To briefly describe a confusing experience I had regarding an aspect of German culture, it is a known occurrence to come across fully naked people in the Englisher Garten in Munich, because it is allowed to be so. The first time I was visiting the Englisher Garten in Munich to visit a group of friends in the JYM program, I caught a glimpse of an old man without clothes, and I was pretty shocked to say the least. I knew that Germans were generally more open about sexuality and their bodies, but that was my first confrontation with that aspect of their culture.
In my perspective, I do appreciate the overall openness of sexuality and of the body because it allows one to more freely express themselves without the fear of being judged, and because people are more upfront about attraction and relationships. Previously, I myself was not too forward and clear about how I go about relationships, but in the future, after learning about how Germans are more upfront about these sorts of things and how it usually benefits them, I want to try to be more upfront as well. I feel like this way, I can be more comfortable about being myself. I also know now that I need to be mentally prepared if I ever go to the Englisher Garten again.
Concerning the old man incident at the Garten, I feel like an average German wouldn’t be phased if they were in my shoes but would still sympathize with how a tourist would usually react because they are self-aware and knowledgeable enough to know that some other cultures find the transparency and lack of clothing weird. I assume this because in my experience, the locals are usually quite accommodating and are glad help to those who are evidently struggling. I have received help on many occasions from German strangers: from helping me navigate the U-Bahn, clarifying what I ordered at a restaurant with my broken German, and showing me where the paper coffee filters are in a store. They may not show it on the outside, appearing really serious most of the time, but I think a lot of Germans are excited to help out a foreigner and to show them the ropes.
Having experiences such as this and going back and reflecting on them has definitely made me into a more cultured and understanding person. To be more specific, I previously thought that the world was a bit more globalized than it was and usually expected people of another culture to naturally align and share the “standard” American perspective on most matters. Now, when coming into contact with a person from another culture or when I am present in another country, I learned that I need to expect and be ready for a difference in perspective and attitude and the obstacles that arise from the differences, no matter how closely the person or culture seems to align with the United States. To clear any misunderstandings and to secure a good interaction, it helps a lot for at least one person to be accommodating. I aim to be that person.