In Germany, the concept of a dining companion, especially in the context of romantic relationships between men and women, often presents a rather amusing and sometimes absurd spectacle.

Let’s start with the so-called “date” at a restaurant. Men, with their seemingly perfect manners, might arrive a few minutes early, standing awkwardly outside the restaurant, checking their watches every few seconds. They enter with a forced smile, hoping to make a grand entrance. The women, on the other hand, might deliberately keep them waiting a little longer, showing up with an air of nonchalance as if they have better things to do. Once seated, the real show begins.

The man immediately reaches for the menu, not so much to look for what he wants to eat but to seem decisive. He starts pointing at various items, muttering something about “trying something new,” when in reality, he just wants to impress the woman with his knowledge of the menu. The woman, meanwhile, is busy scrolling through her phone, pretending to be interested in the restaurant’s ambiance but really just checking her social media updates.

When the waiter arrives to take their order, the man launch into an elaborate description of what he wants, using words like “au jus” and “sous-vide” as if he’s a culinary expert. The woman nods along, not really listening, and then casually orders the most expensive thing on the menu, thinking that by doing so, she’s showing her sophistication.

During the meal, the conversation is a strange mix of small talk and attempts at meaningful connection. The man tries to steer the conversation towards deep topics like philosophy or art, hoping to showcase his intellect. The woman, however, is more interested in talking about her recent shopping spree or the latest gossip about her friends. And so, they go back and forth, each oblivious to the fact that they’re not really connecting on the same level.

The dessert course brings out another layer of absurdity. The man, thinking it’s the chivalrous thing to do, insists on paying for everything, even though he might be struggling to make ends meet. The woman, seeing him dig deep into his wallet, pretends to be shocked and offers to split the bill, but in the end, lets him pay anyway, thinking it’s a sign of his commitment.

After the meal, they might take a stroll through the streets, arms around each other, but the conversation continues to be superficial. They talk about plans for the next date, but both know in their hearts that they’re just going through the motions.

In Germany, this kind of romantic dining companion scenario is all too common. It’s a game of pretense, where everyone is trying to put on the best front possible. The men want to seem cultured and successful, and the women want to seem glamorous and independent. But in the end, it’s all just a façade, a way to pass the time and maybe find a temporary distraction from the monotony of daily life.

It’s a sad commentary on modern relationships, where the true connection seems to be missing, replaced by a series of empty rituals and false pretenses. But perhaps that’s just the nature of things in this so-called “civilized” society, where appearances matter more than authenticity.