1. Germans have a very organized and clean metro system compared to Italians. The underground stations in Rome were dark and dirty while Frankfurt boasts very well-lit and clean stations (especially when compared to Rome). There are bus and train schedules posted at all stations and stops in Germany AND they are fairly accurate (within a few minutes plus or minus - it's those minuses that really get you). Italians don't even bother posting schedules - just wait around and a bus will eventually come (emphasis on "eventually"). Because the Roman metro runs only two lines, back and forth, the trains come fairly regularly (although nearly always packed to bursting).
2. There is an unspoken system of entering and exiting buses and trains in Germany. All those entering wait until those exiting have moved out of the way before jostling their way on board. Italians push on and off with no apparent system so you just have to jump in the fray. This also explained the snippet we read in a guide book - that people on the busses and Metro in Rome begin moving for the exit at least a stop or two before they plan to get off. They have to!!
3. Many Germans will jump a queue whenever they see an opportunity. While we were standing in line at St. Peter's Basilica, at the airport in Rome, and at the main train station back in Frankfurt, people tried to cut in front of us. Every time they were Germans. This really bothered us when we first moved to Germany but this year we found it very amusing! In fact, we laughed out loud at the Basilica - and didn't let them cut. We've learned to use our body to subtly (or not so subtly) block our opponents (all that soccer training, I guess). Italians don't really have a queuing system (or we couldn't figure it out - maybe that is why there are assigned seats at the cinema in Rome :).
4. Customer Service (as we know it) doesn't really exist in Germany. Murilo was searching for handball wax for his niece's boyfriend in Brazil. He went all over downtown Frankfurt to all the sporting stores. He had written the name of the product and how to ask in German on a piece of paper (the wax is made in Germany). Everywhere he went, the employees would listen, look at the paper, answer him in English, shake their head, put their hands up, turn, and walk away from him. Murilo had to follow them and ask if they knew of any other place that might sell it before they (sometimes) would stop. In Texas, he was looking for some tennis shoes for his friend's son - same scenario (except he didn't have to write down how to ask in English). People went out of their way to help him - at every store. When I was shopping in Rome for tights, the salespeople were very helpful but left us alone when we said we were 'just looking.'
* I, however, did have a bike salesman in Oberursel put air in my bike's tire for free AND he was very nice about it.
1 comment:
I experienced the same thing when I was looking for something in Oberursel. But, I got some nice help in the shoe store and clothing.
In that big Frankfurt mall, the cashiers in that shoe store reminded me of cashiers in a US mall, same mentality. Remember Cary??? They sort of giggled when I couldn't use my credit card and they were a bit condensending. I was astounded when the german man on that Ryan Air flight to Pisa would not do what the flight attendant told him to do. He insisted on sitting in that first seat close to the door.
I had some good experiences especially at the Frankfurt airport, either departing and arriving. The people there are very helpful.
BIG HUGE AIRPORT
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