Are you new to Germany? Learn from the expats who have been in Germany for many years and made their fair share of mistakes.
Here are the common mistakes most expats make when in Germany.
Table of Contents
1. Not picking the dog poop
You love dogs and have these cute creatures. Many Germans are fond of dogs and have them as pets. So, as a dog owner, you should be aware of the two things.
- You cannot leave your dog poop on the street or in a park. You must pick it up and throw it in the garbage.
- You should also get dog liability insurance. It’ll cover you if your dog bites someone or causes an accident, for example, by suddenly jumping on the street.
2. Standing on the left side of the escalator
Standing on the left side of the escalator is a mistake that almost every foreigner in Germany makes at least once. I sometimes do it after living in Germany for more than 10 years.
Like in many countries, in Germany, you stand on the right side of the escalator and leave the left side for people who want to walk up the stairs.
If you are standing on the left side, some people may ask you to move or stand on the right side.
3. Walking on the cycle lane – A mistake many expats make
Don’t walk on the cycle lane in Germany if you don’t want to be shouted at by a cyclist. It’s another common mistake expats make in Germany.
Sometimes, it is not obvious which is the cycle lane. However, mostly you can identify it by looking at the footpath.
4. Locked outside the house – every expat make this mistake at least once in Germany
I haven’t met an expat yet who hasn’t made this mistake.
You don’t have the apartment keys and mistakenly shut the door. In Germany, doors lock automatically; you need a key to open them again.
In many countries, doors don’t lock automatically. You lock them using your key, so you’ll never be locked outside your home.
However, it can happen more often than you imagine in Germany. It has happened to me five times already.
Don’t worry—here’s what you can do about it. Usually, you get more than one key for the property. You can hide the spare key somewhere you can access them without any other keys.
For example, you can keep the spare keys in your basement, hide them under the plant pot, tape them behind the painting you hung outside your apartment, keep them in your office, give them to a friend, etc.
Hiring a locksmith to open your apartment can cost you between 100€ and 500€ depending on the city and the time you call them.
5. Not taking the time to learn the German way of driving
Driving in Germany is very different from driving in other countries. So, even if you can drive using your home country’s driver’s license, you should avoid it.
It’s for your and others’ safety on the road.
6. Mistakes expats make while living in a rented property
There is a long list of mistakes expats make when living in a rented property. Here are the most common ones.
- Not ventilating the property daily.
- Not taking a good private liability insurance
- Drying clothes inside the house
- Raising the room temperature to too high
- Keeping windows open while the heater is on
- Not taking care of the property
- Either not aware of or do not take the House Rules seriously
- Do not separate the garbage properly
- Do not keep the common areas clean
- Don’t pay the ARD radio tax
- Drill holes in the walls or ceilings without checking the electric wires or water pipes.
- Being loud during the Ruhezeit
Our guide on mistakes expats make when living in a rented property explains each mistake in detail.
7. Arriving late
Germans are known for their punctuality, and they expect the same from others. In many cultures, it’s normal to arrive 30 to 60 minutes late for casual meet-ups.
So, expats coming from a culture where being late is acceptable find themselves in for a rude awakening.
8. Take things personally
Germans are straight shooters. They usually don’t sugarcoat things.
So, during meetings or discussions, it’s normal for your German colleagues to say that your idea is not good or give you critical feedback. However, you should not take it personally.
This is not limited to your colleagues. You can even say that to your manager or their managers.
In many cultures, we are told not to talk back to our boss. However, it’s normal to tell your German boss that their idea won’t work or is foolish.
German managers appreciate this behavior and never take it personally.
So, if you are a manager and your subordinate says that your idea sucks, don’t take it personally. Similarly, don’t hesitate to point out that your boss’s idea is reckless.
