Berlin Behavior

For anyone who has traveled to Germany's capital before, the rough way Berliners treat each other may have come as a surprise and not a pleasant one at that. Whether it is on the U-Bahn, the line to the register or at the park, Berliners constantly seem to be in a bad mood and blame the rest of the world for it.

What is true though is that it is not quite as hard to break that tough exterior as it seems. From personal experience I can say that the easiest way to deal with annoyed Berliners is friendliness. After a couple of nice sentences, 90% of those scary moody faces will crack, most even smile. So get your biggest and most sincere smile ready, you're going to need it! Once you've gotten through to a real Berliner, they will be the biggest Teddy Bears and try to help you however they can. (Funnily enough, the symbol of Berlin is a bear as well) Most speak decent English, most of the young people more than that. In a city of expats, it won't be hard to find those as well.

Another essential quality you're going to need on your next trip to Berlin is... ignorance. Yes, you've read correctly. Whenever someone from Berlin encounters something that he or she can't explain or makes them uncomfortable even in the slightest, ignorance is the answer. You will observe this behavior on the subway when a crazy person talking to themselves get on, in public places where someone acts out of line and many other situations. While this behavior can be negative at times, it can also be liberating if you're on the extravagant side. Whether you like to wear the highest heels possible, colorful patterns or nothing at all (though this depends on the time of day and occasion) people will simply accept it (albeit with the occasional shrug).

One anecdote I like to tell my friends back home about is the time my friend met someone wearing a TV on their head (their face basically replacing the screen) on their way home. His only reaction was a slight shrug and a "Well that's Berlin". It can however also make things easier that are not quite as unusual like moving apartments via public transport. Moving a chair through Berlin was more fun that I would've thought before I tried.

So remember: You can kill Berliners with kindness and you can be whoever you want to be in this beautiful city!

Photo gallery