Our differences

In a few months' time, it'll be my 2 years in Germany. That I survived another year, without running back to Singapore each time I got homesick or had a fight with Rieger, calls for a celebration, doesn’t it? Anything for a little party. Haha… What I wanna say is, these past months have offered me an insight on some of the culture differences we have. I wouldn’t call such differences as culture shock. Growing up in Singapore has at least instilled in me some tolerance towards others’ ways of life. I accept them with a laugh or a shrug most time. But on some occasions, I do roll my eyes like nobody’s business.

These are some of the things I’ve observed:

1. Most Germans drink sparkling water. Still water here is like Perrier in Singapore. People look at me funny whenever I ask for tap water.

2. The Germans do not drink plain hot water. They think it is disgusting.

3. The Germans eat rice with fork and knife.

4. The German words 'Gift' means poison, 'dick' means fat, 'die' means the, 'Rock' means skirt, 'Rat' means piece of advice.

5. If I past someone by in my neighbourhood, there is a high chance this person will greet me with a 'Hello' or 'Good day'. Even a kid does that. My neighbours in Singapore didn't even look at me even though we saw each other in the lift on our way to work almost everyday.

6. It is norm to wear shoes here in other people's houses. I'm seriously not used to that until now and I would ask friends to remove their shoes. While in winter, I try to close one eye cos it would be too cold for them, even with socks.

7. At weddings, friends and relatives would pay tribute to the wedded couple by putting up a skit or sketch which are usually about the funny bits of their courtship/habits/teenage or working life. A live band is often engaged to sing while the guests dance till wee hours of the morning. The guests at our Chinese weddings can't even wait till the last of the dinner course before rushing home.

8. We have curry chicken at Chinese funerals. The Germans eat Schnitzel (similar to our pork cutlet) at theirs and only on the last day of the funeral.

9. We put away pictures of the dead ones to lessen our grief. The Germans put up pictures of them to remember them by.

10. Kids here run around in graveyards, playing or looking for holy water to sprinkle on graves. Our kids rather die than play in there.

11. The Germans celebrate birthdays on the day itself or after. The Chinese do it before or on the day itself. Both consider it to be inauspicious if done otherwise.

Another turning point
A fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist
Directs you where to go
So make the best of this test
And don’t ask why
It’s not a question
But a lesson learned in time
It’s something unpredictable
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life
- Green Day