Expectations: cultural differences

I have traveled extensively throughout Europe including Spain, Italy, France, Greece, the United Kingdom, Portugal and more. I enjoy experiencing the different cultures and traditions of each place I visit. Although residents of each country have different frames of references, there are still many similarities especially as Western ideals continue to infiltrate these cultures.

I had been told many friends and colleagues that I was going to love Berlin. They told me Berlin was a vibrant city full of life and art. Ravaged by war and terrorized by communism, Berlin has begun to rebuild itself and position itself as a city reborn. In a television interview in 2004, the governing mayor Klaus Woweriet stated that, “Berlin is poor, but sexy.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_quotes_featuring_Berlin)

My frame of reference about Berlin was from what I had seen and heard from Nazi movies such as the recent Valkyrie, which I saw prior to leaving on the trip. Perhaps my most vivid image of Berlin is from the musical Cabaret, a childhood favorite of mine that is set in 1930s Berlin as the Nazi party grows stronger. The location for the musical is the Kit Kat Klub which is still open today. (http://www.kitkatclub.org/Home/Club/Index.html) Decadent and dangerous, I imagined the nightlife and culture in Berlin to be raunchy and seductive, much like the musical numbers in the movie. My biggest expectation of Berlin was that the city would be somber and retrospective of the atrocities that had happened there. It is shocking to realize that the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, only 20 years ago.

The biggest German personality in the US is Heidi Klum who has coined a German phrase as her closing statement in the hit Bravo reality show, Project Runway. Proud of her German heritage, Klum has allowed Americans to become familiar with a German figure. Prior to coming to Berlin, I have not had much contact with Germans. I was excited to travel to Berlin and meet people outside of my comfort zone. Now that I have been in Berlin for five days, I have a better understanding of the cultural differences between Germany and the US.

I have found that the culture here in Berlin, Germany is slightly off center. Specifically, the Germans here in Berlin are kooky. Many dress what we would deem in America as “punk rock.” I have notice no evidence of hip-hop culture as most here in the city listen to techno and house music. I have also experienced some hostility from many of the residents here. Perhaps it is due to the fact that we Americans have a bad reputation abroad. What I have most enjoyed about Berlin is its unique personality. Berlin is very industrial and modern, with avant-garde architecture and historical sites. Berlin is very liberal and celebrates a very bohemian lifestyle with creative neighborhoods, museums and nightlife. My biggest taste of the diversity of Berlin was this past weekend at the diversity parade. Thousands of residents came out to celebrate as hundreds of floats passed including those representing different sub-cultures and countries. All different types of people were out on the streets drinking and dancing in unison. It was a beautiful sight to see.