Do's and Don'ts

Communication -

• Germans normally address each other with their surnames and "Sie". Only young people and those who know each other very well would address each other by their first names and "Du". If you have English conversation with Germans, it is o.k. to call them by their first name even if you're not on a first name-basis with them in German, because there is no such distinction in English. Talking German, however, you should always ask before you decide to take this step.
• Germans are great hand-shakers, and they like to do so both when arriving and when departing. Even small children are taught to shake hands because it is simply thought to be very polite. Only young people and good friends may substitute hand-shaking with another ritual. However, kissing is generally considered inappropriate in a business setting.
• Be prepared to listen to a longer discourse, when you ask somebody "how are you?" Germans normally use this as a literal question that expects a literal answer, in contrast to the common English usage of "How's it going?" simply meaning "Hi". It may, therefore, be considered strange or superficial to ask the question and keep on moving without waiting for an answer. Many people, when asked, will, in fact, give you a very detailed answer, including why they are not doing well at that moment!
• Moreover, the German Culture is highly fact-oriented. "Small talk" with strangers does not have a significant social function in German culture.

Restaurants -

• You generally seat yourself unless you see a hostess. Water is served as mineral water and charged accordingly – same price as a coke for instance. It is not a common practice to ask for tap water in a restaurant. Also, there are no refills in Germany: When you ask for a second cup of coffee in a restaurant you pay full price for the second cup; same with pop, no refills. Do not ask for a ‘doggy bag’ either. Most restaurants won’t accommodate your request.

Table Manners -

• If you practice good table manners at home, they will suffice in Germany. Do not worry about how to hold your fork or where to place your napkin. However, there are a few things that you should keep in mind: It is polite to wish 'Guten Appetit!' before starting your meal. During the meal, Germans place their hands visibly on the table. Chewing with open mouth as well as belching after a good meal will rather embarass Germans at the the table. Furthermore, if we come to dinner with others, we leave with them also.