Vielen Dank, dass Sie mit uns über die 5 wichtigsten Dinge sprechen, die uns am Leben in Deutschland stören. Wir sind zwar der Meinung, dass das Leben hier viel mehr Vorteile als Nachteile hat, aber kein Ort ist perfekt - oder? Wie sehen Sie das? Stimmen Sie mit uns überein? Gibt es noch andere Dinge, die Sie am Leben in Deutschland stören? Lassen Sie es uns in den Kommentaren unten wissen! Thanks for joining us as I discuss the 5 main things that frustrate us about life in Germany. We feel there are many more benefits to living in Germany than drawbacks, but no place is perfect- right? What do you think? Do you agree with us? Are there other things about living in Germany that frustrate you? Let us know in the comments.
Hi! Fax machines are not used in Germany because it is the state of the art, but because the sending of correspondence can be documented with a transmission report. It can then be proven in court that it has been received. Emails are not accepted and letters sent by certified mail are even more time-consuming. Take care
Bureaucracy? Agree. Public toilets? They used to be free, like in the US. And they used to look (and smell) like in the US. We changed that, and that costs a bit. I can live with that. Smoking? Has actually gone down a lot. More than ten years ago, we had a very heated debate about smoking bans, and the result was mostly: Complete smoking ban for public areas indoors (only sealed smoking cabins aloud), no general smoking ban outdoors. So after the non-smoking majority had kicked out the smokers, there was the common sense that the smokers should at least be allowed to smoke outside. Germany becoming more American? On the surface, yes, definitively. (Globalization does bring some homogenization.) But not at heart. Internet? Partially agree, there is a lot of room for improvement - especially in rural areas. But when it comes to mobile / cellular phones, it is worth pointing out that there are two really good networks in Germany with lots of infrastructure (Telekom and Vodaphone), and then there are two other networks that in tests regularly lag behind. Big surprise: The former two are more expensive. Language? Just remember that as a child, learning new stuff is easy because there is so much empty room in your brain (extremely simplified). The older you get, the harder it is to learn new stuff because it has to be crammed into whatever nooks there are left in your brain. And btw: For historical reasons, English is a very simple language with a minimum of grammar. Romanic languages are all grammar with a bit of vocabulary, German is in between. The only "complicated" (or rather, irregular) thing about English is the pronounciation. (Look up "Dearest creature of creation, study English pronounciation" to have some fun!) With most other European languages, promounciation follows a few rules and then it's easy and predictable. About German, the nice part is that there are a number of rules that you just have to follow. The hard part is that there are a lot of exceptions to those rules :(
@@carstenhardt1589 Great Information and you make excellent points. I suppose my frustrations with the toilets and the language are actually more frustrations with my own faults. I certainly don’t mind paying 50 cents or a Euro to use the bathroom, I just forget to always have some coins with me. As for the language, every time I feel I’m really “getting it” I’m introduced to something new that makes me feel like I’m still a beginner. Anyway, I’ll keep trying, I don’t have a choice. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
regarding second hand smoke, I'm in Austria, (what is quite similar but not exactly the same as Germany) and i can just say: this got MUCH better over previous 20 years due to measures done by European Union
@@LisaAlonso-q9h Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. We are from the USA. Lee is from Arkansas and Betty is from Oklahoma. We’re delighted that you enjoy our channel.
Except when I'm traveling (train stations or highway rest stops) I've never had to pay. Tell your US audience to ask for toilets not bathrooms (what's with that? no sense)!
@@arnodobler1096 Those were the two main places I was talking about - highway rest stops and train stations , but it does happen in other places as well. Of course, that’s my fault for not always carrying change with me. You would think that after 30 years I would have learned by now.
Regarding smoking it is a plague indeed. My German wife truly realized after 4 trip backs and after living for 13 years with me in Canada how in Europe (Germany and France at least) smoking is everywhere. Difficult to enjoy a meal on a nice terrace or Biergarten without the 2nd hand smoke...
Having assimilated to the borderland / West Texas Spanish dialect, I think your Deutsch is great - far better than my Spanglish. Really looking forward to next week's video!
There are even toilet doors in public bathrooms, that can be opened by a coin in case of an emergency. Of course, the lock is designed to be emergency-opened by a screwdriver, but coins were also considered (more German people carry coins with them than screwdrivers, right?).
@@dnocturn84 😂 I think so, but Germans are normally very well prepared, so maybe they do have screwdrivers? 😂 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Allow me some remarks: 1. totally agree ! 2. Not soo much anymore. at the moment we're 25th out of 193 (USA is "only" 10th) and catching up as modern network technology is implemented even in the countryside... Regarding the cell phone coverage it depends wich protocol (2G to 5G) and wich carrier we're talking about. then you'll have between 83% to 99% coverage. 3. Language is not matter of talent it's a matter of usage... 4. the only restrooms i know i paid for were indeed on the autobahn (and only there). All the bigger shops i know have customer restrooms (not the smaller ones though). In my town we also have community owned ones. Also they're mandatory in restaurants. But i have to admit they're not around every corner... 5. Totally agree ! 6. I think it depends on the region, but yes...
@@eagle1de227 Thanks for watching our video and taking the time to comment. In the big scheme of things, these are just minor inconveniences that are greatly outweighed by the benefits of life in Germany. Most of our Germany content is overwhelmingly positive and I felt we should list a few of the drawbacks- after all no place is perfect, right. Thanks again for watching.
@@travelingexpats It's interesting for a "native" to see the opinions of "outsiders". Helps to adjust sometimes. And you points weren't quite nonsense so no need to apologize ! Looking forward to new videos !
Hi Lee, There are in fact many things to complain about Germany (yes, I have to admitI am one of them…😊). I fully agree with Your bureaucracy-concerns - my next opportunity to enjoy the German way of administration will be my tax declaration. The internet availability here also is a mess, yes. The point with the smoke surprises me a bit - especially this improved constantly during the last 20 years. Especially e.g. in restaurants or even in pubs or trains or in the office this is no longer an issue. You must have had a heap of bad luck at a time. Public restrooms have been free of charge throughout my whole youth. I even believe, there has been a law that regulated public restrooms to be free of charge. Free access is still in restaurants and on trains or in big warehouses in cities. But the pay-cabinets nowadays become wide-spread. Also Your last issue is surprising to me: The German mentality certainly has not become more „americanized“ - also customer service quality remains way worse than in the US. But I can think that in bigger cities the set of warehouses becomes more and more „internationalized“ by big chain companies and old local traditional shops close more and more - this leads to more unified (and boring) city centers like perhaps in the US. Also local, only-car-accessible shopping malls/ outlets in the city surroundings (like e.g. the Ingolstadt village“ here) similar to US models pop up and lead to a decline of small cities‘ centers. Also in politics a similar polarisation of the discussions can be observed as in the US. Maybe these are points that You are thinking of.
According to language learning Have you ever tried to use audiobooks + the physical books simultanously? meaming while hearing the audiobook reading along with the text in the book then press pause after one two sentences and recite those loud. And that regulary and just with few sentences per "study time". (=I don´t know how much study time you are actually invest per day/week or what ever and at the beginning it might be just very few sentences but the more repetition the more will increase the number of sentences per study time.)
@@michaelgrabner8977 I’ve tried almost every method. I probably exaggerated my language ability, or lack of ability, a bit. My biggest problem is just when I think I’ve almost mastered the language, I find a whole new set of rules that changes much of what I know. Also, I really struggle with pronunciation and then when the different dialects come into play I really struggle. Thanks for watching and commenting.
as a German i fully agree with point 1 and 6 ... for the smoke - the things you cant smell are much more dangerous thhan the ones you can. the internet and phone connections are bad, but do we always need them (if it's not for business), I can't remember when it was the last time i paid for using a restroom, must have been at a gasstation at the Autobahn. At tourist placesthere might be more pay to use toiletts but you will find a restroom in every restaurant, big store ore public building - if you can't find them don't be shy to ask
@@alexamurawski4524 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Not sure I agree with you on the smoke, but I could be wrong. I was mostly talking about bathrooms along the autobahn requiring payment, but it does occur in other places as well. Thanks again.
Das Passivrauchen ist ja tatsächlich sehr beliebt in Deutschland, ich glaube ja, daß nicht wenige sparsame, um nicht zu sagen geizige Zeitgenossen nur aus dem Hause gehen, um bei anderen kostenlos mitzurauchen und nicht davor zurückschrecken, zu sagen "Blas den Rauch ein bißchen mehr in meine Richtung"... Passive smoking is indeed very popular in Germany, I believe that quite a few thrifty, not to say stingy contemporaries only go out of the house to smoke for free with others and do not shy away from saying "blow the smoke a little more in my direction"...
I agree with you 100% on German bureaucrazy. What also annoys me is the habit of "Jammern. Many of my fellow Germans don't feel good if they have nothing to complain about.
@@ChrisTian-rm7zm 😂 I think the need to complain is a trait that knows no international boundaries. Plenty of Americans also love to complain about how hard they have it. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@@Moneyfromzero You don’t have to pay everywhere, but many places. It’s not really paying that bothers me. It’s nice that the bathrooms are clean and normally you get a coupon that deducts the price from products you buy, for example buying drinks or snacks at a convenience store (it’s actually a pretty good system.) The frustrating part is when you don’t have charge (which seems to happen to me often) and you have to scramble around to find change before you can use the toilet. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Probably not too many people younger than me can remember how bad the smoking use to be in the US. I can remember being a kid and people smoking in doctor offices and hospitals.
I find it funny when Americans critisize Germans for smoking.I grew up in te 80´s and the Marlboro Man was omnipresent in the commercials,on tv and at the cinema.But it is getting better now...
@@jozilla5421 I assume you are talking about German TV and cinema? The US hasn’t had TV commercials for cigarettes since 2 January 1971 and billboards advertising cigarettes became illegal in 1999. I wasn’t trying to complain about smokers, I don’t care if people smoke or not. But I don’t like encountering their byproduct on a daily basis. In the end, this is a minor convenience that is far outweighed by the positive aspects of life in Germany. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
As half Franconian the best of the past from my experiences 1977 to 1993. Even stationed in country in the Rhineland. Best Zimmer Frei, before tech you could find daily or weekly rentals in the mountains as long as there was a sign posted. Half chicken dinner trailers While eating outdoors in a cafe an elder walking by would wish you Guten Apetite. and continue on their way. Very nice touch from the WWII generation. Worst Store hours always got me. Rolled up the sidewalks at 4PM or 5PM. So get your stuff before nightfall. Drivers could be aggressive in the left lane, even expect you to pull over if a car is in front of you slowing you down. Germans do not know how to stand in line, they cut and just go to the front.
I'm not hating on smokers, but I am so glad I don't have to breathe second-hand smoke in public places any longer. I was so happy when those laws came out in California.
Having lived here for about 20 years the thing that annoys me the most is having to carry cash for certain things. Whatever excuse they use (high fees from the bank for the use of credit cards, “we can’t expect Oma use cards or pay with a smartphone” or if the restaurant/shop is hiding things from the Finanzamt) it is just ridiculous that in 2024 you cannot pay without cash in more places. I bought a hot dog on the street in Amsterdam and used Apple Pay for crying out loud. It is significantly better than 2004 but I should be able to pay with card or electronically everywhere.
@@kchaze Also a frustration. Somehow I’ve managed to train myself to always have cash on hand. I just can’t learn to carry coins or the damn toilets for some reason. 😂 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
No, it really is just used to avoid paying taxes. You only accept cash - yeah, some sweet sweet tax-free money for you. Of course, some really really small business might also not have the skill and knowledge and might even fear bad consequences and costs, setting up an electronic payment system. A little Bratwurst-guy usually isn't an IT-expert. And he propably isn't neccessarly good with contracts either.
As a german i agree but except the language. I know Americans and British expats who speak flewently german , not perfect but understandable. My advice to you is, start watching german kiddos tv 😅
@@juergenschumacher4129 Thanks for the recommendation, perhaps I should watch some children’s TV. 😂 I know many other foreigners who speak the language great. Perhaps I’m just not very talented in languages? In any case, I’ll keep trying. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@@travelingexpats If you haven't yet, it's time to check out "Die Sendung mit der Maus" (every Sunday morning on ARD). Seriously, you need to check it out - it will teach you so much on so many different levels, like how to do children's tv that takes the viewers seriously and doesn't treat them like "only kids".
@@Ba34qt I agree and I’m sorry if that’s how it came across. I wasn’t so much complaining about the language as I was complaining about my personal struggles. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
@@Robert-z8z1z I think that would be much more difficult, but given my lack of talent for learning languages I think I would struggle no matter what. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Nice video, looking forward to the next video and learn about the US influence getting a hold in Germany ( and probably other countries in Europe also)
Oh Lee Germanys bureaucracy can’t be as bad as Italy. Here I think no one works and they are left behind in the 80s 😅 I still love it here but seriously the bureaucracy is crazy. Coming from a country where everything is efficient this is very 😢 But I believe there is no perfect place in this world. Oooooo the German language is not easy at all. I tried because I was travelling there frequently 2016-2019. So I don’t blame you. But I love Germany overall. The smoking part 😂😂 Yes it is very disturbing just as in Italy too. Oooo I can’t wait to hear the reasons why it’s becoming like the US. Really looking forward and thanks for much for this informative video. Have a wonderful week to You and Betty ❤
@@MokaandChai Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I guess the bureaucracy is a common theme? I suppose we just have to accept it and embrace the journey.
Ich habe französische Nachbarn, mit denen ich mich angefreundet habe, die seit 10 Jahren in Deutschland leben, und mir viele Geschichten erzählten (Stromausfälle etc.) und die Bürokratie in Frankfreich. Furchtbar.
I agree with you on all points. 😄 The authorities can really drive you crazy, but according to our politicians there should be less bureaucracy and more digitalisation in the administration in the future. We'll see... I'm looking forward to the video regarding the 6th point and how you see it. But I also have the feeling that we in Germany are becoming more and more American... unfortunately not in a positive way... 🤣 Thank you for your great videos and explanations. Take care and have a great time. And don't worry about the language...most Germans don't use it properly either. 😁
@@Sabes150 Thank you so much for watching and your kind comments. Let’s hope the promises come true and we have less bureaucracy and more digitalization soon. We’re so happy that you enjoy our videos.
Nice video! About the struggle with the language, practice makes perfect and nothing will change that. Learned latin, russian and english at school, english is pretty easy just with some crazy pronouncation (from my point of view) but simple. But please dont start watching german movies with english subtitles, worse as yt or google autotranslation :D The coin thing, well im used to it as a german. Cant compare because you learn after birth to have some coins with you - always! Bureaucracy... yeah, annoying or irritating many times but to avoid trouble in the aftermath necessary or helpful, makes your issue waterproof so to say. Do you need it all the time? Of course not! But if...
@@karstenbalamagi8463 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I know- I just need to keep working- Übung macht den Meister, oder? We’re very happy that you enjoyed our video. Thanks again for watching.
@@TheNordicVoyager I thought I read recently that they were phasing it out in the next few years? Anyway, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Ganz ehrlich!Wer Deutschland nicht mag, sollte zu Hause bleiben.Wenn ich irgendwo im Ausland bin, dann benehme ich mich dem entsprechend.Völlig normal…….Und welches Land ist normal?
@@markusro2677 Wir lieben Deutschland aber natürlich nicht alles. Ich versuche immer, die Regeln und akzeptierten Verhaltensweisen in Deutschland zu befolgen. In der Tat, Meine deutschen Nachbarn haben mir gesagt, dass ich ein besserer Deutscher bin als die meisten Deutschen. 😂 Danke fürs Zuschauen und für die Zeit, die sich für einen Kommentar genommen haben. ua-cam.com/video/D_503xk8Yeo/v-deo.htmlsi=OE_HrVYYdYTTlB0b
@@travelingexpats Die Deutschen sind stur aber das heißt nicht das wir Menschen aus anderen Ländern nicht akzeptieren!Nächstes Jahr besuche ich Schottland und ich weiß wie mich zu benehmen habe……übrigens,dass ist deutsch 😉
@@imwezi7 Sorry if I offended you. These are just minor inconveniences and are far outweighed by the positive aspects of life in Germany. We love Germany and most of our Germany content is overwhelmingly positive. I was just trying to point out in this video that not everything is perfect in Germany. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. ua-cam.com/video/D_503xk8Yeo/v-deo.htmlsi=cjt4VSCCl-O4O9Jr
I don't have a problem with smoking. They can if tjey want to. But I really don't understand why the Smoking area always have to be right to the entrance in germany. It's really disgusting 🤢
I agree. I hate walking into a restaurant and I have to walk through a cloud of other people’s smoke just to get in the door. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Maybe Restaurant owners are afraid if they send people to the other side of the road to smoke some of them might not return to pay the bill?😉 I really can understand your complaint, but on the other hand...how should that problem be solved? Not every restaurant or small pub in the pedestrian zones of german cities for example has a private frontyard in front of their building or a garden in the back and they cant forbid people to stand on the public sidewalk in front of their restaurant to smoke. After all they also don´t wanna and can´t afford to lose their smoking customers as guests. Smoking is not just a bad habbit, for most smokers its an addiction. They´ve chosen and accepted to stand outside in the cold, wind and rain for the 10 minutes it takes to smoke their cigs so that you and your family have the possibility to spend a hour or two in the cosy atmospere and enviroment of a smoke free facility. Thats the compromise they´ve made to participate with a free and open society. Some of them might get wet from the rain, catch a cold or beggars might walk up to them to ask them for a cigarette or money, lonely women might get catcalled by drunken bypassers, but they deal with these circumstances just to be able to smoke a cigarette. And you call it "disgusting" to have to pass these smokers for the 5 or 8 seconds it might take you to get inside the bar, restaurant, airport, train station or bank. Yes! It can be annoying! But disgusting? Please get a life or wear some of these "Corona masks" these 8 seconds it takes you to get into your smoke free safe space. (By the way: I really do understand that non smokers do complain about smokers! But I can´t understand that they are to "cowardice" or biased to complain when they have to wait on the side of the road für 3 minutes till all these 60 trucks, pickups, SUV´s and busses have passed by and see no problem at all to inhale the toxic fumes coming out of the mufflers of these cars. Also most of these "cigarette smoke haters" seem to have no problem inhaling the smoke of a barbecue or standing in a traffic jam with opened car windows.)
@@usbxg3474 Great points. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. In the big scheme of things this is just a small inconvenience that is far outweighed by the benefits of life in Germany.
@@travelingexpats Thanks for your positive reply and thumbs up! For a minute or two I was a bit "afraid" that my comment might have been interpreted as too harsh and "against non smokers", but I´ve just tried to show the side of a nowadays minority.🙂👍
Vielen Dank, dass Sie mit uns über die 5 wichtigsten Dinge sprechen, die uns am Leben in Deutschland stören. Wir sind zwar der Meinung, dass das Leben hier viel mehr Vorteile als Nachteile hat, aber kein Ort ist perfekt - oder? Wie sehen Sie das? Stimmen Sie mit uns überein? Gibt es noch andere Dinge, die Sie am Leben in Deutschland stören? Lassen Sie es uns in den Kommentaren unten wissen!
Thanks for joining us as I discuss the 5 main things that frustrate us about life in Germany. We feel there are many more benefits to living in Germany than drawbacks, but no place is perfect- right? What do you think? Do you agree with us? Are there other things about living in Germany that frustrate you? Let us know in the comments.
Hi! Fax machines are not used in Germany because it is the state of the art, but because the sending of correspondence can be documented with a transmission report. It can then be proven in court that it has been received. Emails are not accepted and letters sent by certified mail are even more time-consuming. Take care
@@fbisurveillancevan6939 Thanks for the information. I appreciate you watching our video and taking the time to comment.
Bureaucracy? Agree.
Public toilets? They used to be free, like in the US. And they used to look (and smell) like in the US. We changed that, and that costs a bit. I can live with that.
Smoking? Has actually gone down a lot. More than ten years ago, we had a very heated debate about smoking bans, and the result was mostly: Complete smoking ban for public areas indoors (only sealed smoking cabins aloud), no general smoking ban outdoors. So after the non-smoking majority had kicked out the smokers, there was the common sense that the smokers should at least be allowed to smoke outside.
Germany becoming more American? On the surface, yes, definitively. (Globalization does bring some homogenization.) But not at heart.
Internet? Partially agree, there is a lot of room for improvement - especially in rural areas. But when it comes to mobile / cellular phones, it is worth pointing out that there are two really good networks in Germany with lots of infrastructure (Telekom and Vodaphone), and then there are two other networks that in tests regularly lag behind. Big surprise: The former two are more expensive.
Language? Just remember that as a child, learning new stuff is easy because there is so much empty room in your brain (extremely simplified). The older you get, the harder it is to learn new stuff because it has to be crammed into whatever nooks there are left in your brain. And btw: For historical reasons, English is a very simple language with a minimum of grammar. Romanic languages are all grammar with a bit of vocabulary, German is in between. The only "complicated" (or rather, irregular) thing about English is the pronounciation. (Look up "Dearest creature of creation, study English pronounciation" to have some fun!) With most other European languages, promounciation follows a few rules and then it's easy and predictable. About German, the nice part is that there are a number of rules that you just have to follow. The hard part is that there are a lot of exceptions to those rules :(
@@carstenhardt1589 Great Information and you make excellent points. I suppose my frustrations with the toilets and the language are actually more frustrations with my own faults. I certainly don’t mind paying 50 cents or a Euro to use the bathroom, I just forget to always have some coins with me. As for the language, every time I feel I’m really “getting it” I’m introduced to something new that makes me feel like I’m still a beginner. Anyway, I’ll keep trying, I don’t have a choice. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Very few faxes are transmitted using a fax machine, but rather using fax software. It's all about legal certainty.
@@Martinussaurus Ah okay. I didn’t realize that, that makes more sense. Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment.
As a German, I completely agree with your 5 points and am already looking forward to the explanations for point 6
Thanks for watching. I hope it doesn’t disappoint.
regarding second hand smoke, I'm in Austria, (what is quite similar but not exactly the same as Germany) and i can just say: this got MUCH better over previous 20 years due to measures done by European Union
@@tomcat75at I agree with you, it is better than before. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Love your channel. Thanks for all the info. I'm curious where you are from originally. New to the channel :).
@@LisaAlonso-q9h Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. We are from the USA. Lee is from Arkansas and Betty is from Oklahoma. We’re delighted that you enjoy our channel.
@@travelingexpats Keep the videos coming. Such great content. I will recommend to my friends for sure!
@ Thank You!
Except when I'm traveling (train stations or highway rest stops) I've never had to pay. Tell your US audience to ask for toilets not bathrooms (what's with that? no sense)!
@@arnodobler1096 Those were the two main places I was talking about - highway rest stops and train stations , but it does happen in other places as well. Of course, that’s my fault for not always carrying change with me. You would think that after 30 years I would have learned by now.
Regarding smoking it is a plague indeed. My German wife truly realized after 4 trip backs and after living for 13 years with me in Canada how in Europe (Germany and France at least) smoking is everywhere. Difficult to enjoy a meal on a nice terrace or Biergarten without the 2nd hand smoke...
@@Jera_Sowilo Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Yes, the smoke makes it difficult sometimes that’s for sure.
Having assimilated to the borderland / West Texas Spanish dialect, I think your Deutsch is great - far better than my Spanglish. Really looking forward to next week's video!
@@rubberbandm2067 Thanks for watching and for complimenting my German. You may be the only person to have ever done that. 😂
There are even toilet doors in public bathrooms, that can be opened by a coin in case of an emergency. Of course, the lock is designed to be emergency-opened by a screwdriver, but coins were also considered (more German people carry coins with them than screwdrivers, right?).
@@dnocturn84 😂 I think so, but Germans are normally very well prepared, so maybe they do have screwdrivers? 😂 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Allow me some remarks:
1. totally agree !
2. Not soo much anymore. at the moment we're 25th out of 193 (USA is "only" 10th) and catching up as modern network technology is implemented even in the countryside...
Regarding the cell phone coverage it depends wich protocol (2G to 5G) and wich carrier we're talking about. then you'll have between 83% to 99% coverage.
3. Language is not matter of talent it's a matter of usage...
4. the only restrooms i know i paid for were indeed on the autobahn (and only there). All the bigger shops i know have customer restrooms (not the smaller ones though). In my town we also have community owned ones. Also they're mandatory in restaurants. But i have to admit they're not around every corner...
5. Totally agree !
6. I think it depends on the region, but yes...
@@eagle1de227 Thanks for watching our video and taking the time to comment. In the big scheme of things, these are just minor inconveniences that are greatly outweighed by the benefits of life in Germany. Most of our Germany content is overwhelmingly positive and I felt we should list a few of the drawbacks- after all no place is perfect, right. Thanks again for watching.
@@travelingexpats It's interesting for a "native" to see the opinions of "outsiders". Helps to adjust sometimes.
And you points weren't quite nonsense so no need to apologize !
Looking forward to new videos !
I am German but I love and unverstand everything you seid.
@@chrisk.685 Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Hi Lee,
There are in fact many things to complain about Germany (yes, I have to admitI am one of them…😊). I fully agree with Your bureaucracy-concerns - my next opportunity to enjoy the German way of administration will be my tax declaration.
The internet availability here also is a mess, yes. The point with the smoke surprises me a bit - especially this improved constantly during the last 20 years. Especially e.g. in restaurants or even in pubs or trains or in the office this is no longer an issue. You must have had a heap of bad luck at a time.
Public restrooms have been free of charge throughout my whole youth. I even believe, there has been a law that regulated public restrooms to be free of charge. Free access is still in restaurants and on trains or in big warehouses in cities. But the pay-cabinets nowadays become wide-spread.
Also Your last issue is surprising to me: The German mentality certainly has not become more „americanized“ - also customer service quality remains way worse than in the US. But I can think that in bigger cities the set of warehouses becomes more and more „internationalized“ by big chain companies and old local traditional shops close more and more - this leads to more unified (and boring) city centers like perhaps in the US. Also local, only-car-accessible shopping malls/ outlets in the city surroundings (like e.g. the Ingolstadt village“ here) similar to US models pop up and lead to a decline of small cities‘ centers.
Also in politics a similar polarisation of the discussions can be observed as in the US. Maybe these are points that You are thinking of.
According to language learning
Have you ever tried to use audiobooks + the physical books simultanously? meaming while hearing the audiobook reading along with the text in the book then press pause after one two sentences and recite those loud.
And that regulary and just with few sentences per "study time". (=I don´t know how much study time you are actually invest per day/week or what ever and at the beginning it might be just very few sentences but the more repetition the more will increase the number of sentences per study time.)
@@michaelgrabner8977 I’ve tried almost every method. I probably exaggerated my language ability, or lack of ability, a bit. My biggest problem is just when I think I’ve almost mastered the language, I find a whole new set of rules that changes much of what I know. Also, I really struggle with pronunciation and then when the different dialects come into play I really struggle. Thanks for watching and commenting.
as a German i fully agree with point 1 and 6 ... for the smoke - the things you cant smell are much more dangerous thhan the ones you can. the internet and phone connections are bad, but do we always need them (if it's not for business), I can't remember when it was the last time i paid for using a restroom, must have been at a gasstation at the Autobahn. At tourist placesthere might be more pay to use toiletts but you will find a restroom in every restaurant, big store ore public building - if you can't find them don't be shy to ask
@@alexamurawski4524 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Not sure I agree with you on the smoke, but I could be wrong. I was mostly talking about bathrooms along the autobahn requiring payment, but it does occur in other places as well. Thanks again.
Das Passivrauchen ist ja tatsächlich sehr beliebt in Deutschland, ich glaube ja, daß nicht wenige sparsame, um nicht zu sagen geizige Zeitgenossen nur aus dem Hause gehen, um bei anderen kostenlos mitzurauchen und nicht davor zurückschrecken, zu sagen "Blas den Rauch ein bißchen mehr in meine Richtung"...
Passive smoking is indeed very popular in Germany, I believe that quite a few thrifty, not to say stingy contemporaries only go out of the house to smoke for free with others and do not shy away from saying "blow the smoke a little more in my direction"...
I agree with you 100% on German bureaucrazy. What also annoys me is the habit of "Jammern. Many of my fellow Germans don't feel good if they have nothing to complain about.
@@ChrisTian-rm7zm 😂 I think the need to complain is a trait that knows no international boundaries. Plenty of Americans also love to complain about how hard they have it. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Very interesting you have to pay to go to the restroom😳. However, I would pay knowing it is going to be clean!
@@Moneyfromzero You don’t have to pay everywhere, but many places. It’s not really paying that bothers me. It’s nice that the bathrooms are clean and normally you get a coupon that deducts the price from products you buy, for example buying drinks or snacks at a convenience store (it’s actually a pretty good system.) The frustrating part is when you don’t have charge (which seems to happen to me often) and you have to scramble around to find change before you can use the toilet. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Probably not too many people younger than me can remember how bad the smoking use to be in the US. I can remember being a kid and people smoking in doctor offices and hospitals.
@@margaretsimmons7143 I remember that well. I guess we are pretty old. 😂 Thanks for watching!
I find it funny when Americans critisize Germans for smoking.I grew up in te 80´s and the Marlboro Man was omnipresent in the commercials,on tv and at the cinema.But it is getting better now...
@@jozilla5421 I assume you are talking about German TV and cinema? The US hasn’t had TV commercials for cigarettes since 2 January 1971 and billboards advertising cigarettes became illegal in 1999. I wasn’t trying to complain about smokers, I don’t care if people smoke or not. But I don’t like encountering their byproduct on a daily basis. In the end, this is a minor convenience that is far outweighed by the positive aspects of life in Germany. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@@travelingexpats Yes i did refer to Germany...
I'm more concerned about car-centricity and car fumes than about 2nd hand smoke in GER.
But yeah, I hate that, too.
As half Franconian the best of the past from my experiences 1977 to 1993. Even stationed in country in the Rhineland.
Best
Zimmer Frei, before tech you could find daily or weekly rentals in the mountains as long as there was a sign posted.
Half chicken dinner trailers
While eating outdoors in a cafe an elder walking by would wish you Guten Apetite. and continue on their way. Very nice touch from the WWII generation.
Worst
Store hours always got me. Rolled up the sidewalks at 4PM or 5PM. So get your stuff before nightfall.
Drivers could be aggressive in the left lane, even expect you to pull over if a car is in front of you slowing you down.
Germans do not know how to stand in line, they cut and just go to the front.
@@ericscottstevens Excellent points. Thanks for watching our video and sharing your thoughts.
I'm not hating on smokers, but I am so glad I don't have to breathe second-hand smoke in public places any longer. I was so happy when those laws came out in California.
@@HopeToProsper Absolutely. Smokers can smoke, I just would rather not be forced to breathe their smoke. Thanks for watching and for commenting.
Having lived here for about 20 years the thing that annoys me the most is having to carry cash for certain things. Whatever excuse they use (high fees from the bank for the use of credit cards, “we can’t expect Oma use cards or pay with a smartphone” or if the restaurant/shop is hiding things from the Finanzamt) it is just ridiculous that in 2024 you cannot pay without cash in more places. I bought a hot dog on the street in Amsterdam and used Apple Pay for crying out loud. It is significantly better than 2004 but I should be able to pay with card or electronically everywhere.
@@kchaze Also a frustration. Somehow I’ve managed to train myself to always have cash on hand. I just can’t learn to carry coins or the damn toilets for some reason. 😂 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
No, it really is just used to avoid paying taxes. You only accept cash - yeah, some sweet sweet tax-free money for you. Of course, some really really small business might also not have the skill and knowledge and might even fear bad consequences and costs, setting up an electronic payment system. A little Bratwurst-guy usually isn't an IT-expert. And he propably isn't neccessarly good with contracts either.
I'm guessing there is no "perfect" place.
@@allenreid62 Absolutely. I don’t think the “perfect “ place exists, but Germany is pretty nice. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
As a german i agree but except the language. I know Americans and British expats who speak flewently german , not perfect but understandable. My advice to you is, start watching german kiddos tv 😅
@@juergenschumacher4129 Thanks for the recommendation, perhaps I should watch some children’s TV. 😂 I know many other foreigners who speak the language great. Perhaps I’m just not very talented in languages? In any case, I’ll keep trying. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@@travelingexpats If you haven't yet, it's time to check out "Die Sendung mit der Maus" (every Sunday morning on ARD). Seriously, you need to check it out - it will teach you so much on so many different levels, like how to do children's tv that takes the viewers seriously and doesn't treat them like "only kids".
Complaining about the language of a foreign country is pretty ridiculous.
@@Ba34qt I agree and I’m sorry if that’s how it came across. I wasn’t so much complaining about the language as I was complaining about my personal struggles. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Having to learn Turkish or Arabic?
@@Robert-z8z1z I think that would be much more difficult, but given my lack of talent for learning languages I think I would struggle no matter what. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
I agree with you on all points
Btw, I jump the sanifair turnstile whenever I can 😂
@@gehteuchnixan69 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I’ll remember your comment the next time I’m at Sanifair without a coin. 😂
Nice video, looking forward to the next video and learn about the US influence getting a hold in Germany ( and probably other countries in Europe also)
@@wabisabisylvie111 Absolutely! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Oh Lee Germanys bureaucracy can’t be as bad as Italy. Here I think no one works and they are left behind in the 80s 😅 I still love it here but seriously the bureaucracy is crazy. Coming from a country where everything is efficient this is very 😢
But I believe there is no perfect place in this world. Oooooo the German language is not easy at all. I tried because I was travelling there frequently 2016-2019. So I don’t blame you. But I love Germany overall.
The smoking part 😂😂
Yes it is very disturbing just as in Italy too.
Oooo I can’t wait to hear the reasons why it’s becoming like the US. Really looking forward and thanks for much for this informative video. Have a wonderful week to You and Betty ❤
@@MokaandChai Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I guess the bureaucracy is a common theme? I suppose we just have to accept it and embrace the journey.
Ich habe französische Nachbarn, mit denen ich mich angefreundet habe, die seit 10 Jahren in Deutschland leben, und mir viele Geschichten erzählten (Stromausfälle etc.) und die Bürokratie in Frankfreich. Furchtbar.
@travelingexpats Emails are not legally valid, post and fax are, that's the problem.
@@travelingexpats agree
@@arnodobler1096 Oh, okay. That makes more sense.
I agree with you on all points. 😄 The authorities can really drive you crazy, but according to our politicians there should be less bureaucracy and more digitalisation in the administration in the future. We'll see...
I'm looking forward to the video regarding the 6th point and how you see it. But I also have the feeling that we in Germany are becoming more and more American... unfortunately not in a positive way... 🤣
Thank you for your great videos and explanations. Take care and have a great time.
And don't worry about the language...most Germans don't use it properly either. 😁
@@Sabes150 Thank you so much for watching and your kind comments. Let’s hope the promises come true and we have less bureaucracy and more digitalization soon. We’re so happy that you enjoy our videos.
Nice video! About the struggle with the language, practice makes perfect and nothing will change that. Learned latin, russian and english at school, english is pretty easy just with some crazy pronouncation (from my point of view) but simple. But please dont start watching german movies with english subtitles, worse as yt or google autotranslation :D
The coin thing, well im used to it as a german. Cant compare because you learn after birth to have some coins with you - always!
Bureaucracy... yeah, annoying or irritating many times but to avoid trouble in the aftermath necessary or helpful, makes your issue waterproof so to say. Do you need it all the time? Of course not! But if...
@@karstenbalamagi8463 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I know- I just need to keep working- Übung macht den Meister, oder? We’re very happy that you enjoyed our video. Thanks again for watching.
Wo läufst Du da rum während des Videos ?
Eigentlich bin ich jetzt in den USA. Washington State nicht D.C. Danke für zuschauen!
@@travelingexpats Habe ich mir gedacht. Die Vegetation passt nicht zum Black Forest, speziel der Boden.
@@donald9912 sehr gute Beobachtung.
the annoying use of Germlish and English in Advertizing.....
@@kpdvw That can also be frustrating. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
I am curious about point 6
7. Energy costs
@@Mala82 Also frustrating. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
@@travelingexpats Schönes Wochenende! ✌
@@Mala82 Danke, Ebenso!
"buy something to get coins" - you didnt realize that this is a special central european sales trick :-)
@@tomcat75at Oh, I’m sure it is. 😂 It’s very effective.
Fax is here to stay. This will not change in the foreseeable future.
@@TheNordicVoyager I thought I read recently that they were phasing it out in the next few years? Anyway, thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Ganz ehrlich!Wer Deutschland nicht mag, sollte zu Hause bleiben.Wenn ich irgendwo im Ausland bin, dann benehme ich mich dem entsprechend.Völlig normal…….Und welches Land ist normal?
@@markusro2677 Wir lieben Deutschland aber natürlich nicht alles. Ich versuche immer, die Regeln und akzeptierten Verhaltensweisen in Deutschland zu befolgen. In der Tat, Meine deutschen Nachbarn haben mir gesagt, dass ich ein besserer Deutscher bin als die meisten Deutschen. 😂 Danke fürs Zuschauen und für die Zeit, die sich für einen Kommentar genommen haben.
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@@travelingexpats Die Deutschen sind stur aber das heißt nicht das wir Menschen aus anderen Ländern nicht akzeptieren!Nächstes Jahr besuche ich Schottland und ich weiß wie mich zu benehmen habe……übrigens,dass ist deutsch 😉
@@markusro2677 Viel Spaß in Schottland 🏴 !!! Und danke für den Informationsaustausch.
Well, you're free to go
@@imwezi7 Sorry if I offended you. These are just minor inconveniences and are far outweighed by the positive aspects of life in Germany. We love Germany and most of our Germany content is overwhelmingly positive. I was just trying to point out in this video that not everything is perfect in Germany. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
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@@travelingexpats it's all good, peace ☮️
minimi
@@diesel-s8052 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.
Hello
@@TheSolvenceny Hello. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I don't have a problem with smoking. They can if tjey want to. But I really don't understand why the Smoking area always have to be right to the entrance in germany. It's really disgusting 🤢
I agree. I hate walking into a restaurant and I have to walk through a cloud of other people’s smoke just to get in the door. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
Maybe Restaurant owners are afraid if they send people to the other side of the road to smoke some of them might not return to pay the bill?😉 I really can understand your complaint, but on the other hand...how should that problem be solved? Not every restaurant or small pub in the pedestrian zones of german cities for example has a private frontyard in front of their building or a garden in the back and they cant forbid people to stand on the public sidewalk in front of their restaurant to smoke. After all they also don´t wanna and can´t afford to lose their smoking customers as guests. Smoking is not just a bad habbit, for most smokers its an addiction. They´ve chosen and accepted to stand outside in the cold, wind and rain for the 10 minutes it takes to smoke their cigs so that you and your family have the possibility to spend a hour or two in the cosy atmospere and enviroment of a smoke free facility. Thats the compromise they´ve made to participate with a free and open society. Some of them might get wet from the rain, catch a cold or beggars might walk up to them to ask them for a cigarette or money, lonely women might get catcalled by drunken bypassers, but they deal with these circumstances just to be able to smoke a cigarette.
And you call it "disgusting" to have to pass these smokers for the 5 or 8 seconds it might take you to get inside the bar, restaurant, airport, train station or bank.
Yes! It can be annoying! But disgusting? Please get a life or wear some of these "Corona masks" these 8 seconds it takes you to get into your smoke free safe space.
(By the way: I really do understand that non smokers do complain about smokers! But I can´t understand that they are to "cowardice" or biased to complain when they have to wait on the side of the road für 3 minutes till all these 60 trucks, pickups, SUV´s and busses have passed by and see no problem at all to inhale the toxic fumes coming out of the mufflers of these cars. Also most of these "cigarette smoke haters" seem to have no problem inhaling the smoke of a barbecue or standing in a traffic jam with opened car windows.)
@@usbxg3474 Great points. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. In the big scheme of things this is just a small inconvenience that is far outweighed by the benefits of life in Germany.
@@travelingexpats Thanks for your positive reply and thumbs up! For a minute or two I was a bit "afraid" that my comment might have been interpreted as too harsh and "against non smokers", but I´ve just tried to show the side of a nowadays minority.🙂👍
@@usbxg3474 We appreciate you watching and sharing your thoughts and opinions. No offense taken by us. ❤️