Comparison between the characteristics of citizens of Germany and Qatar - Essay Example

28 February, Comparison between the characteristics of citizens of Germany and Qatar: When we talk about countries that are too possessive about their native culture and are least likely to accept foreign influence, the discussion can not be complete until Germany has been discussed. Germany is one of the few countries that do not take foreign influence and always maintain their original culture. As I read, I found that there are a lot of characteristics and habits in Germans that make them different from the rest of the world, some of which are discussed below: Germans cultivate very strong work ethics.

As it is explained in the book “Culture Smart: Germany”, Germans make their best effort to complete a task within the time assigned, and make sure that they do the work rightly the very first time it is done. In short, we can say that they are too committed to their jobs and respect the deadlines. When I compare that to the trend in my country, Qatar, I find a huge difference because most of the people in Qatar are too careless about the work deadlines, and more often than not, work is completed after the deadlines.

Regardless of the religion or cultural differences with Germans, I respect them as a Muslim for their hard work, because in Islam, we are taught to do everything with extreme enthusiasm and professionalism. In one saying, our Prophet Mohammed has conveyed that God loves it when someone does something and he/she does it well. Another characteristic that I particularly like about Germans is their straightforwardness. Germans have a habit of saying straight whatever they have in their mind, and they do not feel any hesitation or embarrassment in being truthful in their speech.

There is no hypocrisy in them. Thus, whatever they say, they mean it and they do what they think is right. Straightforwardness to such a high extent may sound rude occasionally, but for me it should not be taken like that. I feel that one should welcome criticism as long as it is just. I would not mind someone telling me to correct myself in a particular way if I am really wrong in that. In my country, people frequently make use of flattery for personal gains. This is a sign of hypocrisy and is strictly forbidden in Islam.

In addition to their straightforwardness, I like German’s truth. They put in their maximum effort in fulfilling their commitments. They mean what they say, and when they commit to something, it almost means they really will do it. For example, if a German says, "I'll do my best" it means, "I will use my best efforts and probably succeed"(Culture Smart: Germany p. 44). Finally, German’s mannerism is what I like the most about them. It has been mentioned on the p. 77 of the book that Germans show extreme respect towards the older people.

This is one characteristic that is common between Germans and Qataris. Parents in Qatar teach their children to show respect towards their elders. Unfortunately, some of the younger people do not follow this golden principle of Islam. In conclusion, reading about Germany and its citizens, I found a lot of wonderful things about Germans.