German antique household items and interior items. Life of the German occupiers: the strangest habits and procedures
A Russian migrant was sheltered by an elderly woman married couple Germans - 67-year-old Bernard and 63-year-old Adele. The family lives in old house, built by Adele’s grandfather around 1900. In Russia wooden houses It is unlikely that they would have stood long enough for as many as three generations to live in them. IN neighboring village Bernard's mother, who is already 90 years old, lives there. True, it’s difficult to call this area a village - German villages differ from cities only in size, but they look even better than some Russian towns.
The 4-level house of Bernard and Adele occupies 5 acres of land:
“Land in Germany is expensive, the cost of one hundred square meters of land to build a house is about 30 thousand euros. The plot has its own garage and a very small garden. I estimate the cost of such a house to be approximately 300-400 thousand euros.”
On the first level there are two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a toilet. The same thing is on the second level, only there is one bedroom here. On the third level, where the man actually lives, he has a bathroom, a bedroom and a small kitchenette at his disposal. In the basement there is a laundry and furnace room. 30 years ago, Bernard personally insulated the walls of the house with basalt fiber (Rockwool). Foam plastic is more common for insulation, however, this can cause mold, since polystyrene foam practically does not allow air to pass through. Regarding heating, you need to heat it every day, since the house cools down during the night. Every morning at 6 o'clock Bernard lights up the stove.
“I cannot answer for all Germans, but as a rule, only those rooms in which they live are heated well. Those. During the day, the living room, kitchen, and bathroom are heated to a temperature of 20-22°C. In other rooms it could be 15°C. At night they heat the bedroom, but to a temperature of 18-20°C, the rest of the rooms are either left untouched or, if not too lazy, the heating is set to minimum.”
For many Russians, a temperature of 20-22 degrees is too low, but the Germans solve this problem simply - by wearing extra clothes. At this temperature, the optimal level of humidity in the room is established; it is also believed that for better work The brain needs just such a temperature regime.
As for food, it also has its own characteristics:
“Germans eat little for breakfast. Usually this is a sandwich with cheese and sausage, or oatmeal with milk and cocoa. Since my Germans are pensioners, they usually have lunch at home. For lunch, be sure to serve hot food, cook it yourself or order food home.”
For lunch, Adele makes Hochzeitssuppe, which includes noodles, scrambled eggs and bone marrow flour balls, and the national dish Maultaschen, which literally translates to “mouth bags” and is minced meat in dough. Also on the table there are often croquettes, French fries on the side, and as a dessert they can serve fruit salad with whipped cream.
“For lunch, Germans can drink beer, wine, wine diluted with soda, apple juice with soda. After all this they can also have a cup of coffee.”
Dinner is usually not very filling; after seven in the evening it is no longer customary for Germans to eat. As a Russian migrant notes, vegetables and fruits in Germany are cheaper than in Russia:
“Products are bought in the nearest supermarkets: Edeka, Rewe, Aldi, Netto. For me the food is tasty and of high quality. Prices: 300g sliced Maasdam or Gouda cheese - 1.86 euros, 200g sliced sausage - 0.86 euros, 750g sliced sandwich bread - 0.85 euros, 250g frozen salmon fillet - 4.29 euros, 720 G applesauce– 0.69 euros.”
Thinking about moving to permanent place residence in Germany, it is necessary to become thoroughly familiar with the local mentality and culture of life of the population.
It will be very difficult for a Russian person to understand many of the actions of a German, his thoughts, humor and disappointments. Different approaches to all everyday activities, to work, to organizing free time, do not allow us to find mutual language between these nations.
Initially, the standard of living in capitalist Germany is higher than in Russia; some things that seem obvious to them will be a real discovery for a Russian.
Almost everything married couples live in the suburbs, in their own houses or cottages, at least this is an indicator of success. All household equipment last word equipment: Bosch mini-washers, lawn mowers and convenient garden tools. The female half of the provincial population is mainly concerned with children, home and garden. Male - goes to work in the city, in free time helps the family in everyday life. The Germans are very economical people; they practically never have anything superfluous or unnecessary. Each thing has its own clear purpose.
For example, the karcher multifunctional vacuum cleaner not only helps in cleaning the house, but also collects sawdust after using a chainsaw for further use as fertilizer. German housewives only trust laundries to wash their clothes; it’s much more economical: you don’t need to waste electricity and water, you just need to throw a quarter into the washing machine. There are meters and automatic switches for the consumption of water, gas, and heating at home. Solid waste is removed by special garbage trucks, which arrive daily to each house, strictly on schedule. Any housewife is involved in sorting waste; for a certain type of waste, there are generally bags of different colors.
When going to the store, German women never buy food in bulk, or in bags, as is customary here. Confidence in tomorrow, in any situation is also a character trait of the local population, and not without reason. Before shopping, every housewife makes a list, down to the gram, of the products needed for the week, i.e. they know exactly what they will cook on each day and in what quantities.
In supermarkets, customers only give their lists to managers, who, in turn, fill the basket with the necessary goods, carefully packing each item. Not a single German woman would have the desire, for example, to smell a sausage before buying it. They all have strong confidence in the quality of the products and only deploy them at home.
You can order food at home from any restaurant - dinner will be delivered on time, still hot, and the menu will never be mixed up. If any misunderstanding or delay occurs, the food is unconditionally provided at the expense of the establishment.
It is customary to celebrate birthdays in the morning by having a festive breakfast with sweets. Flowers must be a gift, regardless of the gender of the birthday person. Men are mostly given yellow roses; they are a symbol of courage and strength.
It has a federal structure, the vast majority of its population (92%) – ethnic Germans. In addition, almost 2 million Turks live in Germany, about a million people from former Yugoslavia and the largest Russian-speaking diaspora in Europe (up to 5 million according to 2013 data), there are also Danes, Dutch, Gypsies, Jews.
German lifestyle
The majority of the population (90%) is concentrated in cities, but even in rural areas Germans prefer an urban lifestyle. There are approximately one and a half million more men than women. Here it is customary to get married late, at 30-33 years old, first - study and career. 38 million people are married, the rest prefer open relationships.
The people cannot be called very religious. Although, according to researchers, Protestant ideas greatly influenced the formation of German national character. Today, 32% of Germans consider themselves Lutherans, the same number are Catholics, and 31% are atheists, who predominate in the east (former GDR). Orthodox Christians number just over one percent. The rest are Muslims, Jews, as well as Baptists, Methodists, and Jehovah's Witnesses.
True Aryans
The appearance of Germans generally corresponds to established stereotypes: tall, blue-eyed and fair-haired, fit, neat, well-built. The stronger sex is characterized by a strong-willed chin and a large nose with a hump. The average height of a German man is 187-191 cm. In the south of the country people are slightly shorter, and there are also dark hair, and brown eyes.
IN last years The Germans develop a cult of the body, just like in ancient times. They take good care of themselves, play sports, go to fitness centers, and ride bicycles. And somehow it’s already indecent to have a belly. People with overweight, of course, there are, but loose pickles - never!
For some reason, German women are not considered very attractive. Maybe because they hide their femininity under unpretentious clothes? It is not customary for them to dress up or follow fashion. IN Everyday life women wear trousers, sweaters and T-shirts, walking low, with backpacks. Bright clothes, like cosmetics, are considered bad manners. Although, if you look closely, you can find many nice ones among German women.
German character
The main features of the German character (conscientiousness, pedantry, rationality and frugality) have evolved over the centuries under the influence of many historical factors. The Germans are very punctual; it is basically impossible for them to be late even by five minutes. There must be order everywhere and in everything: things are in their places, in life everything is according to the rules. They plan purchases, meetings, trips and other events, and make lists of necessary things to do. They love consistency, especially in small things.
The desire for order is also expressed in law-abidingness. Germans don't break the rules traffic, do not jump in line, do not cross the road in the wrong places, and sort garbage. It is not customary for them to talk about money, but it is known that Germans work all their lives, save and save for old age. But in their declining years, they can live comfortably on a state pension and savings, and most importantly, travel around the world. The desire to travel can be considered another feature of the German national character.
Habits of Germans
All Germans are early risers. In production, the working day begins at six in the morning. They go to bed no later than 22-00, and children are put to bed at 19-00. Therefore, it is not customary to disturb people in Germany after nine in the evening. This does not apply to young people who rock out at discos and parties at night.
Young families prefer to live separately. Children are simply idolized, they are constantly carried with them in kangaroos, and they are not left with their grandmothers. Independence is in fashion. From the age of 14, teenagers also begin to live independently. A network of special boarding houses has been developed for elderly Germans. All generations definitely come together to celebrate Christmas.
Even relatives do not visit each other without an invitation. If the Germans have honored you and invited you home for coffee and cake, then rest assured that there will be no other treat. If a birthday or other holiday is celebrated at home, then soft drinks and dessert are served first, and then meat and.
It is important for Germans to have a hobby; they like to grow flowers in the garden or make things with their own hands: airplane models, decorative trinkets for the home. They love nature and pets. They respect traditions and customs. They are conservative in their hobbies, attend clubs of similar interests, and enjoy participating in carnival processions.
Communication
All Germans speak fluent English. In communication they are polite, friendly, but somewhat restrained in their emotions. They smile at each other and do not burden each other with problems. Often in these smiles one can sense some insincerity and regard this as hypocrisy. When communicating, you should not get too close to a German so as not to invade his personal space.
Today we take a look under the veil of German stiffness. We think that it will not hurt anyone to get acquainted with the unusual national highlights of German pastime and behavior of Germans, daily and holiday.
1. Eye to eye
It is customary among Germans to look into each other's eyes while clinking glasses (no matter what drink). They believe that if you do not follow this custom, you will experience failure in your sexual life. Not just for a while, but for 7-8 years. By the way, our “good health”. In German it will sound like “Prost”!
2. What will the lead tell you?
On New Year's Eve, many Germans gather small companies and tell fortunes with lead. To do this, they melt some product over candles. Then pour this liquid into a container with cold water. As the lead hardens, it takes on bizarre shapes, from which those gathered try to figure out what awaits them in the year.
3. Hello!
In German society it is customary to say hello to strangers in elevators, train compartments, shops.
4. Handshake
It is also customary to shake hands at any opportunity. You must shake hands when meeting, when parting, when arriving and leaving, when you agree or disagree to something. The Germans give great importance a firm handshake that, if given with all your heart, could risk breaking half a dozen small bones. As a sign of friendship, the hand is held as long as possible. If a German squeezes your hand like a pincer and doesn't let go even when sparks are flying out of your eyes and you feel like you're about to lose consciousness, it means that he likes you. When answering a phone call, a German usually says his name. This is a verbal replacement for a handshake.
During various religious holidays In Germany it is prohibited to sell alcoholic beverages. It is also not uncommon for clubs and bars to close these days.
6. Fire Wheel
To celebrate Easter, it is customary for the Germans to lower from a mountain or hill a burning bale of hay that has not been eaten by livestock during the winter. Usually it happens cylindrical. This is how the Germans welcome spring.
7. Clap
In Germany, clapping your hands as a sign of approval is customary in theaters and at concerts. Students slam their palms on their desks in schools or universities. If at a lecture people begin to applaud, as if at a performance, this means that the lecturer is asked to immediately wrap up the lecture. Tapping on the table when entering a room can replace the traditional “Hello.”
8. Birthday
In German society it is not customary to celebrate birthdays in advance. Even if, say, your holiday is on Monday, you will be condemned if you move it to Sunday.
9. Children
Germans treat animals better than children. Children for them are primarily a source of noise and disorder. All these inconveniences associated with children irritate them very much. IN in public places your dog will receive more attention than your offspring.
10. Elderly people
But on the contrary, the attitude towards older people can be said to be reverent. In Germany, a person gains real independence only after retirement, and it is then that he discovers reserves of conservatism and a passion for order that he never thought about in his days. rebellious youth. The Germans are looking forward to taking this place under the sun of the “elderly” elite.
How do you like this behavior of the Germans?
1). Shops and supermarkets are closed on Sundays in Germany. It is almost impossible to buy anything, except in rare kiosks that are open for several hours.
2). Showing your emotions while driving to another traffic participant can result in a hefty fine. For example, by showing your middle finger you can lose up to 4,000 euros! Twist it at your temple - up to 1000 euros. Showing your tongue - up to 300 euros. Waving your palm in front of your face - up to 350 euros. By the way, this sign “to wave your palm in front of your face,” which we don’t have, means to say about someone “stupid, stupid, you don’t understand,” and so on.
Translation: I was actually going to save the world today,
but in our village there are no buses on Sundays
Fines for driving: middle finger - 4000 euros, tongue - 150-300 euros, twist at the temple - up to 1000 euros
2). Germany has a big problem with immigrants. Especially many problems are created by the Turks who do not want to integrate into European culture. They preserve their language, their religion, their traditions. Very often Turks live on social benefits for large families and the unemployed. Also, in every city there are a lot of Turkish shops and stalls, where you need to be extremely careful - at any convenient opportunity they will cheat and deceive you.
Number of foreigners in Germany (2012). Most of all are Turks (1,575,717), Russians are only in 8th place (202,090)
But despite all this, the Germans remain calm. The problem is that they are simply afraid of being accused of Nazism and intolerance towards other peoples. They remember the history of World War II very well and, by the way, are very ashamed and upset about it. The theme of Hitler and the Nazis - taboo topic, which is better not to mention when talking with Germans. She is very unpleasant for them.
4). Having a dog in Germany, like swearing while driving, is an expensive pleasure. There are dog taxes here. For example, in the city of Mainz, if you have a dog, you are required to pay a tax of 250 euros per year. Just like that, for no reason, into the city treasury. The city uses this money to build nurseries.
All owners are required to clean up after their dogs. If, for example, you don’t clean up your pet’s poop on a playground or sports ground, you can get a fine of about 250 euros.
All dogs are required to have an electronic chip that is sewn into their withers. The owner's name is encoded in the chip. If, for example, your dog causes an accident, or you kick it out into the street, these actions will not go unnoticed. Of course, you will receive a fine as soon as the dog's chip is recognized.
For this reason, in Germany it is simply impossible to pick up a dog from the street or find it, like here. In Germany there are practically no stray dogs roaming the streets. For this reason, many Germans adopt dogs from kennels, very often from kennels in other, less developed countries. Outbred dogs are very popular here, even more popular than purebred dogs.
Very often in Germany you can meet homeless people with dogs. The reason is simple: German homeless people receive extra money to maintain dogs.
5). Germany has a tax on television and radio. Even if you don't have a TV and don't listen to the radio at all, you are required to pay tax: about 20 euros per month. Of course, if you don't pay it, you get a fine.
6). When an ambulance drives down the road in Germany with its lights on, all road users move apart different sides, they stop just to let this car pass. You won’t see anything like this anywhere else; the sight is amazing, especially for a Russian person. The reason is simple: without missing " Ambulance“You risk receiving a colossal fine, especially if it turns out that because of you the car was late for the patient.
7). A pedestrian at a pedestrian crossing can actually cross with eyes closed. Motorists stop, having already seen you from afar, even if you had no intention of crossing.
8). Germans are for the most part law-abiding. There are a lot of “correct” Germans who, at every opportunity, are eager to set you on the right path. For example, by warning that your dog cannot do his business here, or by “snitching” on you if you threw the trash in the wrong place. The Germans say about such people “einen Stock im Arsch haben”, which literally translates as “a stick in the ass” and means “to be too correct, pedantic, without a sense of humor.”
9). The issue of registering and renting apartments in Germany is thoroughly thought out and works. It’s very easy here to rent an apartment and immediately register in it. This procedure is free and does not take much time. The money for the apartment is transferred to the owner’s card, and you almost never see him. Because such a system works so well, many Germans live their whole lives in a rented apartment or rented house. This is not considered something strange.
10). In Germany, the so-called “ social watch" If, for example, you were caught driving drunk, you will not only be deprived of your license and fined, but also forced to work 50-500 social hours, depending on the degree of your intoxication. These social hours can most often be worked in state-owned enterprises and firms.
eleven). What a croissant is to the French, a pretzel is to the Germans. Pretzel, the German pretzel, can be bought anywhere, on any corner, in any city. Germans very often have a snack or beer with it.
12). Dessert is very popular in German cuisine. Germans are passionate about making pies and other sweets. You can often meet a German on the street with a pie in his hands; here it is customary to bring something with you when you go to visit.
13). The Germans love to decorate their home and garden. The personal space of their home does not end at the threshold; they clean and decorate even further: in the garden, on the adjacent street. That’s why it’s so pleasant to walk around German cities and villages. This culture of “decoration” is very developed; in supermarkets you can find a huge range of different decorations.
14). Few people know this, but in the south-west of Germany winemaking is developed and there is very good wine.
15). The environment is very important to the Germans. The entire life of a modern German is saturated with it: bio-food, eco-electricity, eco-transport, waste separation, and so on.
16). In Germany you can drink tap water everywhere. Both cold and hot.
17). The Germans love it National holidays. There they all sing together, drink beer and, of course, eat sausages. Very popular in Germany National Costume. It is worn very often on holidays and carnivals, by both men and women, both young and old.
18). Cigarettes are expensive in Germany. A pack of cigarettes costs about 5 euros. For a cigarette butt thrown on the asphalt, the fine is 25 euros.
19). Beer is cheap and tasty. You can drink on the street and in public places. You can also drink vodka or wine on the street; this is not prohibited.
20). In Germany, it is almost impossible to buy an expired or spoiled product, except perhaps in a Turkish store.
21). Almost all contracts for the Internet, telephone communications, etc. - two-year. It’s rare to find internet for six months or a SIM card for a year. For a non-two-year contract you will have to pay a little more.
22). Germany has a lot of cyclists, bike paths and traffic lights. For many, this is the most frequently used transport, even in winter.
23). Education in Germany is free in many states, including for foreigners. There are no bribes for admission or training at all. Many students receive good scholarships, on which you can live quite well.
24). The Germans dress practical, comfortable and beautiful. Women often go out without makeup and don't wear heels. Most popular view bags - backpack.
25). The Germans are ardent football fans. During matches there are additional bus routes to the arena. Everyone gets sick - from young to old, both men and women.
25). Public transport is expensive. One ticket for a trip on a bus or tram costs about 2.5 euros. A monthly ticket costs about 50-70 euros. But public transport is modern, convenient, runs exactly on schedule and is almost never late.
26). Expensive gasoline: 1.3-1.8 euros per liter. Cheap cars. A running used car, for example, can be bought for only 1000-1500 euros. Buying used cars here is not risky, since Germany has a very good and incorruptible technical inspection.
27). It costs 1500-2500 euros to get a driver's license. Don’t buy it, but go to a driving school and pass all the exams.
28). The German trash can is just a treasure. Here you can find everything your heart desires: a bicycle, a microwave, any furniture. If you wish, you can completely furnish an empty apartment with things from a German trash bin. The standard of living is so high that Germans often throw away almost new things. By the way, it’s not easy to throw away bulky garbage; again, you have to pay for it, but in every city there are days when garbage can be put out for free. It is on these days that the streets are filled with cars with Polish license plates. Poles collect German “garbage” (furniture, televisions, equipment), and then sell it in Poland.
29). On the German Internet you can’t download or steal practically anything for free. There are no pirates, but for torrents, for example, you can go to jail.