Howdy!
The experience that has most challenged me to reconsider my beliefs has just been walking around my neighborhood. Before coming here, I often heard the stereotype from Europeans that Americans were overly friendly and even smiled excessively. Because of that, and anecdotal stories from my mom's time here, I expected people to be generally cold to others out in public. However, that is not what I have seen. While there is not the automatic expectation of acknowledgment that exists in the US when walking past someone on the street, if there is a reason to interact, people are very kind. Eager dogs, wandering children, and even just accidentally getting in each other's way often lead to a kind Guten Morgan or a smile. I much prefer this reality to the expectation I had set, and it is reflected in my experiences in Germany in general. My host family, cashiers, bus drivers, and even perfect strangers on the street are happy to help with the language barrier or give directions, whatever applies. The people here are definitely blunter than your average American, and that can sometimes be misinterpreted, but overall, I have found Germans to be much kinder and welcoming than I expected. Learning this has taught me to be less pessimistic and give people the credit they deserve.
I really relate to what you're saying. Before coming here, I also had certain expectations about how people would interact in public spaces. I assumed that the lack of small talk or smiling would feel cold, but it’s actually been refreshing in a way. People here seem to value sincerity over surface-level politeness, and that makes the moments of kindness feel more genuine
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