Great Rooms / UK vs Germany PK

Text & Photos / Li Yanqiong

People are fun—Asians can roughly tell each other apart: I’m Taiwanese, you’re Japanese, he’s Thai or Filipino. But once you step out of Asia and look at Westerners, they all “blur together,” just as Westerners also struggle to tell Asians apart.
Because we love the UK, we’ve traveled there many times, and indeed, the UK and Germany are vastly different.

I truly love the British accent—its cadence, the use of four tones, and its soft, gentle flow, which sounds so pleasant. Every word is enunciated clearly, almost like the precise articulation of the Beijing dialect. Compared to German, where a single word can consist of thirty-plus letters, leaving you breathless after a sentence, the British just sound like gentlemen and ladies when they speak.

German men are rugged; British men are elegant

For example, the word “tomorrow.” The British say it as to(morrow(), ending softly with an apostrophe-like sound ('). We mostly speak in flat tones, but talking with the British makes you unconsciously more refined.

Compared to English, German pronunciation is really tough—the guttural sounds, rolled Rs, and the pronunciation of “a, o, u” make your tongue work so hard. It’s so busy! After saying a whole sentence, you feel like you’re about to pass out.

I love observing people, especially those from different countries—it’s even more interesting.

I’ve observed the “plumpness” of European women. British women are the most overweight (just look around on the street—“sea of flesh, swaying hips”), Italian women are romantically plump, French women are fashionably plump, Spanish women are flamenco-plump, Belgian women are “elegantly plump,” Greek women are “lazily plump,” Swiss women’s plumpness is exquisitely refined, German women are rigorously plump, Vienna women are proudly plump, and as for Czech women, I rarely see any plump ones at all.

German men are rugged and bold, with deeper facial contours, while British men are gentlemen, refined and elegant. Belgian men are even more handsome, and French men? Oh my, they’re incredibly romantic. Italian men, haha, you hardly dare to look directly into their blue eyes (my Italian neighbor greets me warmly every day with “ciao”).

German architecture is grand; British architecture is traditional and elegant

After being bombed to ruins in World War II, Germany was determined to rebuild its ambition for global dominance, and its new architecture indeed reflects a fresh spirit. While the UK preserved its traditional elegance—small triangular or hexagonal windows can’t compete with the brightness and grandeur of Germany’s expansive glass windows, especially since German houses often feature large window sills that let sunlight flood the rooms.

The main trends in British architecture are “Classical Revival” and Romantic architecture, also known as “Gothic Revival,” which primarily revives medieval architecture in manor houses and estates, imitating castles and Gothic churches. British architectural style includes several distinctive elements: wooden roofs, gabled roofs, domed turrets, bay windows and corner towers, and asymmetrical façade designs.

German architectural styles vary greatly between the north and south. Southern Bavaria is full of fresh and lively Baroque-style buildings, while the north features solemn and rigorous Gothic architecture. More authentic German designs have several key characteristics: first, a simple, modern, and vibrant exterior with bold and fashionable colors, belonging to the modern minimalist school; second, functionality prioritizes practicality, eliminating any superfluous decoration; third, high-quality materials that balance new technology and environmental concerns; and fourth, attention to detailed design.

Gothic Revival and Classical Revival architecture are also quite popular in some major German cities, such as Cologne Cathedral. The main style imitates the ancient Greek Acropolis Propylaea, and some places also incorporate Roman architectural techniques to create a uniquely German style.

Germans love planting flowers; British gardens are classic

The beauty of British gardens—elegant and varied in form, bursting with flowers and vibrant colors—is world-renowned. Based on the British reverence for natural landscapes, gardens mainly consist of statues, flowing water, and scenery integrated with the local environment. Gardens include several romantic elements: small bridges with pillars over ponds or lakes, Greek pavilions, Chinese gazebos, round ponds, stone pillars, rock caves, and other picturesque scenes. Vast lawns with water and trees evoke a bit of the Western version of Chinese garden bridges and flowing streams.

Germans even more love “playing with flowers and plants”—every household decorates their homes like gardens. Those with gardens plant exotic flowers and plants, rivaling small botanical gardens, while those without gardens still fill every corner with greenery, adorning balconies with vases and potted plants. Housewives shopping always bring home a bouquet, making their homes delightful and pleasing to the eye.

Compared to the boldness of German luxury car brands like BMW and Mercedes, the British iconic car LAND ROVER is clearly more composed. Though its luxury isn’t as overt, its aristocratic charm subtly shines through.

Travel Expert Li Yanqiong
From publishing editor-in-chief, magazine director, newspaper deputy editor, TV producer to radio host, she has navigated the media for thirty years. In Germany, she picked up pots and pans again, cooking with one hand and writing with the other, happily embracing the role of a “European stylish daughter-in-law,” wandering between words and nature.

[For more exciting content, see HowToTrip HouseFun Magazine, July 2015 issue]
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