Welcome to Slow German. Nanci had hoped for today's topic. Well, I have called this episode dating - although this is an English word. We also use it in Germany. But there are also German terms. "Arrange yourself," for example - but it can mean much more. I can also arrange to meet with my father or with a work colleague - then that's still no date. Let's stay at a romantic date.

In Germany there is no such established rituals of dating, such as in America. You learn to know someone - for example at a party or with friends - and arrange to meet. Brave people like to go out for dinner on the first date. Courageous because you have to talk much at dinner, of course - and this is difficult if one realizes that the other person is not sympathetic. Better, therefore, is a visit to the cinema - because people speak briefly before, and then you look at rest of the film. If you then still interested in this, is to drink something - if not, you go home. Indicative is also a conspiracy to drink coffee. It takes more than an hour and you can loosen up. This does not mean that sniffs you, whether the other smells good - but whether you like yourself.

Many people are now trying also to find true love on the Internet. There are networking events where singles - let's say a single person - looking for relationships. Or flirting. Or blind dates. You already notice the theme of love we stole a lot of words from the Americans and Englishmen! Of course there is also with us now, the so-called speed dating. These are events where sitting at small tables in each woman. The men have five minutes to talk to every woman. In the end, the men and women tick on a list who they were friendly - nice if both were found, they get their phone numbers from the organization. There is actually a beautiful German film that deals with exactly this thing, it's called "shopping".

After a few dates then it is a done deal: You start a relationship. Teens say: We are going together. Later, they say only: I have a friend. This is obviously misleading, because "a friend" can also be just a good friend. "My Friend" is then always the man with whom I am in a relationship. Unfortunately we have no terms such as "Girl Friend" or "Boy Friend".

Much more can I say about not dating - there are no hard and fast rules, there is no set procedure. And I think a good thing. So it is exciting to find true love!

Well, I hope you have again learned many new words! If you feel like, Slow German following on Facebook or Twitter. PDFs are all consequences of slowgerman.com, there you will find a lot of other information and links to learning materials. And there's an app for the iPhone.

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Welcome to Slow German. Nanci had hoped for today's topic. Well, I have called this episode dating - although this is an English word. We use it ...