Germany forum < Racism in Germany - how bad is it?

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    it's your choice

    posted by  T Y in Germany forum 

    I'm aware that there's a social segregation based on the ethnicity, not just for the African Americans, in every multicultural society. and there are unique issues in each community.

    it might be tough, but it's still your choice to be stuck in your own community or venture out to the mainstream where you can be surrounded by like minded people of all kinds of backgrounds.

    I used to even avoid the Japanese for the reason you mentioned. I didn't want to be stuck with the same people with the same mentality. it's a choice you can make. once you step out of your comfort zone, you'll be surprised how easily you can fit into a more mixed crowd. I also heard from a polyglot that the only way to learn a new language is to stop speaking your mother tongue from day 1 and completely immerse yourself in the new culture. I've done it in a few countries, and it can be done. that was the only way for me to learn the languages. when in Rome...

    and in fact, those who tend to stay in their own communities are the ones that cause concerns for the locals, be it the Germans, Canadians, Americans, French, etc. just be ready to learn the language and customs and accept them as norm. but this is where everyone has his / her opinions. when you are living in a foreign country, you have to be like the locals! so the question is, when you see how the Germans, for example, treat others, do you want to be like them? hard to answer, especially when you are stuck in Germany with not many other choices. that's why you get all sorts of answers.

    in terms of mobility, if you are young, do whatever it takes to get out and test the water while you can because it only gets harder as you get older and have more responsibilities.

    and people who don't travel often complain about the lack of money, yet they have the money to buy cigarettes, drive a car, eat out often, go to a bar, clubbing, buy a house with a mortgage they can't afford, a cellphone,school, etc. obviously we can't have everything. this is limiting your mobility. I chose to learn languages instead of going to college. and I live without any of the things I mentioned above.

    this site might interest you:
    http://www.couchsurfing.org/

    I have to admit, Asians have it a lot easier than for the African Americans / Canadians.

    the other day, in Canada BTW, when I took the street car late at night, a drunk white homeless guy got on without paying. the driver, a white lady, told the man to get off the street car. of course he refused to get off. so a black passenger sitting beside him told the guy to be respectful to the lady eventually threw him out of the street car. he was then showered by a big applause from everyone. no one cared he was black, to everyone, he was a hero. sometimes it's all in our heads.

    and back to the topic. this is where some Germans become very "unique". a friend of mine who is Korean living in Germany, was asked to pay double the fare to get on the street car by the driver who kindly explained he had to pay more because he's not German! of course no Germans seemed too concerned. he of course refused to get on and waited for the next street car. this would have made it to the front page of a local news paper in Canada, but it was just another day in Germany for a foreigner. it is acceptable there. perhaps the driver was just "kidding." any lame excuse can be made and trusted.

    when I went to a meetup in Berlin, I told this German lady that I used to live in Braunschweig. she became almost apologetic because she also used to work in that city. she knew from her foreign coworkers how they were mistreated by the Germans everyday. so there's always a hope, in that some Germans are alarmed by the acts of racism committed by the Germans.

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