Cultural Activities

State-maintained opera houses, theatres and museums as well as many private theatres and cinemas allow students concessionary tickets on production of a student identity card. Adult education centers and other educational establishments also offer students special rates for courses and lectures.

“Studentville”
In some towns there is a so-called Studentenviertel. This is an area where a lot of students live, giving the cafés, wine bars and night clubs a particular character. And such areas often have a long tradition. Right back as far as Goethe and Schiller students met at particular wine bars and inns to talk, philosophize and analyze, in good German manner, or simply to drink! Current day studentville often has a film theatre (Programmkino) showing classic and other films outside mainstream cinema. In towns where there is no Studentenviertel there are always certain cafés, wine bars and discos frequented by students. Town magazines, town guides or, best of all, other students you meet will tell you who goes where for which happenings.

Eating Out
The choice of restaurants in Germany is broad and varied. In the new Länder in particular lots of new restaurants have opened in the last few years. What have become popular and very common are take-aways delivering pizzas, Chinese and Mexican food to your home. In the cities you can find restaurants representing nearly all the countries in the world, but even in smaller towns you are sure to find Italian, Greek, Turkish and Chinese cuisine. When you are in the country you are more likely to come across a Gasthof, Gasthaus, Gaststube, or Gastwirtschaft serving German food. Restaurants usually hang up a menu with prices outside, allowing you to decide in advance whether you want to eat there or not.

Tipping
The prices cited include tax and service charge. Nevertheless, it is usual to leave a tip in restaurants, cafés and other places where your bill is brought to your table. The rule of thumb is as follows: if a bill is under € 5 you round the sum up to the next full euro or next but one; if it is over € 5 you allow 5% for a tip. If you were especially satisfied with the service you can give a little more and if you were dissatisfied, complain and do not give any tip. Incidentally, students tend to enjoy a special status: nobody expects large tips from them because they know they do not have much money anyway.

Ordering
In times past waiters were addressed as “Herr Ober” and waitresses as “Fräulein”. However, today, these forms of address are out of date. If you want to order or pay you make a sign with your hand (but do not click your fingers, this is considered very rude) and say something along the lines of “May I order, please” (Kann ich bestellen, bitte) or “I’d like to pay, please” (Ich möchte bitte zahlen).

Meals
A classic German breakfast is hearty and comprises bread, butter, cheese, cold meats, jam etc. Traditionally, the main hot meal in Germany is lunch (Mittagessen), eaten between 1 and 2 o’clock. Before starting eating people wish each other “Guten Appetit”. As the name in German suggests the evening meal or Abendbrot is essentially composed of bread and butter with cold meats and cheese. Once again, traditionally it is served earlier than in many other countries, about 6 o’clock. However, these traditional habits are no longer observed by everyone. Lots of Germans eat different things for breakfast or nothing at all, only have a snack at lunchtime, and eat a hot meal sometime in the evening.

Table Manners
In Germany you hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand during the entire meal. If you do not need to use your left hand (while eating soup or dessert) you keep in on the table, but only supported at the wrist, elbows do not belong on the table! If someone speaks to you or you want to say something, finish chewing and swallow first; talking with your mouth full is considered very vulgar. If the food is standing on the table or the buffet is calling you, you have to wait until the hostess or host have given the signal before eating. These basic table manners are taken very seriously.