I am considering moving to Germany and was told that regions in the south are more conservative, so much so that an acquaintance ex-pat said they would never want to live there. Looking online there are some sources to support this notion but nothing concrete. I am wanting to move mostly because I loved the country and the people I met while traveling (specifically in Munich and Freiburg) but was hoping to land somewhere that queer folks are more accepted. I didn’t get any bad vibes while traveling but that was nearly a decade ago now.
Another German friend recommended moving to Berlin for these reasons and I’m wondering if German conservative is anything remotely close to US conservative. The conservatives near where I live now fly Trump and confederate flags, love to put those “I did that” Biden stickers on the gas pumps when prices go up, and the local schoolboard managed to pass anti-trans bathroom policies that affected something like 5 students in the entire district. Is it anything like this in parts of Germany?
I live in Munich and it’s not crazy here at all. At least by American standards. While people call Munich a big village it does not come with the backwards political attitude of villages and people generally don’t openly advertise their political views. The state of Bavaria often likes to protrait itself as first among equals in politics which I think is where the reports of conservatism come from but it’s not a problem I think.
Ok the queer subject: there has been a specifically gay subculture in Munich for quite a while and I think there are quite some queer folks in the local chaos computer club chapter as well. The Christopher street day is also celebrated in Munich.
Munich is a beautiful city, I’m sure you will feel quite at home once you got past the (comparatively) frosty German attitude and made some friends :)
Edit: formatting
Honestly I’m fine with the frosty attitudes and being ingored compared to the super fake and passive aggressive bs from folks here in the US. Thanks for the insight
While traveling an American also admitted that it was refreshing to get a straight answer to their questions instead of the usual “bs and second guessing”. Seems like it must be hard to have a serious conversation in the states.
I’ve tried to write several responses defining how Americans talk to each other and it’s just so sad and hard to explain. “Small talk” is the phrase that comes to mind: obligatory, cliche, repeated statements with expected standard answers. It’s miserable
I’m from germany. We recently went out for drinks with a researcher and a few students from the US. What I noticed about their communication was that it seemed a lot more … well, practiced maybe? Like they were working in retail and they got stuck in their “customer service voice” :P . Also a bit more focus on showmanship. Didn’t feel like you could get a genuine or personal answer out of them.
From what I’ve seen and experienced in the US, poc and their communities tend to be more upfront and real with each other but thats very anecdotal from a non-poc perspective so take that as you will. White people, however, we are trained from birth how to participate in this “practiced” customer service speech. It is exactly as you describe and very deeply engrained