From DC to Kreuzberg to Downtown Berlin: The Different Cultures of the World

Dear Bradon,

I have spent almost a week in Germany and the culture, people and landmarks are unlike anywhere that I have been. The culture in Berlin is very different from the culture in Washington, DC. Here in Berlin, I find that the people appear to be very reserved, and a lot quieter than in Washington, DC. This reminds me at times of Saudi Arabia, where the culture is more reserved as well. In Washington, DC, the streets tend to be louder. You can hear people conversing as they traverse along the sidewalk. In Germany however, there is silence almost everywhere I go. For example, on the subway, I would have expected to hear people talking, but instead all I hear is silence. People enter and exit the subway without uttering a word. In Washington, DC, you hear people talking all of the time, and even in Saudi Arabia, people tend to speak. Initially, I found this unusual. I did not understand why no one spoke in the subway, or even on the street. It is so common in the United States to hear people having conversations on the road that there is almost an empty feeling on the streets and subway of Berlin.

Something that surprised me was the vast difference between Kreuzberg and Downtown Berlin. Kreuzberg reminds me of Tunisia, in that it seems like a small, tight-knit community, where things are very laid back, free from the hustle and bustle of average city life. The other day, I was in a pizzeria, looking out of the window at the city in front of me. I saw people walking up and down the sidewalk, not seeming to be in a rush, just walking for the sake of it. I saw a group of men outside surrounding a table, not in a rush to eat, but enjoying their meal together. I saw people leisurely moving in and out of stores, coming out with an item or two. In Downtown Berlin, I was reminded of the environment of both Washington, DC and New York City. On the roads, I saw people driving Mercedes, and I could hear the sounds of all the various horns from the vehicles. The sidewalk was almost congested, with this area seeming to attract more tourists than Kreuzberg. I saw people rushing in and out of different stores in the downtown area, while clutching their Starbucks coffee, and carrying bags of clothes or other goods they had already purchased. Overall, my time in Germany has so far been an experience unlike anywhere else. The culture of Germany is vastly different from any other country that I have been to. I look forward to next week, and will continue to look for similarities between German and other cultures.

Sincerely,

Bradon Thymes