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Are these typical Germans?
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More than Beer and Bratwurst
Germans drink beer at the Oktoberfest, in lederhosen and a silly hat. Proper Germans are blond and have blue eyes. They live on sausages with sauerkraut. And their music does not go beyond Beethoven and Bach. Clichees abound. Always good for a laugh when you try to find an answer for what is typically German. But what is typical, when you are talking about a country with a population of more than 80 million?
Is it typical, that Germans have a hard time being positive about themselves? You can’t think of anything either? How about hospitality, generosity and a readiness to help. Punctuality perhaps and zeal. Whatever, in the past ten years, German society has changed. Influenced by many people of different nationalities who have come and now call Germany home. And as a result, many of the old clichees just don’t work anymore.
Yet the tale of the "nasty German", who has such a problem with his image in the world, was one Boris Becker and Claudia Schiffer could not get around either. But if you come to Germany with an open mind, you’re in for a surprise. You will find Germans with dreadlocks. And Germans who eat kebabs. Germans who like to laugh and live it up. In many places the mentality of ordinary Germans is closer to those in neighbouring countries, than it is to Germans in other (Bundes)Länder. Modern Germany is far too diverse and complex to fit into a simple clichee. There is something new to discover that is "typical" everyday. And that is probably "typically German" as well.
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