(This article was published in 2021)
This time, for our series ‘My View of Germany,’ we had the opportunity to conduct an interview with Deyna Bobadilla. She has been living in Germany for four years and is currently studying social work.
Did you have any clichés in mind before coming to Germany? And which of them did you actually experience yourself?
Before coming to Germany, I had heard that Germans are very cold, direct, strict, and punctual. I already knew that I would particularly struggle with my lack of punctuality, especially at the beginning. When I did my voluntary social year, my boss was also very direct with me. He always wanted direct answers to his questions, like, ‘Can you do this? Yes or no?’ That’s how it was supposed to go. By now, I actually appreciate punctuality and this directness. It used to be hard for me to say ‘no’ to anything. Now I can do it, and I feel better about it because I’m not overwhelmed by all the things I had previously agreed to.
- What is your first memory of Germany?
My first memories of Germany are the sense of order and the variety of festivals. You can chill, barbecue, play, etc., in the park. I never had so many activities available in the summer back in Peru. In Peru, you usually don’t find parks, and if you do, they are most likely polluted. Yes, those are my first and most beautiful memories of Germany. I was an au pair, and after work, I would always go to the park to relax.
- What do you currently like about Germany in terms of nature, culture, and lifestyle? What do you find rather annoying?
What I like most is the safety I have as a woman here. I can be out alone at night, and normally, nothing happens. I feel safe. Okay, I have to admit that I’m still cautious even here. But I know I don’t have to be afraid of someone threatening me with a weapon to steal my belongings. That actually happened to me in Peru. While I was talking on my phone, two men got out of a car and threatened me with a gun to take my phone.
What I also like is the transportation system in Germany, like the U-Bahn and S-Bahn, for example. This gives you more options to reach your destination. In Peru, traffic only takes place on the roads, which is why the roads are a bit overwhelmed. Take, for example, the route between ClubIn and Marienplatz. In Munich, it usually takes 20 minutes to reach Marienplatz. In Peru, it would take 40 minutes or even a whole hour.
I also find it very impressive that in Germany, you hardly ever hear a car horn without a valid reason.
- What did you have to get used to in Germany?
I had to particularly get used to punctuality, especially with the S-Bahn and U-Bahn. In Peru, I usually just got ready and went out. Public transportation there doesn’t run on a specific schedule. At first, I did the same thing in Germany as I did in Peru. I didn’t know that public transport here has specific arrival times. I always just went out without checking the MVV app and adapting, until winter came. I then had to wait outside in the cold for the S-Bahn more often, either because I had just missed one, a train was canceled, or I was simply there at the wrong time. After a few such situations, I prefer to leave on time and always check first when the next S-Bahn is coming.
- Have you ever experienced intercultural misunderstandings here in Germany?
Misunderstandings have occurred because of my ‘Peruvian humor,’ as I like to call it. In Peru or even in Latin America, it’s common to ‘tease’ each other. This is meant purely as fun. For example, if someone is late because the bus was delayed, Peruvians might ‘playfully’ pretend not to believe that, saying something sarcastic like, ‘Oh sure, the bus was late. Maybe you were just late running to the bus,’ or something similar. It’s all in good fun!
People in Germany often find such humor not funny or even offensive. So, I try to be a bit more cautious. An example from my experiences in Germany: A classmate once wrote that she could only be there for an hour during a group project. I then responded sarcastically, ‘Oh no, we can’t continue learning like this!’ and added ‘Just kidding!’ She didn’t respond after that. I then thought that I might have offended her.
I have also experienced misunderstandings with farewells or greetings. I am used to hugging people or giving kisses on the cheeks when saying goodbye or greeting them. This is common in Peru. However, here I noticed that people often pulled back when I tried to hug them. I had to adjust to that as well.
- Do you have a favorite saying or phrase in German that you find funny or particularly like?
‘Nicht um den heißen Brei herumreden!’ I like this saying because it reminds me of the directness of Germans. Germans don’t like to beat around the bush! [beat around the bush]
‘I drücke dir die Daumen!’ – I also really like this one. [fingers crossed]
Translated by Joeline O’Reilly