This month’s featured country is Germany, Susanne’s home country (she is a dual German-American citizen). The English word Germany derives from the Latin Germania, which Julius Caesar adopted for the peoples east of the Rhine. The German name Deutschland, originally diutisciu land – “the German lands” – is derived from deutsch, which descends from Old High German diutisc (meaning “popular”).
We recently interviewed journalist and entrepreneur Benjamin Bathke. Benjamin is originally from Germany and immigrated to the U.S. in 2011.
Q. What are the cultural differences between Germany and the USA?
A. One of the key differences between Germany and the U.S. is the prevailing aversion to risk in my motherland. While Americans tend to be more open to taking risks and starting their own companies, Germans are more traditional in their thinking and their actions when it comes to free enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Germans are also pretty straight-forward and speak their minds. Small talk is not quite as common as in the U.S., and striking up conversations with strangers happens less often.
Social interactions in the U.S. are generally much more cut and dried than in Germany. From the standard “How are you?” to “I appreciate it” to “Nice to meet you,” certain phrases are commonplace and part of everyday life.
Germany is also much less of a car-dominated society than the United States. Being smaller than Texas but having roughly four times as many people, Germany is densely populated and possesses an extensive train system connecting cities many times per day. Moreover, a much larger percentage of the population rides their bikes to work. Generally speaking, Germans much less dependent on the automobile than people in the U.S.
Q. What brought you to the U.S.?
A Master’s degree in Communications. And American Football.
Q. What is something most people don't know about your original country?
A. German culture and language is omnipresent in the U.S. – GerMericans are the biggest U.S. minority! There are tons of German last names, German city names and much more that reminds me of Germany on a daily basis. However, most people don’t know much about it. Did you know, for instance, that Zuckerberg means “sugar mountain”?
Q. What do you miss the most?
A. Mobility, in terms of transportation, but also socially and economically. It’s much easier to get around in Germany, even if you don’t have a car. What’s more, I feel like our health care and welfare system is more equitable.
Q. What is the biggest misconception you encounter when people learn where you are originally from?
A. Aside from a few outliers (high school kids) asking me if we had electricity in Germany when I was a foreign exchange student in Texas ten years ago, I’d say it’s the belief that many Germans drink beer out of glass boots. The culprit is the movie Beerfest, which made the term “Das Boot” popular, especially among young people in the U.S.
Q. Where do you live now? (city / state)
A. I live in St. Louis, Missouri
Q. Any other comments to add?
A. Wherever you grow up, your surroundings are your measuring stick. It’s easy to think the beliefs you hold growing up and the things you do are the universal truth. Coming to the U.S. not only taught me a lot about the American culture, but also what it means to be German. True self-discovery begins where your comfort zone ends – that’s why it’s vital to travel early and often.
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