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An American’s first impression of Germany may be one of, “well, the street signs are in a different language, and the downtowns look like something out of the Epcot Center Global Village, but this is pretty much like home.”
In a lot of ways it is, but if you are aware of certain customs you will not only avoid embarrassment, but you will also make a positive impression on your new neighbors and acquaintances.
The people I have met in Germany have been extremely tolerant of my “American-ness”. But there are still three main areas in which I continue to annoy my friends and neighbors. Just to let them know that I do know what is socially acceptable, even if I don’t actually do it, I’d like to briefly explain about time, telephoning, and recycling in Germany.
Time
Whether the event is social or business, punctuality in Germany is very important. An invitation for dinner at eight usually means anywhere between 7:59 and 8:00, (between 1959 and 2000 in Germany*). If you are planning a party, tell your German friends the time you actually want and expect them to arrive – don’t plan to have that 15 minute American buffer zone to put the finishing touches on your hors d’ouveres. There are reports of a strange “Akademisches Viertel” (Academic Quarter-hour) clause which gets you off the hook if you are less than 15 minutes late. This is not a foolproof excuse and does not apply to dinner invitations.
If you have a meeting or are invited to a social function, and you find yourself running late, do call to announce your late arrival (preferably before the time you were expected).
*Remember that in Germany, time is told on the twenty four hour scale, not the twelve hour one: the rule is to subtract 12 from any number over twelve. So 17:00 becomes 5 pm and 2:00 remains 2 am. Sometimes when speaking, Germans will use the 12 hour calendar. Usually, this does not cause confusion. Very few people in Germany eat dinner at 8 in the morning.
Telephoning
In Germany, even local calls are charged. By using call-by-call numbers you can save on local and long-distance calls. Germans appreciate knowing if they have reached the correct number RIGHT AWAY. Simply answering the phone with “hello” will most likely annoy your callers. The good news is that Germans don’t see the phone as a toy or a marketing tool, so it is unlikely that you will receive crank calls or phone solicitations. It is expected that you answer your phone with your last name, (“Smith.”), and identify yourself when you call (“Hier ist Smith”). If you are at someone else’s house and you answer the phone, the correct procedure is to identify yourself first, followed by the name of your host, (“Smith bei Schmidt”).
Recycling
The German household garbage recycling system is most impressive. A sure-fire way to annoy your new neighbors is to blatantly disregard the recycling rules. Recycling policies and regulations vary slightly from town to town. Brochures are available from your local authority explaining the recycling rules in your town. In general, you can go by the following:
- Most plastic wrappings and containers have a “Grüne Punkt” – kind of like a little green Ying and Yang. These items belong in the yellow trash can (“Gelbe Tonne”).
- Paper and cardboard go in the blue trash can (Blaue Tonne or “Papiermüll”) or in special paper recycling containers in your neighbourhood.
- Glass goes in a specially marked glass trash cans or in special glass recycling containers in your neighborhood (only during working hours, please!). Sometimes bottles are also separated by color, e.g. green bottles = “Grünglas” and white bottles =”Weissglas”
- Old clothes and shoes are picked up at your curb by various charity organizations on a regular basis (they will announce a few days before). Alternatively, there are containers for old clothes and shoes set up by commercial companies around the city.
- Compostable kitchen waste goes in the (green or brown) Bio-container (Biotonne).
- Garden cuttings go in the Bio-container or into a special compost container (Kompost-Container) to be found somewhere in your area.
- Old batteries are collected in special boxes in many stores. All stores selling batteries must acccept used batteries!
- Broken televisions, old refrigerators, old furniture, ironing boards, etc. are picked up in some cities 3-4 times during the year at heavy trash pickup “Sperrmüll” day. Alternatively, cities set up special recycling grounds where citizens can deliver things they need to get rid of (“Recyclinghof”). Fees will be charged for some items. Locations can be found out from your local authorities or the white pages. Sometimes you can also arrange with the city to pick up heavy things like televisions and refrigerators at a certain date.
- There is even a special Christmas tree pickup day “Abholung der Weihnachtsbäume”. Dates will be announced in the newspapers, usually early or mid-January.
- If you have anything left, put it in the dark grey trash can for unrecycable trash “Restmüll” (no hot ashes, please!).
Residence and Work Permit
US citizens in possession of a valid US passport do not need a visa for airport transit, tourist or business trips for stays up to 90 days.
This does not necessarily apply to US residents who hold an Alien Registration Card (green card). They need to check the relevant visa requirements with the authorities of the country of their nationality.
All persons who wish to stay in Germany for more than 90 days are required to obtain a residence permit.
If you intend to stay longer than 90 days, you are required to register at the local Meldebehoerde or Einwohnermeldeamt (Registration Office) within one week of arrival.
Citizens of the United States of America may apply for their residence permit after entering Germany without a visa. Alternatively they can apply for a residence permit prior to entry at the German Embassy in Washington or at a German Consulate (currently located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York or San Francisco). Inquiries may be made at the German Embassy at www.germany.info/.
Employment in Germany
All persons who wish to seek gainful employment in Germany are required to obtain a residence permit in the form of a visa. The residence permit (“Aufenthaltserlaubnis”) only allows you to take up gainful employment (employee or self-employment) if the residence permit expressly entitles you to do this. Alternatively they can apply for a residence permit prior to entry at the German Embassy in Washington or at a German Consulate (currently located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York or San Francisco). Inquiries may be made at the German Embassy at www.germany.info/.
Once in Germany, the following procedure generally applies for job seekers:
Once you have an offer of employment and have registered your residence,
- go to the Ausländerbehörde (Immigration Office).
- Check with your local Einwohnermeldeamt or Rathaus for the exact address and office hours of the Ausländerbehörde in your city.
- They will check whether the general legal prerequisites are fulfilled for issuing an “Aufenthaltserlaubnis.” If these are fulfilled,
- the immigration authorities request approval from the “Bundesagentur für Arbeit” (Federal Employment Agency) for taking up employment in a particular job for which you are applying.
- Approval is only given if the job cannot be filled by a German, EU citizen or other applicants given preferential treatment (e.g. third-country nationals who have been living in Germany for a longer period of time). This is known as the Priority Principle (“Vorrangprinzip”). After a specific period of time has lapsed, it is possible for the U.S. citizen applicant to have the same access to the labor market as German and EU citizens.
Detailed information on the various residence categories is available at Bundesministerium des Innern under: Residence Permits
Studying in Germany
All persons who wish to study at a high school, college or university in Germany are required to obtain a residence permit. Citizens of the United States of America may apply for their residence permit after entering Germany without a visa. Alternatively they can apply for a residence permit prior to entry at the German Embassy in Washington or at a German Consulate (currently located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York or San Francisco). Inquiries may be made at the German Embassy at www.germany.info/.