G'day ,
After living in a big city since I arrived in Germany, it's been interesting to spend some time in the town where I live now.
Life is slower in smaller places. There's time to chat. People greet one another and smile as they walk past each other in the street.
As you know, I'm from a farming area in Tasmania. The main town had a population of about 3600 people. When we went to town, it wasn't unusual to see people we knew doing their shopping. You'd stop and say something, even if it was a quick 'Hello'.
Then, as I worked at the high school for nearly 10 years, I had heaps of students who'd greet me if they saw me.
It wasn't the same when I moved to a big (for Tasmania!) city. Clearly I didn't know many people. But sometimes I saw someone I knew and we'd stop and have a chat, even if it was just for a minute.
Moving to Frankfurt was a culture shock (1)! So many people but (especially at first) no-one I knew. It doesn't happen often, but now I might see a friend (or student 😀).
When I walk along the street, people aren't usually smiling. Even in shops, the assistants may be very helpful and polite, but there's no smile. Sometimes I've felt that others have thought I'm strange for smiling.
I've noticed the difference in the town I live in. The shop assistants smile and even say something, although they don't know me. I don't see people I know (yet), but people smile as they walk past and sometimes say hello (which I believe is quite a German thing to do).
A couple of students said when I moved, I should knock on all the doors in my building, introduce myself and give a little gift. Well, I didn't - that was too scary 🫣. Even so, there's a friendly feel. Is it because this is a small building or is it just the way people are in towns?
What are your experiences ? Have you moved from a big city to a town (or vice versa (2)) and felt a difference between people? Please let me know what you think.
Have an amazing week,
Andrea
(1) culture shock - feeling confused and unsure when you are in a new place and don't understand it.
(2) vice versa - the other way around.
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