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We all had a nice trip to Chicago from last friday till sunday. Now, I am over 7 days in the United States and it is time for a first little analyse of the language used around us.
I found out, that it is harder to follow a native speaker in shops and on the street than in the course. Our teacher speak clear and slow, the others not. We are also getting into trouble if someone mumbles.
As an foreigner, I see that we Germans use more our hands than the native speaker.
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Different to Germany is it is not normal to shake hands when you meet someone new. But everybody ask you "How are you." As kids in Germany, we have learned, that you have to answer every question. After a few days, I learned, that it is OK to answer this question NOT :) In Germany you do not say or offer something, that you do not want to offer.
One different between Chicago and Cincinnati I found out: everytime in Chicago, when you stay and look confused, someone comes to you and ask to help. I like this. I think, there are more tourists in Chicago than in Cincinnati, so for Chigaco citizens it is normal to see irritated tourists.
My conclusion is, that Germans have to know, that they do not take the phrases which are spoken too literally. And they have to be good "small talk skills".
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The hand shaking is very different in America and Germany. Americans only shakes hands once, the first time they meet. Germans shakes hands every time they meet, even with people they already know. Americans definitely prefer not to touch each other, and if you touch someone accidentally, you must say, "Sorry".
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