So German ... #2

Last week, for our second interview on German lifestyle, we had a nice talk with our design intern and soon to be fulltime designer Ajda Zupancic from Slovenia, who moved to Germany only a few months ago.

If you had one word to describe Germans, what would it be?

It’s hard for me to talk about Germans, since I only have experience with Berlin, but I will try to generalize as much as possible.
I might say “efficient”. In many different ways, for example on the streets, everyone seems to know exactly where they are going. I noticed that they appear to take all possible factors into account to calculate the fastest way to their destination. I’m sometimes ok with not being too effective.
Also, they seem to really be into paperwork. I get so much mail in my snail-mailbox every month and I have no idea why they send me three copies of the same document separately.

Anything you reckon about German mentality that you find worth pointing out?

I noticed that people are generally very nice and very open. They are good listeners and genuinely interested in others. In my group of friends from back home you really have to be a good story teller for them to listen, because the second your story falls off you get closed out. I only noticed that when I went home after five months and I realized I’m slightly out of practice ...

German Lifestyle. Any specific things you’re aware of, that are particularly nice or bad?

I like the whole recycling, reusing and reselling culture that is going on here. Everything seems to be circulating and you can find really nice stuff on “Ebay Kleinanzeigen” or flea markets and I even found some cool leather chairs ‘Zu Verschenken’ in front of my house. You just have to always be prepared for carrying heavy stuff around.

I also like the Spätis, especially in Berlin. Now that it’s warm, I love chilling outside with my friends, having beer and just seeing where the day goes.

Thank you, Ajda!

Illustrations: Lucia Cosma