German Values and beliefs

Insecurity

Germans are very concerned about stability in their life. This means that they are very careful planners, and are not comfortable taking risks. This also explains why Germans are highly educated. Some of the Germans are so insecure about their retirement plans that they already start planning to supplement their government pension plans with insurance, and other private plans.

Professionalism

Due to their high educational levels, they only engage professionals to work for them. Skilled workers are only considered “skilled” when they are certified. This does not mean that only important jobs require professionals. Even bakers need to be certified in order to be trusted, and which then allows their business to prosper.

Commitment to Things

As can be seen from the picture, this is my sister’s house which was passed down from my German brother-in-law’s aunt – Tante Inge (tante means aunt in German). The house was a gift from Tante Inge’s grandparents. Hence we can easily conclude that the house is more than a hundred years old.

How can a hundred-year-old house look so new? Well this is because one of the German’s values is to commit to their things – tangible, or not.

Therefore, Germans do not like to borrow or lend things because of their attachment with their belongings. One pointer to note is that if one ever borrows anything from a German, be sure to return it as soon as possible, and return it in the condition as it was borrowed.

 Privatisation

Germany’s history has taught people to be on their guard at all times. This is especially obvious in German homes, where they guard it with gates, fences and walls around their house. All these not only show that Germans want to be safe, it also shows that they value their homes as a sacred place, where they can live their private lives without being intruded.  

Care for their Environment

Germany has one of the largest organic food markets, and also one of the most ‘green buildings’ in the world. This is because they love the environment that they grew up in, and they feel that they are obligated to maintain it the way it is. These ‘green’ movements are also influenced by Germany’s 3^rd largest political party – the Greens in the late seventies.

In addition to their green movements, recent initiatives such as the "car emissions stickers" has been implemented to control the car emissions. There are 4 categories to it, and are identified by different colours. Such efforts should be carried out in all countries if they are all serious about saving the environment.

This sign suggests that only cars that are red, yellow and green can enter the zone

Another amazing fact is that the government encourages the people to install solar panels on their roof tops. The excess amount of energy collected can then be sold to electricity generator companies for a higher rate than they have to pay per unit. This is an ideal long-time investment for many of the Germans especially if they do not know where to invest their money. 

Many of the residents also choose environmentally-friendly modes of transportation to get around. Walking, cycling, and also scooter riding can be commonly found in streets of Germany.

Time-consciousness

Germans watch the clock, and are obsessed with time. They believe that there is always a time to do something. When it is meal time, they do nothing but eat. During weekdays where workers work, they start work and end work punctually. After which, they would head home and spend time with their family members. Being so specific with what to do at specific timings is a good way to segregate work and leisure activities. This will ensure that Germans spend quality working and leisure time altogether.

If one is late for an appointment, they have got to have a good reason. It is unlike Singapore now, for punctuality is slowly being disregarded by the teenagers.  

Truthful with faults

Germans are very straightforward and will not attempt to buffer their words to tell one their mistakes. This is as they believe that one should know what mistakes they make in order to improve from it. This does not mean that Germans are being rude or insulting. It simply means that Germans fight against faults, and not at individuals.

Bibliography:

Lord, R. (2003). German Characteristics. In R. Lord, Culture Shock! A guide to Customs and Etiquette Germany (pp. 40-50). Oregon : Graphic Arts Centre Publishing Company.