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Chipmunk
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Chipmunk
Joined: Sep 2008
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It was a bit of a culture shock for me when, after first arriving in Germany, I saw my neighbors clean all their windows every week without fail. Even more especially as these were outside windows and this sometimes happened while it was raining. Having always been something of a 'neat freak', or so I was told, such devotion to "shiny windows" nevertheless still came as quite a surprise.

German Homes and the House Cleaning Culture, complete with some strict rules and regulations, is alive and well, even in the "laid back" 21st century. Joan Rivers comment "I hate housework. You make the beds, you wash the dishes and six months later you have to start all over again", doesn't quite fit here.


Last edited by Francine - German Culture; 09/07/12 01:51 AM.

Francine A. McKenna - German Culture Editor

German Culture Site - German Culture Facebook

Avatar: HOHENZOLLERNBRÃœCKE Cologne with CATHEDRAL and LUDWIG MUSEUM. The Bridge a symbol of how Germany was rebuilt after WWII, it was left in ruins, the Cathedral with roots in the 13th century represents the country's history, Museum of Modern Art the present day.

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Chipmunk
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Hi Francine.

I really enjoyed your article. It was immaculately spot on, er, I mean spot off.

Not exactly one of the common stereotypes regarding Mexico, however, cleanliness of one's home, like in Germany, is an obsession here. Passed on intergenerationallty by her mother who inherited it (genetically and/or culturally?) from hers, Maria, my wife, is perpetually cleaning even when there is nada to clean. Which, of course, prompts me to ask her "were all Mexican women born with brooms in their hands?" I think much of this cleanliness obsession at home and adjoining sidewalks is directly linked to the concept of "que diran"/"what will others say" as many Mexicans live their lives predicated on peer pressure.

Unfortunately, in Mexico this concern for cleanliness is only in or near one's home as a large percentage of people will throw basura/garbage in any public area without giving it a thought-alas, this is also passed on intergenerationally.

It seems like Maria purchases baking soda by the multi-kilo pack! Hence, it also seems that our refrigerator has more containers with baking soda in them than food.

When I was a chef in Thailand, I was told about a German chef from another hotel who said that he would make his Thai cooks remove their shoes before entering his office. PLEEEEASE!!! National obsession or not, I refused to shake his hand when I was eventually introduced to him (as it was not verboten for farang/foreign chefs to enter his castle while wearing their clogs or whatever style of shoes they were wearing).

Last edited by Les-Mexico; 09/12/12 08:25 AM.

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