Both Canada and Germany have extremely high standards of living, but there are some differences in daily life.
Sunday shutdown
Sunday in Canada is a busy day for errands, grocery shopping, and hitting up the mall. Sundays in Germany are officially protected as a day of rest (Ruhetag). Almost every grocery store, retail shop, and pharmacy is closed down. It is also considered normal courtesy (legally mandated in some places) that you keep noise levels down to a minimum. That means no lawn mowing, hole drilling, or loud house cleaning.
Getting around
Living in Canada, daily life without a car is almost unthinkable for most suburbs and cities. Transit just isn’t as developed or efficient. Everything is spread out. In Germany, you’ll notice that everything is a lot closer together. Cities are built around super-dense and convenient public transit. You’ll see streetcars, buses, and trains everywhere you go. Cycling is another huge mode of transportation, too, with dedicated paths for cyclists.
Eating fresh
Since Canadian kitchens and refrigerators are big enough to host a small family reunion, we Canadians have developed the bi-weekly, everything-in-one-trip shopping model. Also, we’re dependent on importing food during the cold and snowy winter months. Germans make their grocery store trips way more frequently in refill-as-necessary quantities.
German kitchens and refrigerators are a fraction of the size of ours, which motivates Germans to buy fresh bread at their local bakeries and eat seasonal produce multiple times a week.
Direct communication
Canadians are well-known for being polite, soft-spoken people in public. We heavily rely on small talk, apologizing, and sugar-coating constructive criticism. Germans care more about efficiency and honesty than artificial politeness. In their day-to-day lives, they speak directly, say what’s on their mind, and see too much small talk with strangers as futile or uncivilized.
Renting
Homeownership is one of those cultural milestones Canadians are expected to hit, although it’s been harder for younger generations with Canada’s tight housing market. Renting in Germany is completely normal as a long-term housing situation for all ages/income brackets. Tenant protection and rent-control laws are insanely strong in Germany. Folks often rent the same apartment for decades, even bringing their own custom kitchens when they move in.
Plastic vs. paper
Canada has fully transitioned into a cashless society/digital economy where one can simply tap their credit card/phone to pay for a pack of gum. Germany is still attached to cash. Despite increased card acceptance, you’ll still find plenty of mom & pop bakeries, beer gardens, and smaller restaurants with a sign that says “Nur Bargeld” (cash only), so it’s advisable to have some euros in your wallet.
Work-life balance
Although Canadians appreciate their downtime, work culture tends to fall closer to the American, fast-paced model. Germans, on the other hand, take vacations very seriously. Work weeks are shorter (typically 35-40 hours), employees are entitled by law to at least four weeks’ paid vacation (many receive 30 vacation days), and it is considered rude to send work emails outside of office hours.
Recess and independence
In Canada, parenting styles lean towards close supervision. School campuses are often fenced in and have rules limiting where kids can go. Germany highly values independent childhood. It’s not uncommon to see small elementary-aged children riding public transit or walking to school completely alone. German school recess revolves around free, outdoor play.
Public drinking laws
Canada has heavy restrictions on alcohol sales and consumption. Open containers are illegal in public, and alcohol can only be purchased at government-designated stores. You can buy alcohol at nearly every corner grocery store or gas station in Germany. Drinking a cold beer in public (responsibly, of course) is perfectly legal and normal whether you are in a park, on the sidewalk, or riding on a train.
Greeting routines
Canadians naturally pick up the phone with a relaxed “Hello?” or “Hi.” Germans traditionally answer the phone with their last name. Also, Canadians greet people with “How are you?” without expecting a real answer. The German translation (Wie geht’s?) is not rhetorical and expects a sincere answer.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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