16 June 2011, <unofficialprogrammer.wordpress.com>. Image 7. Source: German Business Etiquette. Viewed: 16 June 2011, < http://www.german-business-etiquette.com/4addressing.html>. Image 8. Source: German Business Etiquette. Viewed: 16 June 2011, <http://www.german-business-etiquette.com/3greetings.html>. Image 9. Source:Savage Chickens. Viewed: 18 June 2011, <www.savagechickens.com>. Image 10. Source: Screen Geek. Viewed: 16 June 2011, < http://www.screengeek.co.uk/reviews/article/rango>.

List of images continued

Image 11. Source: G Static. Viewed: 17 June 2011, <http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTQ3U6sJaOvC0SdyHc-X4E5z2-u7IIjEJJliMmYXgdjuCanqpxX>. Image 12. Source: Flickr. Viewed: 17 June 2011, <http://www.flickr.com/photos/clg20171/2810275667/>. Image 13. Source: Shitty-chic BlogSpot, Viewed: 18 June 2011, <http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com>. Image 14. Source: Jaywalkers crossing, Viewed: 18 June 2011, <jwalkerscrossing.com>. Image 15 Source: The German Way. Viewed 16 June 2011, <http://www.german-way.com>. Image 16 . Source: Village Voice. Viewed: 16 June 2011, <blogs.villagevoice.com>. Image 17. Source: Cartoon Stock. Viewed: 16 June 2011, <www.cartoonstock.com>. Image 18. Source: shapingyouth.org. Viewed 16 June 2011, <www.shapingyouth.org>. Image 19. Source: Danrosetti.blogspot. Viewed 17 June 2011,danrostetti.blogspot.com >.