{"id":6040,"date":"2015-02-10T16:23:16","date_gmt":"2015-02-10T16:23:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=6040"},"modified":"2017-11-20T14:15:33","modified_gmt":"2017-11-20T14:15:33","slug":"thats-typically-german-part-1-debit-cards-and-bedding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/thats-typically-german-part-1-debit-cards-and-bedding\/","title":{"rendered":"That\u2019s typically German: Debit cards and bedding"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you visit Germany you will discover that a number of accustomed conditions might differ from your homeland. The first week of February, I spent my holidays in England and there it was easy for me to realize a few standards that are typically German. Payments by debit card and characteristic bedding are just two of them.<\/p>\n

Sorry, you are in Germany, we don\u2019t accept credit cards here!<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\"Money<\/a>

Germans usually pay cash or by EC-Karte. Credit cards are not so common. (photo \u00a9 Sandra R\u00f6sner)<\/p><\/div>\n

If you would like to pay for your food or your newly chosen gear by credit card it is highly possible that you soon will experience disappointment in Germany. The majority of the local shops, stores, restaurants, and supermarkets just don\u2019t accept credit cards.
\nWhen Germans want to pay with plastic money they have to whip out their EC-Karte<\/em><\/span> (ec card; ATM card; debit card). That is, when you pay mit<\/em> EC-Karte <\/em><\/span>(by ec card) you\u2019re bank account will be immediately debited, whereas your bank account will only be debited once a month when you pay by credit card.
\nMoreover, very small shops do not accept EC-Karten<\/em><\/span> at all or only when your shopping amounts either to 5 \u20ac or even 10 \u20ac at the minimum. However, international Hotel- und Handelsketten<\/em><\/span> (hotel and trade chains) as well as many shops in larger cities such as Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg would most likely accept credit cards. If you are not sure how you can pay your expenses just ask. These three sentences will help you with that:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Akzeptieren Sie Kredikarten? \u2013 Do you accept credit cards?<\/li>\n
  2. Kann ich (bei Ihnen) mit Kreditkarte zahlen? \u2013 Can I pay by credit card (here)?<\/li>\n
  3. Ab welchen Betrag kann ich (bei Ihnen) mit EC-Karte zahlen? \u2013 lit. From which amount can I pay by ec card (at your store)?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Tip: In case you are planning a longer stay in Germany (for example, studying or working here), ask your local bank if they cooperate with a German bank and if they can hand out a debit card, which you can also use in Germany.<\/p>\n

    You made your bed the German way \u2026<\/strong><\/h4>\n
    \"bed<\/a>

    A common German Single Bed. Measures: 90 cm (3ft) by 200 cm (6ft 6″). (photo \u00a9 Sandra R\u00f6sner)<\/p><\/div>\n

    When it comes to sleeping habits there are two significant differences between the Anglo-American and the German culture. Firstly, naming the particular size of a bed. Secondly, the way you use the Bettdecke<\/span><\/em> (duvet) while sleeping.
    \nThe English language has a variety of names to denote particular bed sizes: Cot, Single, Small Double or Three Quarter, Double, Queen, King, Super King, etc. The German language, however, is more pragmatic in this way. We don\u2019t have any nice-sounding words for the various bed sizes. We simply specify the sizes of beds, for example, by using either measurements or conventional adjectives such as klein<\/em><\/span> (small) and gro\u00df<\/em><\/span> (large).
    \nThe ordinary German Matratze<\/span><\/em> (mattress) measures 90 cm (3ft) breadthways and 200 cm (6ft 6″) lengthways. This ordinary mattress is used for a single bed frame \u2013 which makes it a Einzelbett<\/em><\/span> (Single). When two of these mattresses are put together they make a Doppelbett<\/em><\/span> (Double) or Ehebett<\/em><\/span> (marriage bed).
    \nSome singles who don\u2019t have to share their bed with another person opt for a bed size, which is larger than the ordinary 90 cm (3ft) by 200 cm (6ft 6″) mattress. Germans refer to this as a gro\u00dfes Einzelbett<\/span><\/em> (large single bed). It\u2019s measures: 140 cm (4ft 6″) by 200 cm (6ft 6″). German couples who think the common lying surface of 180 cm (5ft 9″) by 200 cm (6ft 6″) \u2013 two single mattresses put together \u2013 is still too small for a restful sleep can also opt for a mattress that measures 200 cm by 200 cm (6ft 6″) or two mattresses that measure 100 cm (3ft 3″) by 200 cm \u2013 which makes it ein gro\u00dfes Doppelbett<\/em><\/span> (a large Double).
    \nIn order to name a bed made for children, which measures 70 cm (2ft 3″) breadthways and 140 cm (4ft 6″) lengthways, Germans use the term Kinderbett<\/em><\/span> (lit. children\u2019s bed).
    \nTo make a long story short: There are several other mattress sizes but none of them has a particular term. In other words, you don\u2019t have to bother with learning news words when it comes to sleeping habits. There is only one thing you must know: The most common standard size for German mattresses is 90 by 200 cm for singles and 180 by 200 cm for couples.<\/p>\n

    \u2026 now sleep in it twisting and turning!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    English and American people tend to tuck\u00a0their duvets under the mattress so that you have to slip in from the top. Germans would hardly acquire a taste for this nighttime covering. We always need a slit in order to let our feet and legs stick out from the duvet, for example, when it\u2019s too warm.
    \nWe are also not accustomed to share a duvet with our Ehepartner<\/span><\/em>\u00a0(spouse) or Lebensgef\u00e4hrte<\/span><\/em> (partner in life). Germans need a duvet to be twisted and turned. This can only be guaranteed when each person has got his or her own duvet for the night. During my stay in England I always pulled out the duvet from under the mattress because it made me feel trapped.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    What about you? How do you usually pay expenses in your country? And what does your bed look like?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Vocabulary:<\/strong><\/em>
    \ndie EC-Karte \u2013 ec card<\/em>
    \nmit EC-Karte bezahlen \u2013 to pay by debit card<\/em>
    \ndie Hotelkette \u2013 hotel chain<\/em>
    \ndie Handelskette \u2013 trade chain<\/em>
    \ndie Bettdecke \u2013 duvet<\/em>
    \nklein \u2013 small<\/em>
    \ngro\u00df \u2013 large<\/em>
    \ndie Matratze \u2013 mattress<\/em>
    \ndas Einzelbett \u2013 Single bed<\/em>
    \ndas Doppelbett \u2013 Double bed<\/em>
    \ndas Ehebett \u2013 marriage bed<\/em>
    \ndas gro\u00dfe Einzelbett \u2013 the large single bed<\/em>
    \ndas gro\u00dfe Doppelbett \u2013 the large double bed<\/em>
    \ndas Kinderbett \u2013 li. Children\u2019s bed<\/em>
    \nder Ehepartner \u2013 spouse (male)<\/em>
    \ndie Ehepartnerin \u2013 spouse (female)<\/em>
    \nder Lebensgef\u00e4hrte \u2013 partner in life (male)<\/em>
    \ndie Lebensgef\u00e4hrtin \u2013 partner in life (female)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

    When you visit Germany you will discover that a number of accustomed conditions might differ from your homeland. The first week of February, I spent my holidays in England and there it was easy for me to realize a few standards that are typically German. Payments by debit card and characteristic bedding are just two…<\/p>\n

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