7 German Things I Used To Hate (but now I like)
2024 ж. 4 Мам.
169 301 Рет қаралды
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0:00 Intro
0:48 Number One
2:26 Number Two
4:20 Learning Italian
5:47 Number Three
6:48 Number Four
7:32 Number Five
8:05 Number Six
9:07 Number Seven
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Did you notice that always when you used your hands for a gesture while trying to pronounce Italian terms properly that made you pass the try....that´s hilarious
Im always amazed that Americans find it outrageous to pay 50 cents to 1 euro to use the bathroom but think its completely normal to tip 20-25% just to be served food.. 🙂
I’m totally fine with paying for bathrooms but always having coins is annoying. Just make them contactless payments and I’m all in. If I was able to just touch with my smart watch and go that would’ve been awesome
Yeah right, not everyone tips that generously if at all. I think it's mostly the fact that we don't have the change to use the bathroom if we had to pay, so in an emergency situation you crap your pants because you didn't have 2 quarters on you.
@@ElMagoRobTo be honest, how often in a life time do you have such an emergency? If at all, three times max? And even then, people outside of America are capable of and able to handle such an emergency (like with children) and simply ask the nearest shop/ cafe/restaurant staff or owner to use the toilet. And nobody has to be scared to be shot „by accident“ for trespassing! Get real! The only time I ever use a public toilet is when I am on a road trip at a service station when refuelling the car. I don’t even remember when I had to even when sightseeing on vacation.
@@wakeupcall2665 Just wait till you get older and need to pee 18 times a day.
@@ElMagoRob In The Netherlands you can pay with your bank card / Apple Pay / Google Pay
I was among those Germans telling you that almost every little step in our bureaucracy makes some sort of sense. But please continue to hate it for how ineffectively and slowly the processes are executed. We must get faster.
Yes, and it isn’t the most correct either.
Yes to the delay for being thorough and checking every step of the process, kudos on that. No to the delay for the highly ineffective work style, where everything is on paper and you need to submit the same documents in four different places due to privacy concerns (that I find loable, but wouldn't it be possible to get some documents compulsed and checked in one place and the rest of the burocratic just gets the signal that everything is OK in your documents? Do you really need all of it on paper just to scan it in front of my nose and keep also the paper copy?)
Socialism doesnt work. And it always grows.
Well, the bureaucrats are slowpokes and the first thing they do is check if they have jurisdiction and if not, they'll either do nothing (worst case) or send what ever landed on their desk to the right desk. What makes me hate German bureaucracy is that it is slow in accepting modern communication! We've had e-mail for 25 years at the very least and they aren't truly using (especially courts! It's FAX-Machine or personal! No other way to get stuff to them...seriously, get with the times!)
Jesus, bureaucracy, you guys should try living in France.
"To pay the people who clean the restrooms" - now that’s a revolutionary thought, America. Sorry, I couldn’t resist…
If waiters shouldn't be tipped, but rather be paid a living wage, then that should apply to bathroom cleaners as well.
@@XX-bn9sf Face it... American toilets suck
@@XX-bn9sf They are usually self employed, the basic hardware is provided, but they have to take care of everything else. Team work to do shifts etc.
pay rater the waiter who only brings the food that you could get yourself, but get a shock when you have to pay for something that others have to clean
@@XX-bn9sf Issue is that the tipping culture in US is the solution for entrepreneurs to pay their employees below minimum wage. I think you are aware of that exemption in US law about minimum wage. This would be illegal in Germany so you can not compare the situation of a German waiter with an US one. kzhead.info/sun/pMOffc-Qf4ueaZs/bejne.html
I couldn't agree with you more!..I've been living near stgt since 1989, and it feels like home. In fact, when my husband and I and our Twins moved back to Minneapolis, it didn't take long for me to be "Home sick" for our German town.. So we packed up an moved "Home" A very memorable moment was when I popped into our local Bakery shortly after our return and the owner greeted me by name mentioned that my son had forgotten his wooly cap that morning and handed it to me over the counter. I was blown away! Someone knows us by our names and was sweet in saving this little kids cap until we popped in again. Perhaps it takes a while to meet people and make friends, but once you do, you will have a friend forever. Thanks again for your very open and honest youtube channel!! Love it!
Omg ❤
Yes, that is Germany in a nutshell - we are coconuts - rough on the outside, but once you got to our core, you're in for a treat. And if we are friends, we are friends for a long time.
This is how German middle class busineses, often family owned, are!
@@dashippo4372 I was in my newspaper kiosk this week and the saleswoman handed me 1 € "You left it last week!" I added a € "For the coffee fund!" I was so touched.
Love your story and it makes me kinda proud to be a german. I kno we have flaws, but there are things to love about us as well! Welcome back to good ol germany!
I personally love the "German bluntness/directness". I live in America and have an American family. They always talk around the bush, even for important decisions. Some of the family members are then just flushed because of what others decided but didn't tell them because they didn't want the confrontation or "hurt" the other person. So, because of this, there is always some drama going on between different parts of the family which could easily be avoided by just telling as it is.
there is an old saying here in germany that "only speaking people can be helped". 😉
@@samends8863 naja ehr “Wer nichts fordert, bekommt auch nichts.”
@@papillon232 Das macht keinen Sinn. Wie "fordere" ich Kommunikation, um besser miteinander leben zu können?
Yep. We stomp right on the bush, twice if you complain :)
@@papillon232 Ich kenne auch den Spruch "Was braucht der Mensch zum leben? Einen Mund zum reden."
I think the bluntness is great because it safes a lot of time and you don't have to guess what people really think / mean. I understand that it can look rude at first but as soon as you realize that it is not meant to be rude and you are expected to be blunt as well it's a good quick concept of communication. I think our cultural bluntness is the reason why many Germans say US-Americans are so fake. In general we prefer to hear the thruth over sugarcoating everything unpleasant.
As a typical German, I must acknowledge that you are now more German in your habits than I am. Impressive to see how much you have been "germanized" in a relatively short time. I've been following your channel pretty much since the beginning and have never commented on anything yet (silent viewer) but the award for 100% fully approved GERMAN you hereby receive :) Nice :)
You WILL be assimilated haha
Great video! When I first arrived from the States and I realized everyone gets 30 days per year of vacation I was in shock. I remember going to work and wondering how are we going to get this Project finished when every week another team member is out on vacation?!? Ultimately it always works out one way or another and things get done. Now I look at how little vacation workers get in the States and I feel badly they/we have so little time off to enjoy our families and life experiences.
America used to be closed on Sundays back in the mid to early 60's. I am 70 so I remember those days.
Which way did you prefer?
I would have the 60's back, minus the racism, we don't need that.
@@oldtrkdrvr Like in general or just the Sundays?
Everything, all week. Neighbors used to look after each other, crime was very low compared to what it is now. I am astounded as to why Americans put up with the level of crime we put up with.
@@oldtrkdrvr Crime wasn't lower. It mostly never was. But I get the feeling. For America at least. I feel like your folks got affected way too much by the internet.
It's nice to see what you have to say about our country and our culture. For me as a German, all these things are absolutely normal, but it's great to have another positive perspective on our life here. I love this country and I am very happy that an American feels comfortable here and even takes a little something for himself. I would feel the same as a visitor to the US! Thank you Nick!
Window screens: I love the sight of some elderly people who place a cushion on the windowsill and do "sightseeing" in their street. Looks cozy. For me, there are two more reasons: As most German houses have brick walls, you get a real windowsill where I put out my planters. If I want some tomatoes or herbs for cooking I just pop my head out the window and pick them freshly. And for your bedroom, you can air out your duvets during (sunny) days. I would find screens really restricting.
The best thing about a light German breakfast is that it allows room for the 'zweite Frühstück'!!
I thought only Italians did that, with the second cappuccino.
Are you a Hobbit?
@@rainerm.8168 🤔
That's my way, too. Zweiter Hunger arrives soon.
That is why the Americans got that fat... or do you still say "strong"?
As a German it is funny to watch your Videos, because most of the Stuff is so true
thanks so much!
STIMMT... I do agree
Perspective is the reason I watch your videos (aside from the fact that they always put me in a good mood). As a German, it's nice to get this outside perspective. You don't only learn that "our" way may not the only way of doing things, you also learn to appreciate things that you have never noticed and always taken for granted. So -- thanks for putting in all the work :)
Agree, German standard breakfast may not be too glamorous, but we know how to brunch 😊
Hafenbar Neuss has an awesome all you can eat brunch in Neuss. Free refills on the OJ! And if you arrive at the correct time, the menu changes from breakfasty to lunchy and it just gets better.
Haferflocken rules
True.
@@LythaWausW Wow! Danke für den Tipp. Ich werde es probieren, wenn ich mal wieder durch Neuss komme 😊😊
@@timamoll Die meisten versuchen, so schnell wie möglich von dort wegzukommen. :D
Nick, I'm with you about hatchbacks. I used to think they were goofy looking. But now, after my second car with a hatchback, I see them as an effective way to have decent rear cargo space without having to haul a big-ass trunk. Also the rear wiper really helps during rain!
Hatchback cars were also made cool by the sport of rallying, which doesn't really exist in the US but does in Europe.
Hey, I drive a Mini-Van. Talk about un-cool! But I just don't care because the thing is so damned practical. I can carry up to 8 people, or a bunch of 8 foot 2x4's with the rear hatch closed. What i really like at my old age is the ease of getting in and out. The seats are at such a height that I only have to slide in, rather than lower myself into some seat 12 inches off the ground!
Notice that learning Italian with Rosetta Stone involves using the correct hand gestures.
wow, that is a selling point!
@@simongassenschmidt7995 Wowe 👋that isse a sselling pointe! 🤌🤌
Nice video, as always. It made me reflect on the difference in meaning of “love” and “hate” compared to their counterparts in German. It’s strange how quickly Americans love or hate something or someone. Americans seemingly use them to express a slightly stronger form of like and dislike. Germans use these words for very, very special persons, things or occasions. For the most precious one only. “I love your socks” = “I really like your socks”. Or “I used to hate paying 50 cents for using a bathroom” = “I don’t like paying far that, it’s annoying.” In German, “love/lieben” and “hate/hassen” are such strong words. You love your parents, your spouse, your kids. They are soo deeply, deeply in your heart. You hate your worst enemy. The worst feeling for that despicable creature who made your life a living hell. But would I love my colleagues in German (“ich liebe meine Kollegen!”) ? Nope. I do like my colleagues. But love them? We’re not THAT close. Would I hate a closed shop on Sundays (“Ich hasse diesen geschlossenen Laden” ? Hate a shop? It’s not that important. Why is there this huge difference in meaning? And how do Americans express their love-love for something, if the word’s been taken over by “really like”?
It's because Americans forget that there are also verbs like: "to dislike", "to detest"
I think it’s less of a difference in language than a difference in culture. Americans like to express things in very extreme terms… if we don’t, it feels like it doesn’t mean anything… as if it would somehow get lost in the noise if you know what I mean.
"I'm literally starving." In English: I'm dying of malnutrition. In American: I haven't had a snack for nearly 8 minutes. I don't know what literally means, but add just for emphasis.
Every american reality show where someone gets voted off after one episode and everyone is crying and saying " I love you so much!!" You just met! What!? Bizarre.
I may or may not agree with you on all of these things, but I salute you for being able to change your mind after being presented with new evidence or gaining new experiences. I wish more people would be able to do so.
ok so you know there are sliding/slide-able screens, so there is no need for flies in the room AND you can stick your head out the window. win win !for nalf
I have, by the way, changed my mind on "wait to be seated". It has its advantages because it sometimes brings more quietness to a visit of a restaurant. I used to hate it when I lived in the UK. We do not have that in Germany. In restaurants, you can sit wherever you like.And I changed my mind a bit on that "fake smile" culture most Germans see in the USA. Sometimes, it is nice to be greeted by a friendly smile when you get a service from someone....
I hafta say, for someone who is just finally learning Italian, your accent is amazing. You even know that half of Italian is using your hands. 😂I would say you must have a gift for languages.
I wonder if NALF has learned German?
About the windows without screens … I’m sure that SOMEONE in all those years you’ve been living here pointed out to you the (very cheap and flimsy) Fliegengitter / Fliegenschutz which you attach to the window with Velcro. Take it them off in the fall when the insect season is over, put new ones on in spring. The thing is, you must BUY them yourself. For a lot more money you can get more permanent Fliegengitter in aluminum frames which you pop into the window … and there are also very fancy and rather expensive sliding/rolling screens, which as a renter I wouldn’t get, but they’d give you the best of both worlds. Of course now most insects have disappeared (eradicated I guess) but I still attach the Fliegengitter every spring, and can read at night in the bedroom with the light on and not a single mosquito bothering me. So PLEASE stop saying there are no window screens in Germany. Simply say that in Germany windows don’t come equipped with screens and that one must buy them yourself.
Frankly, the best protection is nature anyway. I am not too bothered about spiders, hence I don't have a huge problem with flies usually.
Or you have these screens that can be pulled down
NALF, my respect for the ability to change the opinion about something and the tolerance to recognize foreign values. Many people run through their lives, having an unchangeable mind, thinking they are always in the right position in their unbreakable concrete walls.
8:57 I beg to differ! There are truly some damn impressive hatchbacks
You can get window screens to stick them in yourself for usually less than 10€, most people i know have them installed on at least some windows
Window screen solution: get a removable one. I have this. It's stuck on with strong metal holders that fit between the window's frame and the window itself, so it's extra secured by a closed window in harsh weather and keeps itself in place if I open it in any way when it's warm. On the subject of cars I quite agree. The absolute priority with a primary vehicle should be utility. Does it get somewhere efficiently? Does it bring me there quicker than other modes of transport? Perhaps there are no alternatives effective enough and it's worth spending as much money as necessary and as little as possible to get around in a personal vehicle. Is it safe (e.g. big enough to protect me from other cars, small enough to let me see more vulnerable traffic participants easily, something which is getting increasingly impossible with 100% needlessly oversized, gas-guzzling SUVs and bullshit trucks)?
I love your outro music. It hypes me up so much. The buildup is so exhilarating and then the "drop" is so cozy.
Hatchbacks are so engrained into our culture, they have been a staple since at least 40 years. When I see a Honda Civic Type R I just think how much these cars can actually achieve. The only bad thing, that is often annoying, is the FWD layout in these Hot Hatches.
8:10 Great video, as always! :) About the cars: I wouldn't say that Germans just don't care if their car looks cool or not. I'd say that the average definition of what constitutes a "cool looking" car is just very different. Funnyly enough, the VW Jetta, which is the saloon version of the Golf, has always been way more popular in the States, while it's always had a more negative connotation in Germany: "Golf mit Rucksack". It was for a long time viewed as a boring car for older people. Can anyone, American or not, please explain this one thing to me: I personally never understood why pick-up trucks were so popular in the US. Unless you're working in construction and often have to carry huge things around with your car, how do you even use that big load space? If it's open, people can just look at what's inside and pick something they like - so you can't "leave stuff in your trunk". (I know there are some higher end pick-up trucks with a rigid cover, but those are very few) And if you drive at higher speeds than just in town, that shape has to be extremely un-aerodynamic... I know that the SUV is now what most peole want, but back 20 years ago, iirc, about 50% of car sales in the US were pick-up trucks. Can anyone explain this to me? Thanks!
Personal choice for a mostly male consumer. The pickup truck has been marketed to make them appear as a free spirit or a macho man. No shade. 😂
Great explanations in this video from Not Just Bikes: kzhead.info/sun/nbJwnbeQhKSreKc/bejne.html
Unaerodynamic is not an issue in the US: You are not driving fast at all (55mph to 75mph would be 88km/h to 120km/h) and gas is much cheaper over there. Cars are cheaper as well. In recent years you can see a lot of US-Pick Up trucks in Germany (like a RAM 1500, Ford Ranger or Chevy Silverado). A lot means you can spot them from time to time compared to 20 years ago when there were none at all.
Just got back from my first trip to the states. You're not kidding about the breakfast! Basically my whole day calories in one sitting, totally exhausting 😂 very delicious but I'm happy to go back to light breakfasts.
Yeah i have something i changed my Mind about and it´s you. Don´t get me wrong, i am a long Time Viewer of your Channel and really like to watch your Videos, but.... (yes sir, hier ist the "aber") At the Beginning i thought....okay then, here is another american who makes Content about Things he like or dislike in Germany. Same as everyone. But you and your Channel had grown so much since the start. Your Topics are quite deep, the way you express and explain things is just top notch. Not only that. The Cinematography of your Videos are so good. They were my prejudices and therefore my mistake. Don't judge anyone based on first impressions. Keep up the good work and enjoy your next Butterbrezel.
Dear Nalf: Thank you for beeing such a great example of cultural curiosity.
Love the years-long commitment to the butter pretzel 😂
I find it strange that NALF is trying to explain the prejudices that Americans have towards Germany, while at the same time acting as if it's totally normal to eat buttered pretzels in Germany. It's as regional as Oktoberfest and Lederhosen. Come to Northern Germany and eat a Franzbrötchen. 😋
Hi Nalf as you are Italian, did you notice that Iltalian breakfasts are much smaller than German ones? The typical Italian breakfast is only a small cup of Espresso - that's all! German breakfast is heavy compared to that.
We had a joke around here, in some student bars you got a "French breakfast" - a café au lait and a Gauloise. You can also have a craftsman breakfast - Mettbrötchen (raw pork minced meat - seasoned -) with a bottle of beer. *that was in the good old days, in the late 80s
He is american with ancestory in italy, so he doesnt know about the italian "ways".
+HansGS You're not quite right: You forgot "il cornetto" (a pastry) filled with vanilla cream that goes with the espresso in the morning. :-)
What do you mean with: "a small" cup of espresso? If it not small, it's NOT an espresso.
Ich will die Bürokratie nicht schönreden, aber wo man mehr Anspruch auf Leistungen hat, hat man mehr Bürokratie. Ich persönlich habe viele positive Erfahrungen mit Ämtern gemacht. Sollte auch mal gesagt werden.
Kurt Tucholsky: des deutschen größte Pein ist es, vor einem Schalter zu stehen. Punktpunkt des deutschen größte Freude ist es, hinter einem Schalter zu sitzen.. Grüße aus Hamburg, Ben
It's funny how often you prefer what you don't actually have. Your neighbor's lawn always looks greener than your own. As a German, for example, I love the breakfast buffet in hotels or when travelling, where there is more than just bread, cold cuts, cheese and jam. I love pancakes for breakfast, fried or scrambled eggs, fried bacon, baked beans with fried sausage and so on. Simply because I don't know it myself and have never learned it from home either. However, I then skip lunch for such a breakfast and only eat the second and last meal of the day in the evening.
Screens: In GER insect screens are commonly available so everyone can just decide to attach them - both soft stretched and with a solid frame. I like to have them. Select your color & material, two minutes of work, and there you have it.
It`s true that many Germans think like that, the main thing is that my car is comfortable and practical instead of expensive and flashy.
❤
Awesome video! Some things I can reflect on me. I has been living in Germany since 2011, moved here at the age of 33.
Well, NALF, what i really like about you & your channel is that you are so open minded which is, quiet frankly, not that common, especially for americans. It's also great to see/hear both sides on everything which makes your videos so enjoyable. Please keep sharing your thoughts.
I hope that your favorite bakery will sponsor you too. You really love the buttered pretzel.🙂
Love your videos!
It is so nice to see that somebody can change their mind. Good going.
I have learned when I grew up to have a big breakfast, a normal Lunch and a small Dinner. What was the phrase (loosely translated and probably not politically correct anymore)? "Breakfast like a Caesar (Kaiser), Lunch like a King and Dinner like a beggar (Bettelmann)". This way your body can work on burning the food which it can less at the end of the day. I like the bluntness. I am using it often and it benefits me here in the US. I am a little careful with people who don't know me but once they do, I talk fast, blunt, direct and efficient. I used to fight my German attitude when moved to the US but over the years I have embraced some of them. That is one of them. It's sometimes hilarious how people react when in a group everybody is so polite with their opinion and then my simple "NO!" ... silence... makes the Group laugh.
The big breakfast had its roots in the industrial revolution, when poor people had to work all day without a proper break, and at the end of the day there wasn't much left for a decent meal. There's no scientific justification for it.
It's always interesting to see your experience and opinion and then the one from "LebenUSA" here on YT who is a German now living in the US. Maybe you should do a video together discussing these things? That would probably be awesome! 😊
Dear NALF, look into your local Baumarkt and ask about Fliegengitter / fly screens for windows. Typical German windows have some very useful additional upgrades available. There are several options available for every kind of window to prevent incoming insects. Have some on windows you like to keep open the whole day and you are fine.
Hey, great stuff everytime you publish a new video! One thing i was confused about in the states: a lot of things are not super individual: gear boxes in cars... a corvertte/chevy van/chevy truck have the same?! I was like... then it cannot be good. i completely changed my mind about that! the idea of making a "thing" more generic might not be the high end of engineering, but: a lot cheaper and a lot easier to maintain in the long run. there are a lot of things... standardized screens for windows... windows itself, a 2x4 and a lot more.
I think you need to incorporate a butter Bretzel into your logo somehow. A lot of these things are already part of my life. More proof I need to find a way to get to Germany.
Talking about the famous German hatchback cars, it's like with a lot of things. Some models are optically nice and some aren't, BUT as you said they are all very functional and give you a lot of space in the trunk on a relatively tiny space. Space-benefit ratio at its best I would call that 🙂
Store hack for Sunday in Germany, only works if you live close to a airport.. Airport store is open all week long.
Or near a major train station.
Great Video like always!!
I appreciate it!
If you had ever driven a Opel Corsa E OPC, Fiesta ST MK8, Mini John Cooper works, than you would not say that hatchbacks are just functional. I drive a Corsa E OPC Performance. With 252 (stock 207) horsepoer and 300 nm of torque, 330mm Brembo brakers, a Drexler limited slip diff and just 1250 kg weight that crazy little thing is damn fast. (and of course comes with Recaro Seats from the factory) Especially around tiny B-Roads. :) I really love these hothatches.
6:29 I have a moskito net over my bed here in germany. I live close to the river Rhein and his wet lands. So in summer we usually have quite a lot mosquitos. But the net over the bed, a few bat´s in the barn of my neigbour and the guys from the mosquito pest control really help.
On my first visit to the US, I fell in love with the Denny's Grand Slam breakfast. You are not allowed to diss it ;). I also introduced my parents to it on their first (and sadly) only visit to the US and they enjoyed themselves as well, particularly my mom who also loved their, for German tastes, rather weak coffee ("finally something I can drink without standing up in bed all night" she was 5ft tall). We also love their quick, friendly, but not over the top service. I would say that American pancake breakfast and a full German Sunday breakfast aren't so different. Once you are through a full load of German rolls, danishes and eggs, a small "Nickerchen" is a good idea.
8:25 Please take a look at the BMW 5 series Kombi (wagon I guess), the A6 and of course the E-Class. Beautiful cars. Honestly probably the best thing you can get to carry 5 people.
Yes the bathrooms in Germany are clean. But the free bathrooms in Buc-ee's in Texas and Tennesse are super clean.
And KwikTrip in WI.
Totally on board with everything you mentioned… aside from screens. I love them. Trading a free view for a fly and mosquito free apartment? Anytime. 😉
I grew up in the States, and I have grown to despise window screens. The severely impede the flow of air.
Super, dass du anscheinend wieder mehr Zeit für Videos hast.
It's really a beautiful thing to see the world through your eyes. I can only wish that you get through your active time healthy.
Enjoying your experiences. Where do you get all the music clips? thx - r
And i hope you changed your mind about manual cars. 😅
There was no oopsie, what are you talking about? 😂 Love your content man, i'm proud to be THAT fast on your videos 💚
Hey Nik, It just came to my mind like a lightningbolt. YOU ARE a special person! How many people do I know, who reflect themselves in a positive way like you did in this video? Honestly? Not that many! So, it´s nice you managed to dive even deeper on the german culture by reflecting yourself. And by that, you showed me - again and again and again - how different but for some people partially better or more comfortable or more sense giving our german behaviour is. And especially the altered view on that infuriating german bureaucraZy (that Z is there on purpose!) also changed my own mind as a German. Thanks for that! It was once again a real joy to see and hear you talking about your experience in Germany and I hope we see more videos from you. Btw, I´m also half Italian but refused to take the italian citizenship, cause as German it did not give me more advantages in the outside world as the German passport gives you a large ammount of free travelling around the globe. But what I received from Italy was draft card to La Spezia for their military service. No way José! 😄 True story!
As a "Brit", who's now lived in Germany for 28 years, I agree with everything that you say except for the Sunday shopping. If you're as busy (plus a little disorganised) as I am, the ability to shop for food on a Sunday would be very useful.
Ooohh... You could just mark Sundays red in your calendar. Means "Shopping only in der Bäckerei, im Blumenladen oder an der Tanke"...
You are evolving. How nice :)
I definitely got along with a very small fridge in Germany and wouldn’t mind it if I could go back to something like that. Just having what you need on hand is good. Slow is fast and smooth. That is so German! But true. Thanks much, Nalf, loved it! 🍻
Being Italian, you are actually legally required (by Italian law) to teach your kids Italian. Looking forward to that phase of your life 😊
I am German and paying for the restrooms will NEVER be normal to me, nor do a I believe that it all goes to the money who clean them.I could be wrong but these are big companies who probably pay minimal wage. Many of the toilets are self cleaning. I wouldn’t buy anything at the Autobahn stops either es they have auch high prizes those 50 ct back won’t make a difference. We got stuck with a group of 20kids at our local train station for one hour. The store in that station has the same machines to use the restrooms. The even wanted money from two little boys who had to pee.
My perspective on german bureaucracy has shifted smooth, but slow: avoid the Amt if possible and reasonable. But maybe one day we are like some of our neighbors - full digital.
Japan ist noch schlimmer von daher die haben sogar noch Videokassetten :)
Butterbretzeln are such a great thing to eat, love em
Sundays. I missed shopping. I have come to appreciate a day dedicated to family.
that, and the people who work there get a free day and don't have to work the entire week.
Another reason for shopping-free Sundays is that in German cities, people actually *live* downtown above and among the stores and it is good for those people to have a day without hustle, bustle, traffic and delivery trucks, etc.
I'm the opposite. Every time I've traveled to the US I have shamelessly indulged in iHoP and Denny's breakfasts 😅
Having lived in Germany now for 10 years and being English born but having lived in Australia for most of my life, I have to agree with most of your comments here. I also love the quiet Sundays, (now!) and the no nonsense "say it as it is" German bluntness, but... the paying for toilets still bugs me (particularly when they are so hard to find in the first place!) and the bureaucracy, well, don't get me started, but you know, I really do love living here and the positives far outweigh any negatives I may still have. The difficulty of the language is another issue but...I'm getting there. Give me another 10 years and I'll be fine. Oh, and the politicians seem to have brains here. : )
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and views. Been living in Germany and Switzerland for all of my live. Most of the time German bureaucracy infuriates me still. We even coined a bon mot for it. Beamtenmikado, i.e. public official mikado, i.e. first one moving looses. Maybe, this is a gross exaggeration. However, I feel Swiss bureaucracy is much slicker and I do not feel that German does it right the first time more often than Swiss. Cheers
As to German breakfast: You should have two: A "French" one after getting up, coffee, a roll with butter and marmalade/honey... and a German second one at about 10:00 with eggs, bacon, "Wurst" etc...
I still hate the no screens. Also the door knobs that rip open all my pants pockets, lol.
After living in many countries globally I believe a core of the German stereotype in English speaking countries is a relatively extreme reluctance to “have a go” at speaking English. That’s makes their patterns of speech in English hesitant, reluctant, sparse, etc., and this is taken as reflective of their collective national character. In Germany, amongst Germans, speaking German, they are open, humorous, engaging, informal, and other than the relative directness you refer to - not ALL that different from Americans generally. Germans almost universally say this is because they are drilled in school that speaking English anything other than absolutely correctly is very bad, so they are reluctant. Contrast that with, say, most Italians. Who will have a good go regardless of their level of proficiency. That’s not to say Germans are the only nationality to experience this. But, combined with their relative bluntness, I reckon it’s produced a stereotype that’s just not how they are overall.
In a comment of another youtube-video with this concern, the commenter pointed out that the perceived "bluntness" is based on a misunderstanding. That idea made me think. He/She pointed out that the German language is loaded with modal particles other languages don't have, and that modal particles get lost in translation. And if they are lost, it sounds really blunt.
I work in a small international company with over 25 nationalities among its employees, from the US, over Europe, to China. It`s almost addictive to talk about and find out new cultural distinctions. It`s like travelling the world.
6:13 I love how perfectly in that moment there’s a moth that flies behind him xD nvm theres way more after that moment lol
"Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast." I don't agree. In East Germany, the bureaucracy is terribly slow. And Digitalization is handled like, "What do you mean? This is brand new!" For example, you can send a letter per mail or email, that contains a form for something (I forgot what it was specifically). That form, when it arrives per mail, goes to a "queue" called request pile. But when it arrives per email, it has to be printed, and then the information on the print gets copied by hand to another form, and then it gets put on the pile. And once it's on the pile, the pile will collect more forms and dust before someone works through it. My form for child benefits was not worked on for 10 months, I got over €2k by waiting that long, even though I get €250 per month as a passive process.
The more honest - or blunt - a german is towards you, it means that you mean something to him, and you are important to him. If he wouldn't care about you, he would be polite the whole time.
I find myself liking both breakfast styles. On most days and especially before work, it's German style. If I have time such as say Sunday morning, then it will probably be french toast, pancakes (American style) or hashbrowns (freshly grated) & eggs.
Since you don't like Hatchbacks, what typa car is "cool" to you, Nick?
Probably the more expensive Mercedes-Benz models. They're so functional.
Eine tolle Idee, ein Sprachlernprogramm "Rosetta Stone" zu nennen 😊
A Hatchback is not a functional tool. It IS COOL 😎 A Notchback is something old people drive. A car from the 70s 😂
It's really interesting to watch you growing into our society... and even into European society now learning Italian (wish I had time for that - it's a nice language and I've learned latin in school hence I feel I should do it; (*1)). I grew up having bread with marmelade or müsli for breakfast. Having anything salty or sour for breakfast seemed to be impossible to have for me. Meanwhile I've changed and possibly a stay in England might have contributed to that because I've received a traditional English breakfast a few times with bacon and eggs, baked beans with toast, etc. Striving to be friendly I've accepted and tried it and was pleasantly surprised - even partly of myself. Buona notte! (*1) admit you want to show off by imitating characters of "The Godfather" and "Sopranoes" 😄
Godfather, Sopranos... Real Italians are not exclusively like Americans with a Southern Italian peasant ancestry.
When I moved to the States many eons ago, I hated maple sirup! I found it awful, bitter ... nah, not my taste. Well, I came to love it. There are few things better than pancakes with maple sirup. I am back in Germany for decades, but sometimes I just need some pancakes with maple sirup, up to this day. Some things you just have to experience for a while to understand and appreciate.
My family all love pan cakes and maple sirup and none but me have been to the US. Things like that do spill over even without being directly exposed to the whole culture ;)
I’ve had 3 VW GTIs and I think they are the definition of cool.
Again a pleasure to watch this and the "foreingers perspective" :D
regarding bureaucracy: being slow (or more generously: meticulous) isn't what makes it preferable to US bureaucracy (or UK bureaucracy). it's how fair the process is and your options when you don't agree with the result, your options getting the decision overturned or revised which makes it so much more appealing then many other bureaucracies
This seems so silly now, but when I was new in Germany, I missed hot fast food for breakfast, like from Starbucks and Dunkin'. My routine in America was to start the day with iced coffee and a hot bacon/egg/cheese sandwich. When I went from bakery to bakery in Germany, and realized all the coffee was hot and all the food was room-temp, I was sad...I thought even the sight of it looked sad. Eventually I started processing: the hot fast food in America isn't remotely 'fresh,' it's delivered frozen and then when you order they heat it up, whereas in Germany the bread is fresh and relatively healthy, as well as whatever else is on your Brötchen. Also the coffee in Germany isn't filter, so while I still prefer cold drinks, it's not a problem for me anymore to mostly drink hot German coffee, because it's such better quality than filter American coffee! This was a long explanation. And maybe it's unique to me. But it took me months to change my view on coffee and breakfast sandwiches. Thanks, Germany. ☕🥪😋
My family just moved to Switzerland, from Wisconsin, 7 months ago for work. I love European directness/bluntness. It's so refreshing. Ask a question and get an answer. Little to no ambiguity... ahhhhhh! And I love my Golf! Had a VW Rabbit back in the US, so. As for the breakfasts here? So good! Odds are, part of why you were "done for the day" after your big American breakfast is all the s#!t that is in American food. European food laws are so much more strict than the US. European food is a lot more natural. And Sundays off? YES! Love this as well. Took a bit of getting used to, but we have really come to love this day of rest, as was intended. Cheers!
Bluntness in Switzerland? They are the sugarcoaters in Europe.
I agree with the beaurocracy one, but not the others. I'm glad you understand them now, but those are the beautiful things about Germany. The breakfasts are INCREDIBLE, I love hatchbacks, etc. German culture is incredible. I'd almost kill to be able to live in Germany again.
The history of bureaucracy also rests in the German history of the past. The more data is centrally located, the sooner and easier it can be systematically abused. After WWII, it was a good approach to collect only the necessary data and to keep it as decentralized as possible. On the other hand, this also required more cooperation from everyone involved. Today, this may play a different role, because we already share a lot of data (by choice), but back then, after the war, this also fitted into the growing "never again! feeling...
Interesting to see, that you consider German breakfast to be light, but to be honest, I've never had an American Breakfast (only full English, which i LOVE). However, whilst it might be on the lighter side, I know quite a few people who actually skip breakfast to begin with, and have an earlier lunch instead, because they find all the bread too heavy in the morning
Bureaucracy: Another thing that the paperwork affects: It's not easily hackable via the internet unless the endresults are stored on computers and not in physical folders. However, then they're not very fire proof, but that should be less of a problem actually. Bathroom: think of paying as tipping.
He’s becoming more German/ European! Kudos