A Few Tips About Dating German Men
First of all, dating German men is not something totally different from dating American men, even though are cultures have some differences, German men are on the same planet, and in general act much in the way you might expect any man to act on a date.
Forget The Stereotypes - Germans are not a cold and humorless people who make better policemen than they do chefs, although German cuisine in general won't match up against that of Italy or France. The typical German man may well be a little more meticulous and attentive to detail than his American counterpart, but not always to the point where it would be particularly noticeable. In addition, a man from Bavaria would likely be much more open and friendly than one from Berlin, or one of the other northern cities, just as a man typical Texan is different from a typical man from Vermont.
When first dating German men, you are very apt to find them much more reserved than Americans. Germans do not rely on small talk to get acquainted, and are apt to be a bit more direct at times than we might be totally comfortable with. On the other hand they expect directness from their dates, and embarrassing situations can arise when a German man, unaccustomed to small talk, takes something seriously, which isn't serious. As far as humor is concerned, the typical German usually has it in spades, but sometimes you have to press the right buttons to find it, as the German doesn't always wear his humor as close to the surface as do most Americans. But it's there.
Be Smart - One place an American girl can sometime run into a little bit of trouble, is that her German date is going to expect her to be smart, so she needs to act that way. A dizzy dame might make a great impression on an American guy, but seldom will get to first base with a German, at least not in the beginning. You, Miss America, don't have to be brilliant, but you do need to act as if you had your act together, at least to the extent of knowing that the capital of Germany is Berlin, not Paris or Warsaw. You also may find that the typical young German knows more about America and American politics than most young Americans do. An American girl going to school, or one who has traveled around some will probably have no problem. One who spends her life in shopping malls probably will.
Respect Is Big - Finally, and this may be the most important point of all, when dating German men, respect is going to be a big issue, at least initially, but probably in the long run as well. This is not the heel-clicking sign of respect we see in war movies, but rather an assumption on the part of the German man that what you are telling him is the truth, and not something just to make him feel good. The German man will usually show you a great deal of respect, but if you are caught in a little white lie, that respect can quickly be undermined. We often show respect through being friendly. The German tends to show it through being honest, and expects the same.
In spite of all of this, the differences between German men and American men aren't as great as many might assume, and if you are a reasonably intelligent and friendly American girl, you really shouldn't run into any problems in dating German men. Both parties may have to make a few small adjustments at first, and you may have to make most of them, but if you make up your mind that's not a big deal, everything should go well.