Differences in mentality

Differences in mentality between Latvians / Lithuanians and Germans

The Baltic States are almost undiscovered and an insider tip as far as holiday trips are concerned. A nice way to discover them is to drive around in them with a hire car. Almost all well-known companies have opened branches, especially in Latvia and Lithuania. There they like the Germans, not only their cars, but also their reliability and punctuality. But what is the mentality in Latvia and Lithuania like?

Lithuania is still searching for a national identity at the moment, you could say. Maybe that’s why the inhabitants are considered to be a bit overly proud. In any case, they are also considered to be very hardworking, similar to the Germans, that is. Perhaps for this reason there is also the mental connection and sympathy. On the other hand, there are prejudices that Lithuanians give up quickly if they think they can’t reach their goal. They are said to be very much out for their own advantage, but certainly not all are like that. Lithuanian people are considered to be rather reserved in their dealings, especially when something doesn’t suit them. What you definitely need in this Baltic state is a lot of patience. Waiting is the order of the day here and punctuality is not necessarily widespread. By the way, the oldest Lithuanian generation is considered to be very religious, the youngest rather less. This already shows that there are differences in mentality even among the different generations. The older generations are still influenced by the Soviet era, the younger ones by the West.

The Latvians are direct neighbours of the Lithuanians and they had and have identical influences, but they are considered to be more sociable, more open and above all more punctual. Friendship, hospitality, loyalty and reliability are highly valued. Latvians don’t seem to need much to be happy. They make the best of every situation. They are a peaceful people made up of not always very assertive people. The tone of interaction is informal compared to many other countries. Here Latvians and Lithuanians are alike. It is possible that they meet guests with scepticism at first. Nevertheless, they should be friendly.

Who decides for a hire car, should consider some peculiarities of the Baltic States in advance. Strictly handled are speeding. In addition, it is forbidden under penalty to drive drunk. To be able to drive a hire car, you must be at least 21 years old and have held your driving licence for one year. Drivers younger than 25 may well be charged a young driver fee. It is mandatory to report traffic violations with a hire car to the local hire car company. This is also stated in the hire car contracts. In Latvia and Lithuania, when parking the vehicle, it must be noted that in some regions it is mandatory to park with a parking disc or a parking ticket behind the windscreen. Otherwise, the vehicle will be immobilized with a claw. As for their traffic rules, both peoples are very precise.