Hello and welcome to the FAU.

This is Lasvinie.

This is Benjamin.

And we are here to help you plan your visit at FAU.

Because moving to a new country can be frightening.

You might need some time to adjust to the new culture.

While Germany shares many similarities with other Western European countries, it is unique

in other aspects.

To help clear the air, we asked international students to share their experiences with living

in Germany.

We hope that these tips will help you to settle into new life in Germany.

Don't be afraid to ask questions and tell us where you are having trouble.

Just be polite.

And even the so-called crampy Germans will provide you with support after cracking a

smile.

We hope that you will have a wonderful time in Germany.

The German education system is largely public.

And as such, state universities do not charge tradition fees.

As the living costs in Germany are fairly similar to the one of Western European countries,

you may have to account for a period of adjustment while you learn how to calculate your own

living costs.

Services like haircuts, eating out, household helps, or for example, mobile network services,

these things are comparatively expensive in Europe compared to any other countries.

Trading hours for businesses worry greatly in Germany, depending on the day of the week.

It certainly takes some getting used to.

Yes, it is true that on Saturdays shops often close earlier than on weekdays and that they

remain closed all Sunday.

That's also true for timetables for buses and trains, which also worry greatly on weekends.

Germany may have four distinct seasons, but don't be deceived by that, because the weather

here is not constant.

The country is known for its rainy and cold weather that could reach less than 0 degrees

Celsius, but also in summer days it could reach up to 35 degrees Celsius.

When you pack for Germany, you should pack all kind of clothes.

Also it can almost any time rain here, so you should be prepared for that too.

True to the stereotype, Germans are always on time.

Germans might generally be perceived as strict and orderly, but it's important to know that

they dislike nothing more than tardiness or being late.

They actually call this time wasted and they do not like it.

Being punctual is a sign of respect and something upon which they lay a lot of value.

Germans will even go so far as to plan hikes or coffee and cake weeks in advance.

Germany is what you call low-context culture.

This means while communicating, value is being laid on being precise, simple and clear.

They don't appreciate too much fluffiness, and this is what makes them appear as harsh

or impolite.

Germans do not intend to attack or offend you.

Just remember that everything said by a German is to be interpreted literally.

That is exactly as it is said.

They don't want you to read between the lines.

They themselves are not good at detecting hidden messages.

They want you to say exactly what you want to say.