In the Moment

Life in Germany is different. People aren't in such a hurry here and they tend to focus more on the moment at hand rather than what could be. For example, people here do not put their cell phones on the table at dinner. That is considered extremely rude because the person sitting in front of you should be more important than any potential phone call or text.

I think in the States, we've been conditioned to always be available and if we don't answer a phone call or text immediately, others get annoyed or worried. I've now realized that those people can wait and that I'm not important enough to get any calls or texts that are so urgent they can't wait until after my dinner.

Speaking of dinner, that's a whole different experience too. Servers take your order, bring your food, then leave you alone. One reason they can do this is because there are no free refills, so people don't chug their drinks and expect a full glass to appear in front of them. There's also very little tipping, so the servers don't have to be your friend by the end of the meal to get a good tip. You typically leave less than a buck if everything was fine and stop there. Since the servers are paid by the hour at the restaurant and not from the tips, you can sit and have a drink or meal for as long as you want. No one pressures you to get up from the table and the server just waits for you to flag them down to get the bill whenever you are done. They don't usually drop it off because you might decide you want another beer or coffee. It usually takes Americans a while to get used to this dining style, and I've finally adjusted. It's nice.

Life on Sundays is very different. Stores are closed here and it's supposed to be a family day, whether you are religious or not. Neighbors do not want to see you mowing the grass or washing your car. You are supposed to be spending time with family or friends just enjoying one another's company. The only things that are open on Sundays are restaurants and cool places to take your family like castles, pools, amusement parks, etc. It's great to see moms, dads, sisters and brothers all spending real quality time with each other.

Professionals also get six weeks of vacation time per year here. This, again, promotes quality family time and reduces stress and burn-out at work. While I'm a hard worker at the office, I really like that the culture here doesn't expect people to work around the clock and be attached to their BlackBerries 24/7. Germany truly embraces the concept of a work/life balance, which most American companies only pretends to support.