German I, Semester I: Die Grüße

Sections:

Introduction  |   Section 1  |  Section 2  |   Section 3   |  Dictionaries

Section One:

Part A  |   Part B  |  Part C  |   Part D |   Part E |  Part F  |  Part G

Section One - Part C Die Kultur Now let's learn about how people in other cultures greet each other. How do you generally greet your friends? Do you shake hands? Do you simply wave? High five them? Do you hug them? Do you just say "hi"? For the most part, in the United States, we say "hi" and sometimes wave when we greet our friends. In German speaking countries, greeting friends is an entirely different practice. Germans will greet each other by shaking hands and/or sometimes exchanging a kiss on the cheek. Boys greet girls this way, girls greet girls this way. Boys typically greet boys only by shaking hands. While this seems to be a strange custom for us as it invades our "space" (which is also very cultural), Germans tend to feel quite the opposite. They feel that not greeting their friends in this way is cold and unwelcoming. Exchange students from countries like Germany or Austria can sometimes feel quite embarrassed when they discover Americans do not react the way they expect when they try to make physical contact with people they are meeting. It is therefore important to make sure they learn the normal behaviors of the country they are visiting before they go out and greet people. Adults also greet each other in these ways if they are friends and share a friendship that is more than just professional or an aquaintance. Now let's talk about your relationships with your parents! How many of you hug one of your parents or guardians at least once daily? Once weekly? This is another practice that is very cultural. Germans will hug and kiss their mothers on the cheek, often times every time they see her after not having seen her for a period of time. This is something that American teenagers find odd. This practice for Germans has no age barrier. Culture Focus Erster Schultag (First day of school) is quite a big deal in German-speaking countries. Typically parents will make a presentation of the first day of school by making a gift of a Schultüte, which is a large cone filled with sweets and candy. Every German child probably has a photograph of him or herself dressed in his or her best clothing holding the Schultüte in front of the house or school. This practice has been in place for at least 150 years in order to help alleviate some of the stress for the child, who is leaving the home and parents for the first time. Now go on to Part D!

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