Bitte schön has many meanings in German, one being, "Can I help you?" I have missed hearing this phrase since leaving Dresden last month, especially in the last few days here. Let me try to explain...
One of the challenges about moving from a more laid back North American culture to a stricter German one is getting used to all the formalities and order that exists. Now who would have thought that moving back to the more laid back culture would cause me to miss those patterns and "rules"?!
More specifically, in the past couple days there have been a few instances when I have been waiting at a counter to either order food, ask a question, or pay for an item and I have felt totally lost in the non-order of the situation. At an outdoor supply store the other day I stood up at the customer service counter for literally five minutes while the staff buzzed around me, seemingly too lost in their busy-ness to notice me, the CUSTOMER who I thought would receive SERVICE, especially from this section of the store. Needless to say I was frustrated by the time someone finally acknowledged me and had the audacity to ask, "Uhh, do you need something?" (no, I just hang out here for kicks.) Maybe I should ask for help next time? I have no idea what is normal around here!
And then yesterday after waiting in a long line to order from a favorite Japanese-style stirfry place during the midday rush it was finally my turn and I found myself watching for some cue from the guy behind the counter to know when I could say what I wanted and be heard. A "bitte schön" would have been nice, but instead, nothing. NOTHING! He kept his head down, punching the buttons of his cash register and after a few silent moments I just started talking, uncomfortable but not sure what else to do. I had barely finished talking when the guy behind me in line started in with his order. Yee-ikes, I'm not ready for this *snap*snap*snap* let's get things going* why are you not with it* culture!
Who would have known I'd be so touchy about this-! Hel-LO reverse culture shock!
5 comments:
Wow - it's been so long since I've checked out blogs! Your little girl is SOOOOO CUTE!~ Oh my goodness. Those huge, beautiful eyes! How fun. I'll have to read more later when I have more time - but your reverse-culture-shock cracked me up. I had it pretty bad after only 1 year in Japan. I thought Americans were so loud and rude! I like freaked out at a restaurant when they started singing "happy b-day" to a table. I was like "why is it so loud? what are they doing!?" closing my ears and being a freak! It will all pass soon! :) Oh, America!
That is going to bug me too one day. I definitely will have problems when we someday go back.
I have always found reverse culture shock a lot worse than the other. It took me an entire year to readjust to life in the states after I lived in Heidelberg... and I wasn't even totally immersed. It was so strange...
lets see how Thailand treats me with culture shock this next week...
Customer Service? What's that? Americans have no clue. I find myself extremely frustrated with the same thing and it only seems to be getting worse. The thing that frustrates me most is that we are EXPECTED to tip even if we get poor/rude service. How is that fair? Rude, rude, rude is right!
You wrote: "...in the past couple days there have been a few instances when I have been waiting at a counter to either order food, ask a question, or pay for an item and I have felt totally lost in the non-order of the situation.... I was frustrated by the time someone finally acknowledged me and had the audacity to ask, "Uhh, do you need something?" (no, I just hang out here for kicks.).......A "bitte schön" would have been nice, but instead, nothing.......I just started talking, uncomfortable but not sure what else to do."
I quoted all of that because those tidbits are *exactly* what I've been experiencing lately but haven't been able to put into words. THANK YOU!!!!! It's not that I'm demanding service....but it would be nice if the cashiers and whozits paid at least as much attention to me, the customer, as they do to each other!
Gah!
Helloooooo, culture shock, indeed. ;o)
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