Emma had always dreamed of living abroad. When she got a job offer in Munich, she accepted it immediately. She was excited to experience a new culture and learn German. However, she would soon discover that adapting to a foreign country is not always easy. On her first day at work, Emma arrived fifteen minutes early. She thought this would make a good impression on her new colleagues. Her manager, Herr Schmidt, greeted her with a firm handshake. Emma smiled warmly and said, 'Hi! You can call me Emma.' Herr Schmidt looked slightly surprised but nodded politely. In Germany, Emma would later learn, using first names at work is less common than in America. People often address each other formally until they agree to use informal names. During her lunch break, Emma went to the cafeteria. She saw some colleagues sitting at a table and decided to join them. 'Is this seat taken?' she asked cheerfully. The colleagues looked at each other hesitantly. In Germany, people often prefer to eat lunch with people they already know well. They did not mean to be rude, but Emma felt a bit awkward. One of them, a woman named Claudia, smiled kindly and offered Emma a seat. Emma was grateful for Claudia's friendliness. During the conversation, Emma started eating her sandwich while the others were still talking. In America, this is perfectly normal behavior. However, in Germany, it is polite to wish everyone 'Guten Appetit' before starting to eat. Claudia noticed Emma's small mistake but did not say anything. After work, Emma decided to explore the neighborhood near her apartment. She found a lovely bakery and decided to buy some bread. At the counter, she pointed at a loaf and said, 'I want that one, please.' The baker looked at her with a slightly puzzled expression. 'Guten Tag,' he said slowly, waiting for a proper greeting. Emma suddenly realized her mistake. In Germany, you should always greet shopkeepers before asking for anything. 'Oh, I am so sorry! Guten Tag!' Emma said, feeling embarrassed. The baker smiled warmly and wrapped the bread for her. He could tell she was a foreigner and appreciated her effort to learn. The next weekend, Claudia invited Emma to a small dinner party at her home. Emma was excited to make new friends and experience German hospitality. She bought a bottle of wine as a gift for the hostess. When Emma arrived at Claudia's apartment, she rang the doorbell at exactly seven o'clock. In Germany, punctuality is extremely important. Arriving late can be seen as disrespectful, but arriving too early can also be awkward. Emma had learned this rule online before moving to Germany. Claudia opened the door and welcomed Emma with a warm smile. Emma handed her the wine bottle and said, 'This is for you!' Claudia thanked her and placed the bottle on the kitchen counter. Emma noticed that Claudia did not open her gift right away. In America, it is common to open gifts in front of the person who gave them. But in Germany, this is not always expected. Emma felt a little disappointed but did not say anything. Inside the apartment, Emma kept her shoes on as she walked toward the living room. Claudia gently touched her arm and pointed to a shoe rack by the door. 'We usually take off our shoes at home,' Claudia explained kindly. Emma quickly removed her shoes and apologized for the oversight. Claudia laughed gently and assured her it was not a problem. During dinner, Emma shared stories about her life in California. The other guests listened with interest and asked many questions. Emma felt happy that she was starting to build connections in her new country. As the weeks passed, Emma continued to make small cultural mistakes. Once, she tried to make small talk with a stranger at the bus stop. The man looked at her strangely and moved away. In Germany, casual conversation with strangers is much less common than in America. Another time, Emma smiled at everyone she passed on the street. Some people smiled back, but others looked confused or suspicious. Emma learned that Germans often reserve smiles for people they know. At work, Emma also made a mistake during a meeting. She interrupted a colleague who was speaking to share her own idea. In American meetings, this kind of enthusiastic participation is often encouraged. But in Germany, people generally wait their turn to speak. Her colleague looked annoyed, and Emma realized she had made another cultural misstep. After the meeting, she apologized to her colleague privately. He appreciated her apology and explained the local workplace etiquette to her. Emma was grateful for his patience and understanding. Over time, Emma began to understand German culture better. She learned that directness in Germany is a sign of honesty, not rudeness. She also understood why Germans value privacy and personal space. She stopped trying to change herself completely and instead focused on being respectful. Her German colleagues came to appreciate her friendly American nature. They even started to smile more around her. Claudia became one of Emma's closest friends in Germany. They often laughed together about Emma's early cultural mistakes. Claudia helped Emma understand many unwritten rules of German society. One year later, Emma felt like she truly belonged in Munich. She had learned so much about herself and about adapting to new environments. She realized that making mistakes was a natural part of the learning process. The key was to approach each mistake with humility and a willingness to learn. Emma decided to write about her experiences in a blog to help other expats. She shared her stories of cultural misunderstandings with humor and honesty. Her blog became popular among people who were planning to move to Germany. Many readers thanked her for preparing them for the cultural differences they would face. Looking back, Emma was grateful for every awkward moment and misunderstanding. Those experiences had taught her valuable lessons about patience and open-mindedness. She had also learned that cultural differences are not obstacles but opportunities to grow. Every country has its own customs and traditions that deserve respect. Emma's journey taught her to embrace differences instead of fearing them. She now considers herself both American and a little bit German. And she knows that wherever life takes her next, she will always be ready to learn.
English Story (B1)Cultural Misunderstanding
This B1 English story is designed for intermediates learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Emma, an American woman, moves to Munich for work and experiences various cultural misunderstandings as she adapts to German life. From using first names too casually at work to forgetting to greet shopkeepers, Emma learns that German culture values formality, punctuality, and respect for personal space. With help from her colleague Claudia, who becomes her close friend, Emma gradually understands the unwritten rules of German society. She learns that directness is a sign of honesty, not rudeness, and that making mistakes is a natural part of learning. After a year, Emma feels at home in Germany and starts a blog to help other expats navigate cultural differences, realizing that such differences are opportunities for growth rather than obstacles.
Translations in English
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What did Emma forget to do before starting to eat in the cafeteria?
2
What did Emma do wrong at the bakery?
3
What did Claudia ask Emma to do when she arrived at the dinner party?
4
What did Emma do at work that annoyed her colleague?
Vocabulary
42 words from this story
