The People Layer

Amazingly to me, I found the people, despite cultural differences, to be essentially the same as my reference point (America). I knew this in my head, but to experience it was revelatory. Even though everyone spoke in a "secret code" that only they could understand I could still understand their facial expressions, body language and attitudes. People in Germany and Austria enjoyed games, food, family and entertainment. They liked to be understood, to be respected and loved (and they don’t like to show that they needed it). Little kids laugh at funny faces. The German engineers make engineer jokes. The Austrian fussball teams have social groups within their team based on skill. Etc. Interesting.