I promised to start this project way earlier, but I think Hackweek will be a great time to make a start.

The project once was called $BABELFISH, later "Rumsfeld", to honor the creator of the "Unknown unknowns" meme, now it's name is Maxfeld. And that's what it's about: Helping new arrivals and everybody else in Europe/Germany/Nürnberg (as a start) to avoid or solve the typical cultural misunderstandings. Language, culture, even body language, mannerism and imagery (e.g in language) may make it hard to get started and cause lots of funny, strange or bewildering situations. Just think of the variety of philosophical, ethical or religious backgrounds the fast growing amount of colleagues at SUSE might have, which you never even heard of.

I would like to get started with some meetings and a blog, arrange a mailing list about "Germans - the outside view" and collect experiences of people coming to Germany and telling stories about the differences and issues that most others will also consider pitfalls. Stage appearances with people like us telling their most funny or embarrassing moment or worst misunderstanding with Germans. The blog and the mailing list could be places where new arrivals might find help.

You need examples? German Stare Down: http://www.spiegel.de/international/the-germanic-stare-down-watcha-lookin-at-granny-a-418068.html Table Manners USA vs. Germany: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0w1-fVoG5c Habits I lost when I moved from the US to Germany: https://matadornetwork.com/life/9-american-habits-i-lost-when-i-moved-to-germany/1/

And there is so much more, even e.g. between West and East Coast US.

• Would you be interested?
• Do you have further ideas?
• Would you like to engage?
• Do you know other people who want to help?

Let's meet on Tuesday morning after the start of Hackweek!