With a lot of German blogs and forums about America’s tourist spots that surface online, you might be rushing to arrange your travel documents, like passport and ESTA USA, to go there. However, your US itinerary is not enough as you also need to be aware of the cultural conflicts you might encounter. Thus, here are five travel reminders for Germans like you while in the USA.
Politeness is both genuine and survival technique.
As the USA is a country with extreme mobility, it is a must that you must be open and friendly to strangers. It is a significant technique for you to have a better US vacation. However, it does not mean that if an American says, “I am your friend,” then he/she genuinely is your friend. Most Germans misinterpret kindness as a genuine initiation of a long-lasting friendship. Of course, this case does not apply in all situations, but you need to be careful instead.
Business meetings run pretty casually.
If you want to prepare for American business meetings, you don’t need to be too formal at all, as most US business people want to start with small talk and little humor. Unlike with Germans, facts and figures are less significant for Americans. They often begin business matters uncomplicatedly without needing to know every little detail beforehand.
Don’t dress too casually, though.
In the US, work dress codes vary in every business, state, county, or building. Thus, if you are not familiar with these attires, play it safe and wear a suit. Even if you are a German woman, wear a formal blazer and avoid short skirts. Americans also love pantyhose, so wear them if you have one, no matter how long or short your hem might be.
Be polite in conversation.
For Americans, the accent of Germans has a way of making statements seem enraged or telling an off-color joke. Thus, compromise this prejudice by knowing American conversation more. You can start observing while arranging your ESTA USA, where you may converse with Americans through inquiries.
Germans like you would surely love the USA with its famous tourist attractions and friendly people. Don’t forget that you don’t need a US visa, but an ESTA USA instead, to travel to the USA.
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