Germanities

Germanities, my new word for German oddities. I confirmed the widespread odd habits of Germans recently via spiegelonline.de. It appears they did a bit of a german survival foreum in preperation for last summer's world cup. I came in the other day to find patrick wearing a scarf in the house. When I inquired I was told that was the normal way of curing a sore throat. I laughed and he showed me this website. The next day I went to work to find my boss wearing a scarf. I shook his hand (proper greeting/normal) and then asked if he had a sore throat and explained I just learned about the very German remedy. He claims the French and the English also wear scarves to cure sore throats, I think I need to see that to believe it. He also informed me that it was a sign to not shake his hand (like he couldn't have told me that before). Another Germanity thatI obsedrved and Speigel confirmed involves crossing streets. In American, we have the walk/don't walk light. In Germany, they have a green/red man and bicycle. I am actualy not sure why they also need the bicycle as they are always the same color and anyone with a bit of logic would know that if it is safe for a man to cross the street it is also safe for a cyclist. Anyway, when this man is red, Germans do not cross the street. Even on a one way where you can clearly see traffic approaching well in advance, Germans wait. I don't. I noticed that people will often walk if someone else walks so I may be a bit of a bad influencew on the whole culture but often times, one person walking on red does not compel others to follow. It is a rediculous system of obedience. I'll let you learn more in the German survival bible. So far, I agree with everyhting I've read in there for accuracy. http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,k-6896,00.html