Comments on: Germans eat 1.7 times faster than Americans

By: Monika

Monika — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 21:58:53 +0000

Germans start using fork and knife (there are special ones for children, not sharp at all) at about four years, while the average american mom keeps cutting meat for her 8 year old kids. I was once told this habit of cutting everything and then having one hand on your lap started in the wild west, when the guys held their sixshooter while eating. When you watch americans eat, germans just shudder: one bite meat, one bite desert, make sure you put your veggies aside, and call the waiter to get more parmesan cheese for your lettuce. Adding a lot of ice cubes to a beverage is just a way to promise bigger cups without handing more beverage to your patron. Most of it ends up on the floor of your car anyway….

By: Roxanne

Roxanne — Fri, 14 May 2010 05:42:09 +0000

I just want to reiterate that everyone uses the knife and fork except the Americans. My family moved to the States from the Caribbean and my parents insisted that I learn to use a knife and fork properly when I was a child.

And @ Atompilzkopf, I was rolling on the floor laughng at your 8pm post about watching Americans eat. I’ve never thought of it that way before.

I live in New York City and in the corporate world many people often take just a few minutes to buy lunch and bring it back to their desk so they can REALLY multitask. Yay productivity! Not everyone does this but it’s not unusual. Is this only a NYC thing?

By: Florian Blaschke

Florian Blaschke — Sun, 02 May 2010 01:27:07 +0000

Eating with fork and knife keeps confusing me, too. Using the left hand to operate the fork just feels unnatural when you’re right-handed …

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:31:13 +0000

Wow! Just discovered your site, and I love your witty observations - I’ve encountered similar things myself. I haven’t had time to comb through all your articles just yet, but reading Uschi’s reply from August 26, 2009, I am reminded that Germans either don’t get humour, or they feel the need to explain why something is funny. Or maybe that’s a personality trait existent in all countries - it just stands out to me more here.
On another note, having been here for 12 years, I seem to have adapted the fork and knife method with such fervour, that if I were lost in the forest and only had a fork to eat with, I just might starve to death. Allerdings, I hold my knife in the left hand, so that I may continue to fork it in with my right hand. That’s even MORE efficient since I don’t have to switch hands when implementing the knife.
Keep up the good work, John!

By: Lawyer

Lawyer — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 10:37:21 +0000

Arbeitszeitgesetz - ArbZG

Ausfertigungsdatum: 06.06.1994

Vollzitat:

“Arbeitszeitgesetz vom 6. Juni 1994 (BGBl. I S. 1170, 1171), das zuletzt durch Artikel 7 des Gesetzes vom 15. Juli 2009 (BGBl. I S. 1939) geändert worden ist”
Stand: Zuletzt geändert durch Art. 7 G v. 15.7.2009 I 1939

http://bundesrecht.juris.de/arbzg/BJNR117100994.html#BJNR117100994BJNG000100307

§ 4 Ruhepausen
Die Arbeit ist durch im voraus feststehende Ruhepausen von mindestens 30 Minuten bei einer Arbeitszeit von mehr als sechs bis zu neun Stunden und 45 Minuten bei einer Arbeitszeit von mehr als neun Stunden insgesamt zu unterbrechen. Die Ruhepausen nach Satz 1 können in Zeitabschnitte von jeweils mindestens 15 Minuten aufgeteilt werden. Länger als sechs Stunden hintereinander dürfen Arbeitnehmer nicht ohne Ruhepause beschäftigt werden.

http://bundesrecht.juris.de/arbzg/__4.html

:-))

By: Chaz

Chaz — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:48:59 +0000

Germans eat LUNCH 1.7 times faster than Americans;
Americans eat Dinner 3.4 times faster than Germans.

You should try eating dinner with friends in the evening,

In the evening, American’s expect the meal on the table in 15 minutes, and will eat it in 15 minutes. the bill better come fast, because without fast service, there will be a small tip. Besides, there is someone waiting to take your table. The pressure is on.

In the evening, Germans will spend a good part of the evening for dinner. Nothing is rushed - it is all enjoyed - both the food and the conversation. The table is yours for the whole evening if you wish.

Dinner is a bit different from the canteen experience described above.

By: Rolf

Rolf — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:28:28 +0000

There is a saying with an ad that puts it on the point:
“Power is nothing without control.”
Eating 1,7 times faster just means nothing, it is first of all just a number. But eating faster, more efficient, without devastating what the chef provided, before eating it, is the aim - well than using a cutterly set proper is not that extraordinary.
Doing the American style of eating (well remarked, Atompilzkopf!) just reminds me of this funny scenery at the Monty Pythons Flighing Circus and maybe for some this bucket thing could be just an improvement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlK62rjQWLk

By: Also John

Also John — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:56:54 +0000

Now that you mention it, Ami’s DO have a thing about cold drinks! The colder the better. No warm beer allowed - must be served at just above freezing! Even stouts and other “dark” beers. Have you had “ice tea”? My father ordered it in a Montreal restuarant and they didn’t know what to do! I know people who pour wine over ice, red wine included…

I think to us “cold” is as important as “taste”. Indeed (@Stefan;->)we will chill Coke in the refridgerator and then serve it over ice! I know it makes no sense, but that is how we roll in the USA.

By: Stefan W.

Stefan W. — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:57:49 +0000

I think I shouldn’t use “indeed” that much.

To be clear: No, I am [i]not[/i] Teal’c!

By: Stefan W.

Stefan W. — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:55:47 +0000

Well, you’re indeed right with that Coke thing, after all. For some people, the watering down of oversweet drinks is indeed a desired effect.

Also, some cocktails depend on that effect. Juleps, for example.