Meet the Germans

Probably more than any other nation on earth the Germans are a nation judged by stereotypes. Countless times, I have played a game with friends and acquaintances, asking the question: "When you think about the Germans, what spontaneously comes to mind?". The same answers are repeated time and time again. The rest of the world thinks they are efficient, serious, honest, and are a nation famed for curious customs - Ledenhosen, Sauerkraut and Ommpah bands. But how much truth really lies behind these stereotypes?

Here I have taken an irreverent view and tried to peel back the layers to reveal a humorous side to modern Germans, after 15 years of living amongst them; a nation with unusual habits that include men and women who go naked together in the sauna, a passion for driving on highways with no speed limits, drinking copious quantities of mineral water and beer (not together!) and holding quaint beliefs that modern medicines should be avoided because they are full of harmful chemicals.

In addition, they have developed the worlds most unusual design in toilets, everyone sleeps in passion-killer beds, the women have great figures but sometimes neglect to shave their armpits and the authorities don't bother to install barrier controls, they trust their citizens to pay on public transport.

They produce the world's best detective series, but nobody has ever heard of Tatort outside the country and they are a nation with a sharp incisive wit despite a deep-seated British prejudice that their language is blunt and they have no sense of humour.

This truly is a country worth getting to know better.