German Attitude Towards Window Screens

The German attitude towards window screens is to not use them.  How do I know this?  Because every night I watch my two cats play with all the moths that make their way into our apartment through the open windows sans screens, live entertainment every night.   I asked J.P. about this and he says window screens aren’t necessary  because there aren't so many bugs in Germany and judging by the number of houses without window screens, I would say he’s not alone in his German attitude.  Judging from all the mosquito bites on my arms and legs though I would beg to differ.   

Yet every night, when I'm getting ready for bed, he says "Close the window, before you turn the light on, so all the bugs don't get in."  Mmmm... this is one part of the German attitude that I don't understand but  it appears to be the general German attitude towards window screens.   Don't let the bed bugs bite takes on new meaning in Germany.   

For more on German Attitude see:  German Attitude Towards Fans and German Attitude Towards Encouragement 

German Attitude for Encouragement

Yesterday I experienced what I perceived to be a rude German attitude. I went for a consultation at the language school I will be attending and had to take a placement test. I was very open about the fact that I am just beginning to learn German. The test administrator marked my test, but had feedback on every question. "Hmmmm... I'm surprised you don't know how to conjugate this verb properly. You don't know the Accusative case yet? But it is very easy." And on it went. I was almost in tears by the end.  I relayed this to J.P. and he just smiled and said that this was the typical German attitude and was not meant to be rude, just honest.

Later that night, he was assembling a bookcase for us and I said "Good job". He just laughed and said that Germans find that type of support, rather silly. A typical German attitude would be to say "It looks nice." and leave it at that. J.P. says a typical German attitude is  honest, even if it hurts your feelings. Being a bit of a sensitive soul, this will take some getting used to. Although I did feel better when after the test administrator's umpteenth comment about how bad my German was I finally said, "Well isn't that good for your business since I will need so much language training." She was quiet after that. Maybe I will get the hang of the German attitude after all while living as an expat.

See more on the German Attitude:  German Attitude Towards Window Screens, German Attitude Towards Fans