GERMANYBy: Jessica Mullins

Did you know?o Government: Federal Republic

o Population: 82.5 million

o Currency: Euro

o Nationality: German(s)

o Language: German

Information about the lando Area is 134,838 square miles

o There is nine countries bordering Germany

o Austriao Luxembourg just to name a fewo Switzerland

Germany is a federation of sixteen states

Highs and Lowso The highest point in Germany is Zugspitze, it

is 9,721 feet o The lowest point in Germany is Neuendorf bei

Wilster at -11.6 feet

Chance of Rain?o Germany’s climate is pretty mild

o Sometimes there is rapid change in the weather

o Snow falls from early November to late April

Government o There is a president who is head of state

o Current president of Germany is Horst Kohler

o Chancellor who leads the government with the ministers of the cabineto Current Chancellor is Angela Merkel

o The federal parliament is elected every four years

o The governing parties include Christian

Democratic, Christian Social Union, Free Democratic Party

Money, Money, Moneyo Germany makes most of it’s money from

manufacturingo Siemens, a large private-sector who focus on

energy, industry, and healthcareo BASF which is a huge chemical companyo Bayer, a material science company and

healthcare

Bring home the dough o German companies generally have fewer than

500 employeeso Middle-class people usually own the smaller

companies which hire other middle-class people

Labor and the Lawso Normal working hours are 9:00am-5:00pmo Opening hours for the businesses vary

o 24 hour stores are only available only at certain gas stations and other places that are related to traveling

o Average working hours are 37.5 hours/weeko Wages in Germany are among the highest

throughout Europe and the across the Worldo Dismissal from the job must be proceeded by

notice o The Mother Protection Law provides mothers

with 36 months of leave

Who Pays For What?o Both social security and health care cost are

split equally between the employee and the employer

o Germany’s health care is traditionally goodo The service is available for everyone

Educationo All children go to school ages 6-18o School days are shorter than in the United Stateso Public school systems are paid for by tax payers and

there is no tuition for colleges in Germanyo Elementary all students study the same subjects o After elementary the student goes to one of four

different kinds of schools:o Gymnasium- they stay there until 18o Realschule- study until they are 15 and train for a job in industry o Hauptschule- is slower than the other two schools listed aboveo Gesamtschule- is a comprehensive school

Religion o Protestants are the largest group in Germany

o Roman Catholics are the second largest group

o Other groups include Jews and Muslims

Holidays o Most German holidays are based on the

Christian calendaro January 1st is New yearo January 6th is Epiphanyo Spring they celebrate Good Friday and Easter

Mondayo May 24th is Ascension day

o October 3rd is one Holiday that Germany celebrates that is not on the Christian calendar

Etiquette o Greetings are formal and titles are important

o Never talk to someone while chewing gum

o Direct eye contact is very important

o They like there space so keep your distance

o Privacy is very important to Germans

DO NOT BE LATEo Punctuality is greatly important to Germans

whether for business or social engagement

Transportation o People in Germany get around on:

o Bicycleso Carso Trains o Buses

Traveling to Germanyo United State citizens do not require a visa

unless they are staying longer than three months

o They have many airports in Germany to make for easy travel

o Trains can take you many places as well

What to eat?o German food varies from each region but still

usually includeso Meat o Potatoeso Vegetableso Salad

o They also enjoy their beer and wineo Drinking age is 16 for beer and wineo 18 is the legal age for spirits

Familyo Germans weddings have two parts

o First is the civil ceremony at the government officeo The next day they have a church service

o Most German families have one or two children

o Children usually leave home once they get a job

Sports o One in three Germans play a sport

o 12 million others exercise on a regular bases

o Other sports that are popular is handball, volleyball, and basketballs

Goodbye Germany

I hope that the information I have shared has inspired you to take a trip to Germany just as I would love to do!

References Countries of the World, Germany- by Henry

Russell

Focus on Germany – by David Flint

http://www.macombcountymi.gov

http://www.buyusa.gov