Germany+Facts

*Interesting Facts*  ***Communication** -- When meeting with someone you must always shake their hand. Most Germans speak English, but their native language is German. ***Accepted Business Practices** -- Important business decisions are made by fax and follow up calls. You must call people by their full name.
 * *Religion ** -- Germans are mostly Catholic or Protestant.
 * *Social Customs ** -- Germans hate artificial food; they appreciate their food all natural – which means not processed.
 * *Family Structure ** -- Most households are traditional families. This includes mom, dad, and a few kids. The parents are the ones who usually work while the kids attend school until about the 10th grade.
 * *Political Structure ** -- Germany is a Democratic Federal Multiparty Republic. It is formed of two legislative houses, the Federal Council and the Federal Diet. The President is the Chief of State, and the Chancellor is the Head of the Government.
 * *Currency ** -- The currency in Germany is the Euro.
 * *Imports/Exports ** -- Germany imports machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, and metals. They export vehicles, machinery, chemical goods, electronics, shipbuilding and optics, iron, steel, coal, cement, food and beverages, and textiles.
 * <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">*Physical Geography **<span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> -- Germany is equivalent to the size of Pennsylvania, and has a land area of 221, 710 sq. miles; about 216,867 sq. miles of land and about 4,843 sq. miles of water. Germany's population is 82,400,996.
 * <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">*Workday/Holidays **<span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> -- Germans work from nine to six with a one hour lunch break. They take their holidays very seriously, but Easter and Christmas are the most important.
 * <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">*Standard of Living **<span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> -- Most families are at the middle class level.
 * <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">*Climate/Weather **<span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> -- In summer, Germany is rather warm and comfortable. Temperatures usually don't get above 90 degrees. In the winter, Germany can get really cold. Sometimes temperatures can get into the negatives.
 * <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">*Education **<span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> -- Most Germans only go to school until about the 10th grade. They can finish all 12 years but some choose not to. Most Germans enroll in some kind of college after high school.
 * <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">*Flag/Color **<span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> -- The German flag is made up of the colors red, yellow, and black.
 * <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">*Native Foods **<span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> -- Pork is very abundant in Germany. Some of the most common foods are pork, game birds/rabbits, and juniper berries. Mustard and horseradish are common condiments, and beer is the drink of choice.
 * <span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">*Business Attire **<span style="font-size: 20pt; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> -- Men and women normally wear suits, but women wear dresses, also.