Lifestyle

July 8, 2008
by Jennifer Bartels and Julie Warchol

Germany is becoming like the United States in many different ways. Even sixty-seven year old native Berliner Christine Wachau has noticed the move to a more capitalistic society exclaiming that: "money is on the minds of everyone now in Germany." However, upon spending two weeks in this beautiful country it is very apparent that Germany is not the United States. It is easy for an American to see that the pace of life is slower here.

Life in the U.S is constantly moving. This is not to say life is slow in Germany like it is in many other countries south of the United States. In fact, Berlin and Munich are bustling cities that seem to be moving twenty-four hours a day. However, in the midst of all the movement, there seems to be a sense of calmness. In fact, according to a study done by the University of Connecticut, Americans are working seven more hours in a workweek then Germans (http://ideas.repec.org/p/nbr/nberwo/11278.html).

Life in the United States is quick. Even a stranger in the subway proclaimed, "Americans spend too much time running around and do not stop to enjoy life."  Our first day in Germany helped us realize that the quick pace in the U.S. is not a worldwide feature. We immediately noticed this at our first meal as a group in Germany at a local café in Berlin. It was late Tuesday afternoon when we sat to eat as a group, a time in the U.S. when the majority of people are stuck in traffic jams trying to make their way home as quick as possible. The local Berliners seemed very relaxed as they sat outside enjoying beers and talking with their friends and family. Then, our first day in Munich the same experience happened once again on a Wednesday evening when we went to a beer garden where there were up to four thousand people relaxing and enjoying each other's company. Obviously, the U.S. also has restaurants where people sit, relax and eat, however for most Americans it is uncommon to do this on weekday afternoons; it is especially uncommon for most Americans to drink during the day, and those who do are often looked down upon.

Yet, it wasn't only the atmosphere and time of day that made us realize that the pace of life differed in Germany. In the U.S. people usually want their check as soon as they are finished eating so they can move on to their next order of business for the day. After being done eating for more than twenty minutes at the café in Berlin, we were perplexed as to why we still hadn't received our check from waitress. It was later explained to us by native Germans Markus and Julia Kammler that dinners usually ask for the check because it is common for Germans to sit and relax for long periods after meals.

As mentioned above, the first café ate at people were drinking beer during the afternoon. While later speaking with Markus Kammler he told us that it is common to even drink earlier in the day. Our first assumption was that Germany was full of alcoholics, but after spending two weeks here it was obvious that this was not the case at all. Germans just seem to be more open-minded and feel that it is okay to enjoy a beer or drink during the afternoons as a way of taking the edge off.

Our conclusion that the pace of life is more relaxed in Germany is not based on the above information alone. We also found it fascinating that all the parks and lounges by the water would be packed during the middle of the workweek. Once again, we are not assuming that people in America don't relax at any time Monday through Friday, but usually most Americans are working all day during the workweek. If Americans don't work during the week, usually they are frantically trying to finish the other several tasks that are on their "to do lists." During her several visits to the U.S. Christine Wachau noticed this trend as well. She mentioned several times how Americans always seem to be doing something even when they are doing nothing, saying: "Americans are always going."

It was briefly mentioned earlier that Germany is becoming more Capitalistic; nevertheless, the majority of shopping locations are closed on Sundays and close at eight on the weekdays. Coming from the U.S. where almost everything is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; the whole group was shocked to learn that businesses weren't taking advantage of one of the free days people usually have to shop. Many in our group kept talking about how businesses were losing money by closing on Sunday and early on the weekdays. When asked about this issue, the Kammlers told us that Sunday is used as a time to "spend with family and relax." Using Sundays as a day to relax isn't practiced much in the U.S.

We strongly believe that U.S. could learn a lot from Germany. In a capital economy it is important to work so that one can stay competitive and make money, but given the fact that Germany is the third largest economy in the world (Let's Go Germany) it should be apparent that it is also alright to allow time to relax and enjoy life little. The Germans seem to have found a good balance between work and play, and this is something that the United States needs to do a better job of. Life is too short to spend it being stressed everyday. Additionally, maybe the United States needs to learn to relax a little more with the ones we love instead of the television.