3 Things I think Togo does better than Germany – A Black European’s Honest Take

Germany has many advantages: the mountainous landscapes, places like Eibsee, Tegernsee, and Königssee, cities such as Munich and Berlin—and the fact that Heidelberg even exists. Of course, every country has its strengths and its flaws. Here are a few observations I made.

1. Community:As someone who has studied languages—and therefore cultures—one thing that truly caught my attention was the sense of community. In Togo, people are genuinely there for each other. I had heard about these characteristics before, and my siblings and I were taught about them, but witnessing them firsthand is something entirely different.Children constantly shared food with one another. They played together as a group. Whenever my cousin asked someone for directions or help finding something, people responded kindly and patiently. My cousins’ wives helped each other as well—one would watch all the children while the other took care of errands, and then they’d switch.When we went to buy mangoes (10 for €4.50—I’m still speechless at how cheap that is), the vendor even gave us samples. I’ve hardly ever experienced that in Germany, not even at regular markets.
2. Customer service:This point is, of course, subjective, so take it with a grain of salt. At street markets—where most people buy their food—haggling is common, yet I rarely encountered a rude vendor. People were consistently friendly and respectful.In supermarkets, prices could be higher, but the employees truly went out of their way to help. When my cousin needed diapers for his absolutely adorable daughter, three different employees assisted us, all genuinely trying to help us find the right product.
3. The weather: This one is mostly for fun, because it’s not Germany’s fault—but I love warm weather, and having summer last longer than three months is definitely a plus for me.