Why are Europeans so RUDE?!?

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Nades

I know *exactly* and all too well what you mean and it's one of my biggest pet peeves here. I'm an American and have lived in Austria for 20 years now (hubby is Austrian). Sorry to hear you had those experiences but similar ones happened to me as well when I first moved here and was working on my German. It's very frustrating and annoying, to say the least. I've known many other foreigners here and it's happened to them as well. Just put these experiences behind you and move on - it's what I try to do. I also try and remember that for every rude a$$ I meet at a store here, I know several other Austrians who are not this way. In Austria and Germany, they don't have the same concept or level of customer service that we have in the US (and how we're used to being treated at a store or place of business) and that just takes getting used to. Makes me really appreciate that all the more in the US when I go home to visit!

I understand it's testing your limits. Just chalk it up to experience and learning how some people in Germany really are. Others are not like this. In a sense, it's like anywhere; you'll encounter really nice people and you'll encounter some real jerks. My personal take on why they are like this is because they just don't care for anyone different than they are, there's some xenophobia involved and they simply just don't have the patience for people trying to learn the language. I've learned to cope by just being cold, mean and rude back. I call it "sportin' my NYC style attitude" (I'm originally from southern California so doing this is definitely out of character for me). I don't like to do this, though, because I'm actually a very friendly, outgoing person but I've had to learn to do this in order to adapt to living here. I don't have to do this all of the time though, just in situations where I deem it necessary. Over the years I've gotten a feel for when I need my "NYC style 'tude".

Enjoy your time in Germany as much as you can and be open to all of the interesting things you'll see and experience during your studies in Germany. Consider it all a learning experience for life and learning about another lifestyle, culture and the way some people are in that culture.

When studying abroad, in the beginning the experience is often like getting the rug pulled out from under your feet and landing square on your behind. Learning to stand back up on your feet and deal with everything in your new environment is how you "stand back up", so to say.

Good luck to you!

Augustulus

A lot of Europeans have anti-American sentiments because of the war in Iraq and view Americans as pompous pigs. They probably have a stereotypical view about all americans as being obese, and wasteful fools. on the other hand, Germans are pretty freaky and always seem angry.

ignatz

I lived in Germany 8 yrs. Ex German wife. Maybe you are going to the wrong places???
They are not all like that. Keep in mind the younger ones are becoming
more "Americanized" due to travel and TV shows and movies.
They are learning it from us unfortunately.
Just don't you be rude and hang in and go to better places.
Also, if anyone talked to me that way, in a business, I would find the owner, manager and raise hell.
English is spoken by a very large %, use it when in doubt rather than bad German. Try to get a German friend and go around with them.
Our politics also has many other Europeans bent with us as well.
They are blaming us for the economic problems too.
That's the way it goes.

Mayra S

I don't think you should generalize and say that all europeans are rude just because a couple of them were. I think that if you treat them with respect in the end they will too. Patience and kindness is key.

Waschzuber

I have to apologize profusely for my fellow citizen. I can not heal that, but you will see that you are hopefully not surrounded by Idiots. May I ask you in this context in which part of germany you are?

From my point of view it seems to be a culture shock.

You where in seller - customer situations. In Germany there is a tradition that - unlike in US - the customer is NOT king. Some Germans are very vain with their language. Much more than the Frech (But the french more talk about it). If the seller had a bad day here it is common to wreak it on the nex best victim. From your description it seems this victim was you. It sometimes happens to me too, it not depends on whats your weakness, being a little "larger" like me or being in your situation.

Just like japanese, german takes more than ten years to be spoken fluent. If opponents do not see that, it's their problem, not yours.

And:

Being named as idiot would have brought me to punch this one right into the face.

EDIT: aha Hesse, Hesse kannste vergesse ;-)

bla bla

Ok you have had a bad incident and I'm guessing that this is somewhat of an emotional (recent reaction) and you know what, good for you to vent - but maybe this is not the best place to do it.

A couple of shops and a couple of experiences in one country - it's not really fair then to make a generalisation about a whole continent of people.

You are going to find ignorant people - probably the same ones who go "on holiday" to the town down the road and venture no further. Secondly you will also find people who have actually had the reverse experience of a brash American launching into high speed English and acting out when no-one speaks perfect English back to him.

I think you are just going to have to suck it up, turn the other cheek and try to find the humour in. Humour is a good weapon if it happens again - they will not know how to react and you can walk out with some dignity

In the meantime, big pat on the back - you are trying to learn the language and that's a plus. Just keep going and keep smiling - that's the only advice I can give.

I personally have lived in three different countries and had my fair share of the "stupid foreigner" syndrome (even though I hold two Bachelor degrees and am reasonably well read and versed). I figured you can take it personally and let it eat you up, or just have a good old moan (to a friend not Y!A!) and then laugh about it after. Add it to the list of "experiences"

..... but I have to say it - Don't tar us all with the same brush - for every ignoramus there are plenty more good souls around :0)

Jennifer L

wow - that is really rude and horrible. Seriously though in Russia it is just as bad if not worse

Marble Magic

My advice is: talk in German with the people you know, your colleagues, those who have the patience and the interest to help you out. With the rest use English. Most people know it and it will be less offensive than slaughtering the language in front of natives. Please do not generalize to all Europeans or all Germans. You just met some people who were probably having a bad day or they were trying to look cool or they were not very well educated or... you get the point. Enjoy your time there as much as possible!

Tyler

dude. people don't like Americans anymore -- you need to get used to it.

it just makes it worse when you can't speak their language. i often hear the same thing occur in America "natural born Americans" getting pissed at immigrants (arabs, indians, and mexicans) for not knowing english. it's very common in your country.

it's represented VERY well in the movie "crash".

also, what you explained in your second last paragraph would outrage many people; it looks to me to sound rather arrogant.

ps-- yes, i have been to Europe, but have not had the same problem. i went France, and Switzerland, rather than Germany. but A, im Canadian, and B i speak French with about 90% flouncy; so i don't think i would be in the position to comment on your position

lastly -- you're in GERMANY, and talking to GERMANS, not ALL EUROPEANS. don't judge all Europeans based on experiences in Germany.

i can begin to understand just from this question why they are being aggravated by you. sorry.

and pps- to be blunt, no one cares if you're trying to learn or not : / . they just care if you know it or not.

oh, and i forgot to mention, (up to now, my argument seems a little one sided) -- i certainly don't condone the way these Germans treated/responded to you

marley

I have been in France and Italy lately. The French, I thought were alot more tolerant and patient. But I ran into real trouble in Italy from taxi drivers, cafes you name it from Sorrento to Rome. I had a problem the whole time. I was courteous and tried really hard but it just didn't work. It's not you its just your english speaking voice.

elisabeth

you are very rude. im czech and in my country most people would be polite and try to help you.
would you like it if i called all americans idiots with no culture, arrogant, fat, ignorant, loud, drunk and annoying anywhere in europe they go?
because lots of you when you travel behave awfully to the local people. you always think you are the best thing since sliced bread. same like english. WELL YOU ARE NOT.
and how dare you to threaten someone with your example of people being killed for mouthing off.............the whole world knows how you kill each other in the usa for no reason and what a high crime you have. if i was her i would call police on you. that may teach you manners.

cpinatsi

First of all, you are rude to generalise. By seeing Germans you can't speak of all Europeans. It is true that many Germans refuse to speak other languages in their country and also I have met German people who are my friends but I admit they were rude to a large degree. They had other qualities, but politeness was not one of them.
However, in other European countries you will see that people appreciate it even if you know one word in their language, as we do in Greece, try to communicate with you at their best even if they don't know English, as I have seen happen a lot when I was in Spain, and are very friendly and polite.

keepin it real

Next time just say, "Give me some ******* pizza, or I'll jump over the counter and slap you in the mouth freak!"
Seriously though, it could just be that they feel threatened by Americans for some reason. Most people are rude as a defense mechanism. Any way, I'm sure the pizza guys opinion of you can't matter that much. Just blow it off, people are rude and ignorant.

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