Thoughts from the UBahn

Walking through the uBahn, you will hear silence. Few voices will carry and there are no street artists. The subway is relatively clean with little trash or dirt. Instead, you will find a quiet waiting place that connects you to another part of the city of Berlin. With very few noises, it is easy to get lost in your own thoughts as you wait for your subway to arrive. One such thought occurred to me one such time on the uBahn. Where are the homeless people? In New York and DC, two major cities in the US, the subway is filled with homeless people sleeping, begging, and working. It was a surprise not to see them on the platform how I am accustomed.

This German scene is quite representative of the rest of German culture. From what I’ve observed, Germans are fastidious when it comes to rules as the culture is built upon honesty and trust. The transportation system is built on the honor code and places priority on those who follow the customs. The people on the street will stare directly into your face and make no move to conceal their glances. Bikers will become annoyed should anyone dare to enter their bike lane and others frown upon jaywalking. All of these thoughts vary from the American culture as I feel as though Germans are conscious of the rules and make an effort to follow them to demonstrate their honesty. That is not to say that German life is regulated and strict. It is almost the opposite. The Germans I have met appeared to be laid-back and habituated to following the rules without second thought. The rules are not built to be restraining, but are created to ensure a cohesive environment is created. Collectively, this culture juxtaposes what I had originally thought about all human society. Based on my past, I had previously assumed human nature was negative and would prevent a governing society from ever relying on the honor code as people will cheat, lie, and steal to get the best for themselves. However, here I saw the better side of humanity and how the Germans embrace rules. Altogether, I do not feel as though my previous impressions were wrong, instead, I think this experience highlights the various differences created through distinct cultures.

Culture is difficult to define, yet in this instance, I refer to the social, political, and economic factors a single group of people have in common within the group to generate a common understanding and different mannerisms. German culture should be divergent from American culture because this is what adds value to travel and exploration. If all places are the same, there is no reason to attempt cultural diffusion and learn more about another style of behavior. I am glad I recognized these unconventional methods the Germans explore as it taught me not to take my ability to travel for granted and to consider another point of view when it terms of cultural norms.