My family lived in GE for several years in the 2000s (military family). Ever since then my mom has brought her own reusable bags to the grocery store. She picked up a great habit from living in a German neighborhood!
Feli, you aren't alone in wanting professional interactions to be more formal. I too want direct answers to questions. I don't want bullshit shoveled at me. If I can't get a straight answer, I interpret that as trying to cover up things and/or scam me. I also want invoices and not some informal thing. I'm not German, but I agree with you completely!👍😁
To this old man my observation is that lack of formality in professional organizations is new and generational. The shift started about 20 years ago. Organizational dysfunction has set in and many professionals are powerless and really don’t have answers.
And older people do not like these people speaking to them as if they are incompetent and can't understand. They are older, not stupid. Companies need to just be direct and to the point and stop wasting people's time.
I agree with you. As an American dealing in any professional situation I like straight talk. Just tell me the information I need. One exception would be someone I have known for years.
Yeah I think in America there is a big sales culture in business. The attitude is that projecting a good sales atmosphere is more important than dealing in details.
A lot of these things also depend on where in the US you live. I live in Brooklyn and here for example, most people now use reusable bags at the grocery (mostly because they charge for bags now and only paper is allowed, but it worked) also NYC in general is a big walking and public transit city. It's usually harder to drive most places than it is to walk and/or use the subway and busses.
_"Most people now use reusable bags at the grocery (mostly because they charge for bags now...)"_ Yeah, California is the same. Single-use disposable bags have been outlawed.
The waste is spot on. And I’m from the US. We really try to be the exception and reuse plastic bags as trash bags. We use cloth napkins. I take my own silverware to work for lunch and bring it home and wash it. We use silicon bags almost all the time. Folks used to tease me at work about all that but I just answer “sustainability”. We recycle eventhough we have to drive it there. Not blowing my own horn. Just mentioning that those things can be implemented by anyone. Anytime. Easily. A pet peeve of mine as well!
I was visiting my friend in Portland a couple of decades ago, and we went to recycle some stuff. There was a spot for each type of recyclable plastic(1-8). They were way out in front when it comes to sustainability.
The awareness and behavior of dealing with waste correctly did not come about overnight in Germany either. Certainly a merit of the green movement. But also the experience of generations here THAT THE COUNTRY MUST FEED THE PEOPLE. That a farmer does not ruin his fields if he and his children want to make a living from it in the future. Or that cut down lost forest can mean drought and poverty. I mean, Europeans think about making profits in the longer term, maybe in generations. Americans are often faster at this, but do they see the long-term consequences? If I spill oil on the ground, will I destroy the world I live in? Or could I be careful and take it to the collection point properly?
I moved to Oregon 2 years ago and at the time they had recently (I believe) passed a law banning plastic bags and requiring stores to charge 5 cents per paper bag if you didn't bring your own. I bought a bunch of reusable bags and stuffed them in the cars and it is the rare occasion when I need to pay for a bag, and when I do I feel very guilty...
Part of the issue is just how flimsy the plastic bags are in most parts of the country. If you put more than a loaf of bread in them, they tear! (I'm exaggerating, but not by much ...) The one exception - California. You do have to pay $0.10 per bag, but those bags are actually substantial and meant to be reused. Last time I went to CA on a business trip I purposely went to Wal-Mart and bought a couple things so I had an excuse to get about 3 of those plastic bags to take home with me. We're STILL using them over 3 years later! Kinda wish it was like that everywhere.
On the west coast, we recycle EVERYTHING. No plastic bags unless you pay for them and I don't know anyone who uses plastic. Every other week here the recycle truck comes by and we separate the trash from the recycle. I think there's a HUGE difference between different sections of this big country we have in both recycling and in the way, professionals handle themselves.
Thank you for mentioning how hard it is to walk around here. Too many Americans simply accept this, when we could be living so much better if we had more options. I visited Germany for the first time in October (Berlin and Dusseldorf) and loved how easy it was to get around without a car. The channel 'Not Just Bikes' has some wonderful videos that further explore ease of movement differences between Europe and North America.
This isn't true of everywhere in the US though. I live in Brooklyn and make the vast majority of my journeys on foot. I don't even use the subway unless I'm going more than 2-3 miles away.
"Too many Americans simply accept this"?, I celebrate this! I don't have to live like it's 1599 because I have (multiple) cars. I am "living so much better" because I have more PARKING options right in front of the stores I frequent.
The issues are how the cities in the US developed after WW2. Many modern US cities have been built exclusively around having to use cars with little public transportation. Older US cities which built up before WW2 are built for walking and often have much better public transportation. Individual people have no way of changing the cities.
@@mrsprocket67 having safe pedestrian and biking paths by businesses actually boosts the amount of customers those businesses receive, increases tax revenue, reduces pollution, and makes cities more livable and friendly. Plus it helps reduce urban sprawl, which is a huge problem that costs alot of tax money to maintain the roads and infrastructure and farm land as well cuz we build out and not up
Love your podcast and I lived for 4 years in Germany stationed with the Air Force and I really miss the country, food, culture and really love all the festivals. I want to go back some day, once we get out of all this pandemic stuff.
Totally agree on misuse of superlatives, waste of plastic, salespeople acting like my best friend, and limited biking/walking accommodations. These all really bug me even though I'm American. They must be doubly annoying if you're not used to it!
Miss Feli, I enjoy your videos. I’m an older person who grew up in Texas. When I was young there was still a notable German influence amongst the “folks”. I recognized many of the things you mentioned concerning personal responsibility. Adults and even public schools taught “Do what you say you’re going to do and be where you say you’re going to be.” “Be on time or early or explain why you’re not.” Wastefulness was recognized and not accepted. Well, things change, but I did successfully teach my own children. Come visit Texas some time! P.S.: If you ever visit Salt Lake City, Utah you may be surprised at how “Northern European” their downtown appears.
1:15 A wise person once told me, when you look back on something and think it is cringe worthy, that's a clear sign that you've grown as a person and/or as a professional. Celebrate the fact you cringe now, you've become a better version of yourself and can recognize it.
Good advice. In addition I have to say I’ve never felt anything on Feli’s channel has been embarrassing. Seems honest to look back and evaluate and learn from yourself, though not easy. Cheers love the channel thank you
One “little” conservation measure would be for restaurants to assume that people DO NOT need plastic utensils with every carry out order. Make people ask for them, or have them available in the restaurant so that if you pick up your food and need them, you can help yourself. Think about how many of those get included in carry out orders every year and the number of times they actually got used.
Restaurants are trying to use edible utensils. It's biodegradable. The downside of this utensil is its expensive and it's not widely available. Give restaurants another 20 years. Yes I know we don't have that long.
You may be surprised to hear that supplying utensils when delivering food to peoples' homes isn't even really a thing here. It is assumed that people own utensils at their home. You would literally have to tell them to bring plastic utensils....and quite likely they will tell you they don't stock those.
Your water in Cincinnati has more Chlorine in it as most metropolitan cities do. Small towns in the US almost use no chlorine in the water. I notice it when I travel. Big cities tend to get their water from Rivers or lakes whereas smaller communities use wells or groundwater.
Danke Feli. As an American I totally get what you are saying. I find that culture shock is less those 'can you believe what they do here' moments when you first arrive, than the serious lack of things that used to seem crucial to you. Here in Tbilisi Georgia I came to understand that the Eastern celebrations of Christmas and New Year really are different and there are times I truly and deeply miss the deeper aspects of Christmas. There is no quiet Christmas Eve here. Which I realize I crave. That silent night pause in the year. And I could go on. But this took three years to understand. (I made a video about it.) So expect a few more deeper culture shocks down the road.
In Ireland and many places in Europe, You bring your own Reusable Bag(s) and if you need extra bags then you are charged for them 25cents per small plastic bag, €1 fr bigger ones and €2-3 for reusable ones. the amount of waste plastic bags flying about in the wind and on tree branches has almost disapeared. Great idea.
I think some of the things that you mentioned around the lax accountability for social commitments is a bit more generational as well. Speaking as someone from an older generation the things that you mentioned, people flaking out for moving commitments etc., would have been frowned upon when I was growing up. I’m a bit surprised to hear that it’s so common now.
I think it's mostly that attitudes have changed from different levels in the same direction in both societies. Germans are still more reliable than Americans on average, but in Feli's generation (and she's not that much younger than me) they have become more individualistic and non-committal, particularly when it's just social commitments.
Part of it is also geographical. People are kind of flaky when it comes to not sticking with commitments out here in California whereas my cousins that grew up in the midwestern USA grew up with the expectation that when you make a commitment you stick with it unless something truly catastrophic happens like a relative was in a serious automobile accident. And I, having been raised by parents who grew up in the midwest, had that drilled into me. I have learned to accept that it the way things are in California, but it still grates on me a bit. People from the midwest also have a different idea of friendship, a friend is someone who you are willing to make sacrifices for, virtually almost to the point you'd risk your life for someone before they are a friend. Here in California the word friend is used very casually and would probably be called an acquaintance in the midwest. Edit: I would add, though, that while Californians are a little flaky when it comes to social commitments they are not entirely irredeemable. For instance, when mudslides in California happened total strangers showed up with squeegees, mops and buckets to help clean people's homes out and dry wall was donated to repair those places. Americans are not as uncaring about their fellows as many Europeans think.
@@Anon54387 I might be able to see this argument if it weren’t for the fact that she’s living in Ohio not California. So if the geographical argument held up being in Ohio, pretty much Midwest, she should be experiencing in the more responsible end of this argument and she’s not.
@@theopuscula that's a rather blanket statement. Do you know for a fact that Germans are more reliable than Americans, or are you just making an assumption based on a few Americans and Germans that you personally know?
Yes. That would be interesting to hear how easy, or not so easy, it is for you to adjust back to the Original Cultural Norms. Especially when you know it's only temporary.
Your description of eventually developing a sense of having two homes, and feeling equally familiar and comfortable in each place, in sharply contrasting societies is spot on. I've been in DE for 21 years after growing up and living for decades in the NY area and the same thing happened to me. I go back once a year to visit family and friends and deal with professional things. It also took me about four years to develop the feeling you describe. Eventually, you realize you have two Heimats. This is strange, considering how different our two worlds are.
I do understand your point and I do agree. However, if you really step back a good distance, "how different our words are" becomes really a very relative thing. We are still sooo much more alike than we could state with every and any 3rd world - and often even 2nd world - society. Espacially from the German pov, the US seems so very familiar because we basically watch it in movies and tv shows every day. I recall my first time coming to the US as an adult, I landed in Boston Logan, got my rental car, drove into the afternoon traffic and I constantly thought with amazement "this is no problem, I know this place".
Just a thought about chlorinated water, it is a gas mixed into the water after filtration that will slowly escape from the liquid. If you are away from home for an extended period, and tap water sits in the pipes, the chlorine gas will build up in your fixtures. That might be why your first shower smelled strongly of chlorine. Now that you are regularly using your tap water again, is the smell gone?
And, if it is in gas form not means it is not in the water doing the job of keeping it safe. This is why you the first time you use a tap in your house for the day you should let it run briefly to let the water that has stagnated in your pipes overnight run out before using water from that tap for cooking or drinking. Edit: It is also possible that your water company did a chlorination surge. This sometimes happens when they have been doing system repairs (such as replacing pipes). My own water company has considerably upped the chlorination when Covid started. You might just not have noticed when it first happened or they upped it again due to the recent spikes in Covid cases.
Yes Mike! For me as well, a large part of Feli's attraction beyond her incredible emotional and intellectual intelligence, as well as her honesty and positivity, is her ever so engaging countenance! Not only does Feli exude the impression that she is speaking to each and every one of us personally, but it's amazing to me ('no exaggeration!!) that she is constantly smiling even as she speaks! Not only do you see that with her lips and mouth, but also with her eyes, cheeks, forehead and chin!! 'One of the most luminous and engaging faces in the world; the epitome of charisma! Feli clearly possesses a superlative heart and soul (actually her brain!) as well, and she seems so morally grounded too! However I'd watch Feli's videos even if she was just reading an 'old school' telephone directory from her native Munchen or from a nearby town such as Icking!! ...and my only Tectonic ancestry is buried within the Germanic tribes' invasions and trade relations with my ancient and ancestral England. That is,.the Saxons were clearly Germanic; perhaps the Angles too! We WASPS (White Anglo Saxon Protestants) often don't realize how 'German' we actually are! Perhaps many English speakers don't even realize that English like Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Faroese, Iclandic and even Yiddish, is a Germanic language!! Live, love, & lager Feli! 'Good health to you and yours! 🇩🇪 🇨🇦 🇩🇪
Since my parents were children during the Great Depression of the 1930s, I was inculcated to not waste anything. For example, I was always admonished to clean my plate, which I still do; if I can't, I save it for later. Also, as I came of age (I remember when Earth Day was new), there was more of a campaign to increase awareness of waste. I put things in for the town's recycling. As for plastic bags, I use most of them at least twice: once to carry items home, and another for kitty litter, car trash, etc.; those that I don't use, I bring back to the grocery store's collection box for used plastic bags. As for an update on reverse culture shock, I'd LOVE to see it! I hope you make it soon... :)
Wow, interesting seeing the side-by-side of 2018 to 2022. Crisper video quality, different background, and you also were a bit more baby-faced even just four years ago.
Hi Feli. I cast my vote for hearing about the aspects of culture shock you experience upon your return trips to Germany. Anyway, happy 4th anniversary for your channel. You are always a pleasure to listen to. I also loved the travelogue pictures from your last trip. The architecture, the echo, and the beautiful countryside. I still think you could be sisters with that wonderful actress from “Scrubs” :) :)
I am American and feel a lot like you when dealing with people over the phone and email. My grandfather was German so maybe I got some of my culture from him! 🙂
I think the moving/scheduling thing is also somewhat age-related. When I was in college in the mid to late 80s, we definitely helped each other move a lot, and I was very firm on my commitments regarding when I would be at some place with friends.
I'm 29 y/o and I've almost never experienced the flakiness she mentions. It sounds like those aren't actual friends? The moving day story was very weird.
327,000 subscribers! You’ve come a long way these past 4 years on UA-cam. I appreciate the amazing subtle nuances you get to share as a born and raised German, now living in the USA! Congratulations and continued success! You are loved and admired by your fans.
Feli, I agree with you on the professional relationships when doing business. I want straight answers and proper invoices that pass the IRS test. I also agree with you on commitments to help out, such as a move. If things are arranged for a move and someone commits to help. I expect and planned for the help. I do project management in business on occasion and I need people to carry out their commitments. I guess my German genes are at work in that regard.
"...invoices that pass the IRS test." I think you've hit the crux of the matter -- many people in the current economy are probably running under the radar with 'side gigs' and doing cash business to avoid paying taxes. Especially when they're running out of a home office (or their vehicle, for that matter)...
It's like my sister when we talk on the phone and I still want to talk and she wants to hang up she'll say " I'll call you back later". She never does.
I would love to see a "reverse culture shock" video. I am fine with negative or positive reveals in culture as long as there authentic and honest. The content on your channel is always interesting and compelling so I am sure to watch what ever you post. :)
I love this channel. I have been surprised how atypical an American I am, perhaps because I'm a New Englander and Boston is more like Europe than America in some ways. Or because my mother's family came from Germany and Ireland had retained some European characteristics, or because I spent half of my professional life teaching and travelling overseas. Videos like this are next best to actually going abroad and experiencing life in other countries. Thanks for your efforts, Ich wünsche Ihnen alles Gute im neuen Jahr!
Thank you for this one. I just have an anecdote to share. When I was around 18, this guy came to my home town in Norway (Kongsvinger, some 100km north-east of Oslo, close to the Swedish border) all the way from Australia as an exchange student (high scool). We became friends and later he told me that when he arrived in Norway, he found people cold and enclosed, somehow, possibly because it was winter time (imagine coming from the summertime in NSW to -20C in Norway) and he just wanted to go home. He later learned that although it took time to make friends in Norway and people didn't speak to you at bus stops or in shops, when you got friends, they stayed friends for a long time. Btw: He also said that when summer came, the Norwegians became more open and friendly than he'd ever realised before. I'm not sure if this is true or that it was just the summer/winter contrast that led him to beleive this, but hell, it's probably mostly true and in this regard, I guess this must be pretty much the same as with Germany. We have more or less the same climate, albeit a bit cooler up here, but then, the social codes are more similar, perhaps except that up here, addressing everyone with their given name is common practice. Keep up the good work :) roy
My first tour in Germany I talked to an old man who had been drafted in the Bundeswher back in the 1960s. His one horror story was a field exercise in the cold winter in Norway. I wouldn’t blame any people for being “enclosed” because of that weather (and maybe seasonal depression due to lack of sunlight).
I agree with you on the overuse of disposable plastics. My grocery store recently began offering old-fashioned paper bags again - which I've always preferred anyway - and they were so popular they quickly became the standard bagging option. Same with disposable plates and containers, they can often be paper or waxed paper instead. Paper is almost infinitely sustainable, since wood is a crop, and we can grow as many trees as we need, like we grow potatoes or corn. We should use more paper when possible, and less plastic.
I absolutely agree with you about the waste in America. Really frustrating. I Also agree with you about the professionalism....you "hit the nail right on the head" on both of these. As for friends helping each other, I must be lucky because in my circle of friends, if one of us needs something, we drop what we are doing and go help. It's sad that you have not experienced that. Anyway, Happy New Year and love your channel!!!! LJ
The waste part is incredibly accurate. I work here at Walmart and sometimes the bag would rip from the top part and instead of using that bag, people just throw it away
Some of these issues differ by region. Here in the Bay Area, I haven’t seen a plastic bag in years and most people bring their own cloth bags. We’ve been recycling since I was a kid (I’m 60). But I do notice some of the things you mention when traveling on business, especially the wastefulness.
I was going to say the same, Feli really needs to venture the US. Places like the bay area (west side) are crazy clean and progressive. The midwest is a terrible example of American progression for sure.
I agree, CA has some of the most progressive rules in the US and it really impacts sustainability in a good way. Also seems to attract people with that mindset.
@@averycooper427 San Francisco was disgusting - trash everywhere - last time I visited. This was 2009, before the metastasization of human feces on the street. Oakland was also disgusting.
The funny thing is that the majority of the reusable grocery bags I use are from German stores. I lived in Würzburg for two years and built up a collection of nice bags. They’re mostly from Lidl, TeGut and my favorite German grocery store, Edeka.
And you took them with you?doesn't get any more german!😙
3 роки тому+4
I spent two months due to work business living in Germany, and I made my grocery shopping at Reve. I bought 3 super useful bags,and brought them back home with me. I still use them up until today! And they are huge and so practical.
I agree that we have become wasteful. I am conservative, and in my view, that includes being conservative with our resources. And being a conservationist. I hate waste and I hate unnecessary plastics in our landfills. So…I totally understand you here. I have many reusable grocery bags and I use them religiously.
@thesquirrelempire5658 it's a phrase meaning routinely or as a part of daily llife... people use to be more religous here and adherence to Sunday church or daily prayer or Bible reading was observed heaily.. so the phrase to do something religiously is reflecting the strict adherence or disiplined use, not meaning like worshiping or other religious aspects..
I drove from Boston to San Francisco back in 1985. One thing I noticed was that different cities had widely varying levels of cleanliness. Philadelphia had lots of trash blowing in the streets, while Pittsburgh was very neat and clean. Also in some cities people jaywalk like crazy, while in others they always use crosswalks.
She’s talking specifically about the Midwest. In California free bags are illegal. And we have to recycle at home and separate used food vs packaging or you can be fined.
Yes, I am originally from SFO Bay Area, we rode bikes everywhere, recycled, and brought our own bags. Also rode the bus to work every day after school. It isn‘t all over the US, like you said. My son lives in Utting (outside of Munich) and he calls America Fat because of all the waste! Haha
As regards our social independence….well….that’s a relatively recent phenomenon. Back in the old day, we were fiercely independent when it came to our freedoms, but we were also very plugged in to our communities and were most helpful to our neighbors. I’m afraid that isn’t always the case these days, but …..you can still find that wonderful community spirit in many parts of our country. Please don’t judge based solely on any big city like Cincinnati.
I live in Utah. Since this state is very much permeated with LDS culture, and community is a large part of the belief we still very much have communities that help each other, and are very close as neighbors. No, it isnt just about religion. It's a true sense of working together and helping those in need.
I would love to hear about reverse culture shock. I truly enjoy your perspective on both countries and look forward to your upcoming videos. Happy New Year.
Your perspective on the US is a perspective on the Mid-West. People use their own bags here, I've never seen someone grab a new cup for a refill unless there was a problem with the first cup, but we're also less enthusiastic though our superlatives are absolutely supreme.
Thank you for an informative video. You have a nice smile. I would be interested in a reverse culture shock video about what you noticed most about Germany when you came back from your first long stay in the U S.
Congratulations....We have the exactly same complaints about the USA and I'm a born American. Yes, a reverse culture shock video would be a great idea.
Please do the revere culture shock. 43 years since I was in Munich. One huge shock for me was weisswurst. Didn't know I was supposed to skin it before eating.🤣😅
Very interesting video! And yes, a video about reverse culture shock would be a good idea! I've experienced that, myself, as an American. Long time ago when I was about 16 years old, I spent 3 years in England. England is similar to Germany in the ways Feli points out, so when I returned to the US I was rather shocked by the exact same things that Feli was shocked by! Not long afterwards I spent 2 years in Germany and had the exact same culture shock when returning from there! Now as an old man (70 now) I'm living in England again. I like it much better in many ways here, but I still occasionally get a bit of Sehnsucht for home. Ich wünsche mir 'ne kleine Mietzekatze für mein Wochenendhaus! Except that while I have a pussycat, I don't have a weekend house. LOL.
As an American those stories about the businesses are super unprofessional and I'm surprised to hear them. That's definitely not the norm. Also the people who left and didn't tell you are definitely not nice and I think any American would be annoyed by that. These are very surprising stories. Just know that these are very atypical for the rest of America.
You may say this is not the norm, but the way she experience a situation may still very much vary from how you would estimate it. You DO have different cultural expectations and therefore perceptions. It is like when my American friend complained about some rude dude "bumping into him" and I was like... that dude? He was just passing by and did nothing wrong..? Or US tourists complaining about an "unfriendly" service person when I think they are perfectly fine & on the other hand I feel very uncomfortable when someone acts over-the-top fake friendly (my perception of American friendliness).
Great video, as usual, Feli. Greetings from Aalen (2 hours from Munich) and have a great 2022! Loved your comments about the wasteful lifestyle lots of Americans have. I experienced that for 4 years in California a while back. Yet, at the same time it was a weird feeling of freedom and “everything goes” that came with the wastefulness. It’s hard to explain but some negative things have their own kind of attraction when they’re combined with being American. It’s just a great place to be and its magnetism is hard to explain to lots of people. Anyway, you’re doing the explaining reply, really well. Mach weiter so! And yes, keep going with your observations on cultural differences. Take care und bleib gesund!
Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions and insist on information in business dealings. My husband (also an American) fails to do that sometimes because he assumes they will do what he expects. Then he is frustrated with the lack of business response. Never assume And ask,ask,ask.
I suspect people being friendly at first meeting, professionals being very casual, and friends being unreliable may be different facets of the same phenomenon: how big the U.S. is and how commonly Americans move from city to city. As a very large country that was populated by immigrants over a short period, it was necessary for people who didn't know each other to begin interacting very quickly, and to this day it's not uncommon for close friends to move far away, yet continue to live among other people with the same culture and dialect. I know multiple people who have moved from Cincinnati to Los Angeles; that's about 3100 km flying distance, or about 4½ times the distance from München to Kiel, or roughly the distance from München to Damascus.
Feli, Have you seen the Paramount+ series '1883'? There are German immigrants venturing the American west in 1883, Lots of German spoken in Season 1, Episode 1 I'm curious as to the accuracy.
I've watched on UA-cam after reading you comment. It is German spoken without a recognisable accent. It is spoken in a way that I expect from a German actor. The only thing that is not realistic is the absence of any accent. Back then people usually did not have a "speech education" (?). I, as a German, would have expected to hear some local pronunciation, i.e. at least some form of accent or dialect,
@@mrchrislatino Might be, I just gave my impression after watching it on purpose (you asked for "accuracy"). If I had watched it without being triggered, I would not have considered this noteworthy -- except that in this case German was delivered realistally, in correct grammar and pronunciation. The absence of an American accent is pleasant.
I relate so much on your point about reliability. The way I was raised in the US (apparently very German) was such that when a plan was made with someone, it was just normal to follow through with that plan to the letter. This only changed in me, somewhat, after having an entire year go by where it seemed everyone I made plans with, whether it was a stranger I'd connected with, or a friend I'd known for years, seemed to fall through to the tune of any excuse imaginable. That said, I do enjoy that I have friends whom I may have not spoken with for months, or years and when we reconnect, it feels like we'd seen each other yesterday. This feels doubly important for someone like me, who covets their alone time.
Yes, a reverse German culture shock would be interesting. Please don't worry about offending or sounding arrogant. As long as you don't hate the US for no reason. Hearing criticism is a good thing.
In my opinion, Feli is sarcastic and has a holier than thou attitude. She should make some vids about how the US and Germany are similar. I am really tired of hearing about her superiority complex. Es ist wirklich zu kotzen...Google translate that if you don´t understand!
About the chlorine: this reminds me of my first visit to the USA. I could always find the bathrooms by smell (yes, I mean the chlorine-smell 😉) But the more difficult problem was the taste of the tap water. And of course ice cubes are made from chlorinated water as well and I would taste it in every drink and it was disgusting. But if you ordered drinks without ice, everyone would look at you like you were mad… AND of course your drinks would be lukewarm since they weren‘t pre-cooled because everyone uses tons of (chlorinated) ice 😉
This is one of the generalizations that bothers me a lot. The United States is a _huge_ country, and the quality of the water varies greatly. Here in the Pacific Northwest our water is generally not chlorinated, and tends to be slightly acidic (hence it is pretty soft water like you're likely used to in Europe.) Other parts of the country I wouldn't drink tap water on a bet. Water in the Southwest for instance tends to be pretty alkaline, and very hard. Yuck. Other places, particularly larger midwest cities, tend to rely on less safe natural water and have to use chlorine to make it drinkable. But again, this isn't a "United States" thing, but a regional thing.
@@tarmaque -- I was thinking the exact same thing as I was reading the original comment. New York's tap water ranks nearly top in the world for purity. Los Angeles tap water seems like it is practically straight chlorine.
Feli I fully agree with you on business interactions! I'm significantly older than you and it may be that I expect business to be done correctly, which is somewhat formally. All in all, great videos! Even though you're my grandkids age, I get a kick out of you & your observations. Thanks!!
I laughed so hard at”WTF they sell their mayonnaise in buckets here” 🤣🤣
Yeah, it is just ice cream and peanut butter...
Yeah i had to play it back. I couldn't believe she swore in the video 😅
@@ital2525 I did the same thing 🤣
Me too! 🤣🤣
You guys obviously don’t follow her on Instagram
As an American, I appreciate your perspective. It’s so honest, yet never mean.
My family lived in GE for several years in the 2000s (military family). Ever since then my mom has brought her own reusable bags to the grocery store. She picked up a great habit from living in a German neighborhood!
This has been normal in Germany and other European countries for generations.
Dude we’ve been doing this in California since the 80’s
It's DE... not GE
@@antonboludo8886 Definitely not in Italy
My local owned grocery store used to discount 5 cents per bag if you brought your own in.
Feli, you aren't alone in wanting professional interactions to be more formal. I too want direct answers to questions. I don't want bullshit shoveled at me. If I can't get a straight answer, I interpret that as trying to cover up things and/or scam me. I also want invoices and not some informal thing. I'm not German, but I agree with you completely!👍😁
To this old man my observation is that lack of formality in professional organizations is new and generational. The shift started about 20 years ago. Organizational dysfunction has set in and many professionals are powerless and really don’t have answers.
Likewise
The Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for trying to overthrow the Government like that.
And older people do not like these people speaking to them as if they are incompetent and can't understand. They are older, not stupid. Companies need to just be direct and to the point and stop wasting people's time.
I agree with not always being on a first name basis too.
Respect goes a long way in sales, not just manipulation to mirror and be fake buddies
I agree with you. As an American dealing in any professional situation I like straight talk. Just tell me the information I need. One exception would be someone I have known for years.
Yeah I think in America there is a big sales culture in business. The attitude is that projecting a good sales atmosphere is more important than dealing in details.
@@davedoe6445 and that's because they believe that image is more important than content!
A lot of these things also depend on where in the US you live. I live in Brooklyn and here for example, most people now use reusable bags at the grocery (mostly because they charge for bags now and only paper is allowed, but it worked) also NYC in general is a big walking and public transit city. It's usually harder to drive most places than it is to walk and/or use the subway and busses.
_"Most people now use reusable bags at the grocery (mostly because they charge for bags now...)"_
Yeah, California is the same. Single-use disposable bags have been outlawed.
The waste is spot on. And I’m from the US.
We really try to be the exception and reuse plastic bags as trash bags. We use cloth napkins. I take my own silverware to work for lunch and bring it home and wash it. We use silicon bags almost all the time. Folks used to tease me at work about all that but I just answer “sustainability”. We recycle eventhough we have to drive it there.
Not blowing my own horn. Just mentioning that those things can be implemented by anyone. Anytime. Easily.
A pet peeve of mine as well!
I was visiting my friend in Portland a couple of decades ago, and we went to recycle some stuff. There was a spot for each type of recyclable plastic(1-8). They were way out in front when it comes to sustainability.
The awareness and behavior of dealing with waste correctly did not come about overnight in Germany either. Certainly a merit of the green movement. But also the experience of generations here THAT THE COUNTRY MUST FEED THE PEOPLE. That a farmer does not ruin his fields if he and his children want to make a living from it in the future. Or that cut down lost forest can mean drought and poverty.
I mean, Europeans think about making profits in the longer term, maybe in generations. Americans are often faster at this, but do they see the long-term consequences?
If I spill oil on the ground, will I destroy the world I live in?
Or could I be careful and take it to the collection point properly?
I moved to Oregon 2 years ago and at the time they had recently (I believe) passed a law banning plastic bags and requiring stores to charge 5 cents per paper bag if you didn't bring your own. I bought a bunch of reusable bags and stuffed them in the cars and it is the rare occasion when I need to pay for a bag, and when I do I feel very guilty...
Part of the issue is just how flimsy the plastic bags are in most parts of the country. If you put more than a loaf of bread in them, they tear! (I'm exaggerating, but not by much ...)
The one exception - California. You do have to pay $0.10 per bag, but those bags are actually substantial and meant to be reused. Last time I went to CA on a business trip I purposely went to Wal-Mart and bought a couple things so I had an excuse to get about 3 of those plastic bags to take home with me. We're STILL using them over 3 years later! Kinda wish it was like that everywhere.
On the west coast, we recycle EVERYTHING. No plastic bags unless you pay for them and I don't know anyone who uses plastic. Every other week here the recycle truck comes by and we separate the trash from the recycle. I think there's a HUGE difference between different sections of this big country we have in both recycling and in the way, professionals handle themselves.
Thank you for mentioning how hard it is to walk around here. Too many Americans simply accept this, when we could be living so much better if we had more options. I visited Germany for the first time in October (Berlin and Dusseldorf) and loved how easy it was to get around without a car. The channel 'Not Just Bikes' has some wonderful videos that further explore ease of movement differences between Europe and North America.
This isn't true of everywhere in the US though. I live in Brooklyn and make the vast majority of my journeys on foot. I don't even use the subway unless I'm going more than 2-3 miles away.
"Too many Americans simply accept this"?, I celebrate this! I don't have to live like it's 1599 because I have (multiple) cars. I am "living so much better" because I have more PARKING options right in front of the stores I frequent.
The issues are how the cities in the US developed after WW2. Many modern US cities have been built exclusively around having to use cars with little public transportation. Older US cities which built up before WW2 are built for walking and often have much better public transportation. Individual people have no way of changing the cities.
@@mrsprocket67 having safe pedestrian and biking paths by businesses actually boosts the amount of customers those businesses receive, increases tax revenue, reduces pollution, and makes cities more livable and friendly. Plus it helps reduce urban sprawl, which is a huge problem that costs alot of tax money to maintain the roads and infrastructure and farm land as well cuz we build out and not up
@G E T R E K T I think he was being sarcastic. I know a lot of people don't understand it.
Love your podcast and I lived for 4 years in Germany stationed with the Air Force and I really miss the country, food, culture and really love all the festivals. I want to go back some day, once we get out of all this pandemic stuff.
Congratulations on your local team going to the Super Bowl! This should make for an interesting couple of weeks in Cincinnati!
Totally agree on misuse of superlatives, waste of plastic, salespeople acting like my best friend, and limited biking/walking accommodations. These all really bug me even though I'm American. They must be doubly annoying if you're not used to it!
Few people bike so that’s a personal issue. Walking on the other hand could be improved.
Bicycles should be kept in the yard. Not on the roads or streets where they interfere with traffic
@@ralphsnow2337 I think we agree. American cities, in general, are not very bike-friendly. If they were, bikes wouldn't interfere with traffic.
Miss Feli, I enjoy your videos. I’m an older person who grew up in Texas. When I was young there was still a notable German influence amongst the “folks”. I recognized many of the things you mentioned concerning personal responsibility. Adults and even public schools taught “Do what you say you’re going to do and be where you say you’re going to be.” “Be on time or early or explain why you’re not.” Wastefulness was recognized and not accepted.
Well, things change, but I did successfully teach my own children. Come visit Texas some time! P.S.: If you ever visit Salt Lake City, Utah you may be surprised at how “Northern European” their downtown appears.
1:15 A wise person once told me, when you look back on something and think it is cringe worthy, that's a clear sign that you've grown as a person and/or as a professional. Celebrate the fact you cringe now, you've become a better version of yourself and can recognize it.
Good advice. In addition I have to say I’ve never felt anything on Feli’s channel has been embarrassing. Seems honest to look back and evaluate and learn from yourself, though not easy. Cheers love the channel thank you
Lots of good energy, Feli. Thanks for the video.
Yes please: tell us about how it went while visiting Germany! Happy New Year Feli 😊
Feli,
We will miss 😢 you when you are gone. It was nice to learn and hear from you.
One “little” conservation measure would be for restaurants to assume that people DO NOT need plastic utensils with every carry out order. Make people ask for them, or have them available in the restaurant so that if you pick up your food and need them, you can help yourself. Think about how many of those get included in carry out orders every year and the number of times they actually got used.
Restaurants are trying to use edible utensils. It's biodegradable. The downside of this utensil is its expensive and it's not widely available. Give restaurants another 20 years. Yes I know we don't have that long.
And since Americans eat always with their fingers why furnish utensils in the first place?
@@V100-e5q those baconNator fry’s are hard to eat with out a fork🤷🏼
One restaurant i order online from offers a no-utensil option, but something they forget to omit the plastic utensils.
You may be surprised to hear that supplying utensils when delivering food to peoples' homes isn't even really a thing here. It is assumed that people own utensils at their home. You would literally have to tell them to bring plastic utensils....and quite likely they will tell you they don't stock those.
You’re a breath of fresh air each and every time. Danke.
When I moved from Florida to California my friends helped me, one was disabled. I didn't even ask for their help, they just showed up.
Your water in Cincinnati has more Chlorine in it as most metropolitan cities do. Small towns in the US almost use no chlorine in the water. I notice it when I travel. Big cities tend to get their water from Rivers or lakes whereas smaller communities use wells or groundwater.
Danke Feli. As an American I totally get what you are saying. I find that culture shock is less those 'can you believe what they do here' moments when you first arrive, than the serious lack of things that used to seem crucial to you. Here in Tbilisi Georgia I came to understand that the Eastern celebrations of Christmas and New Year really are different and there are times I truly and deeply miss the deeper aspects of Christmas. There is no quiet Christmas Eve here. Which I realize I crave. That silent night pause in the year. And I could go on. But this took three years to understand. (I made a video about it.) So expect a few more deeper culture shocks down the road.
Thanks!
Vielen Dank, Larry! :)
In Ireland and many places in Europe, You bring your own Reusable Bag(s) and if you need extra bags then you are charged for them 25cents per small plastic bag, €1 fr bigger ones and €2-3 for reusable ones. the amount of waste plastic bags flying about in the wind and on tree branches has almost disapeared. Great idea.
Yes. Make the video. Your honesty is welcomed.
I think some of the things that you mentioned around the lax accountability for social commitments is a bit more generational as well. Speaking as someone from an older generation the things that you mentioned, people flaking out for moving commitments etc., would have been frowned upon when I was growing up. I’m a bit surprised to hear that it’s so common now.
I think it's mostly that attitudes have changed from different levels in the same direction in both societies. Germans are still more reliable than Americans on average, but in Feli's generation (and she's not that much younger than me) they have become more individualistic and non-committal, particularly when it's just social commitments.
Part of it is also geographical. People are kind of flaky when it comes to not sticking with commitments out here in California whereas my cousins that grew up in the midwestern USA grew up with the expectation that when you make a commitment you stick with it unless something truly catastrophic happens like a relative was in a serious automobile accident. And I, having been raised by parents who grew up in the midwest, had that drilled into me. I have learned to accept that it the way things are in California, but it still grates on me a bit.
People from the midwest also have a different idea of friendship, a friend is someone who you are willing to make sacrifices for, virtually almost to the point you'd risk your life for someone before they are a friend. Here in California the word friend is used very casually and would probably be called an acquaintance in the midwest.
Edit: I would add, though, that while Californians are a little flaky when it comes to social commitments they are not entirely irredeemable. For instance, when mudslides in California happened total strangers showed up with squeegees, mops and buckets to help clean people's homes out and dry wall was donated to repair those places. Americans are not as uncaring about their fellows as many Europeans think.
Very, very much agree, it is generational, i.e., younger people can be very rude at times.
@@Anon54387 I might be able to see this argument if it weren’t for the fact that she’s living in Ohio not California. So if the geographical argument held up being in Ohio, pretty much Midwest, she should be experiencing in the more responsible end of this argument and she’s not.
@@theopuscula that's a rather blanket statement. Do you know for a fact that Germans are more reliable than Americans, or are you just making an assumption based on a few Americans and Germans that you personally know?
Yes. That would be interesting to hear how easy, or not so easy, it is for you to adjust back to the Original Cultural Norms. Especially when you know it's only temporary.
Feli, Congratulations und Freues Neues Jahr!
Happy Fourth Birthday, Feli! I really enjoy your channel. Servus!
I love hearing your opinions, so I would vote yes to making the video.
Yes, I'd love to hear what shocked you returning to Germany. Have a great evening and God bless you 🌹
Your description of eventually developing a sense of having two homes, and feeling equally familiar and comfortable in each place, in sharply contrasting societies is spot on. I've been in DE for 21 years after growing up and living for decades in the NY area and the same thing happened to me. I go back once a year to visit family and friends and deal with professional things. It also took me about four years to develop the feeling you describe. Eventually, you realize you have two Heimats. This is strange, considering how different our two worlds are.
I do understand your point and I do agree.
However, if you really step back a good distance, "how different our words are" becomes really a very relative thing.
We are still sooo much more alike than we could state with every and any 3rd world - and often even 2nd world - society.
Espacially from the German pov, the US seems so very familiar because we basically watch it in movies and tv shows every day.
I recall my first time coming to the US as an adult, I landed in Boston Logan, got my rental car, drove into the afternoon traffic and I constantly thought with amazement "this is no problem, I know this place".
Fantastic fluency in English, I'm impressed every video!
Just a thought about chlorinated water, it is a gas mixed into the water after filtration that will slowly escape from the liquid. If you are away from home for an extended period, and tap water sits in the pipes, the chlorine gas will build up in your fixtures. That might be why your first shower smelled strongly of chlorine. Now that you are regularly using your tap water again, is the smell gone?
And, if it is in gas form not means it is not in the water doing the job of keeping it safe. This is why you the first time you use a tap in your house for the day you should let it run briefly to let the water that has stagnated in your pipes overnight run out before using water from that tap for cooking or drinking.
Edit: It is also possible that your water company did a chlorination surge. This sometimes happens when they have been doing system repairs (such as replacing pipes). My own water company has considerably upped the chlorination when Covid started. You might just not have noticed when it first happened or they upped it again due to the recent spikes in Covid cases.
I have to say I love how you seem so very happy and in a great mood in your videos.
Yes Mike! For me as well, a large part of Feli's attraction beyond her incredible emotional and intellectual intelligence, as well as her honesty and positivity, is her ever so engaging countenance!
Not only does Feli exude the impression that she is speaking to each and every one of us personally, but it's amazing to me ('no exaggeration!!) that she is constantly smiling even as she speaks!
Not only do you see that with her lips and mouth, but also with her eyes, cheeks, forehead and chin!!
'One of the most luminous and engaging faces in the world; the epitome of charisma!
Feli clearly possesses a superlative heart and soul (actually her brain!) as well, and she seems so morally grounded too!
However I'd watch Feli's videos even if she was just reading an 'old school' telephone directory from her native Munchen or from a nearby town such as Icking!!
...and my only Tectonic ancestry is buried within the Germanic tribes' invasions and trade relations with my ancient and ancestral England. That is,.the Saxons were clearly Germanic; perhaps the Angles too! We WASPS (White Anglo Saxon Protestants) often don't realize how 'German' we actually are! Perhaps many English speakers don't even realize that English like Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Faroese, Iclandic and even Yiddish, is a Germanic language!!
Live, love, & lager Feli!
'Good health to you and yours!
🇩🇪 🇨🇦 🇩🇪
Since my parents were children during the Great Depression of the 1930s, I was inculcated to not waste anything. For example, I was always admonished to clean my plate, which I still do; if I can't, I save it for later. Also, as I came of age (I remember when Earth Day was new), there was more of a campaign to increase awareness of waste. I put things in for the town's recycling. As for plastic bags, I use most of them at least twice: once to carry items home, and another for kitty litter, car trash, etc.; those that I don't use, I bring back to the grocery store's collection box for used plastic bags.
As for an update on reverse culture shock, I'd LOVE to see it! I hope you make it soon... :)
Outstanding. I LOLed big time from the new production values. Bravo.
Wow, interesting seeing the side-by-side of 2018 to 2022. Crisper video quality, different background, and you also were a bit more baby-faced even just four years ago.
You're not negative, I enjoy hearing your perspective and comparisons between our respective home countries.
Hi Feli.
I cast my vote for hearing about the aspects of culture shock you experience upon your return trips to Germany.
Anyway, happy 4th anniversary for your channel.
You are always a pleasure to listen to. I also loved the travelogue pictures from your last trip. The architecture, the echo, and the beautiful countryside.
I still think you could be sisters with that wonderful actress from “Scrubs” :) :)
Feli. You are on the point on every single subject you talked about
Excellent observations.
Good job
I am American and feel a lot like you when dealing with people over the phone and email. My grandfather was German so maybe I got some of my culture from him! 🙂
Love you Feli, glad you are okay.
Friends help you move. True friends help you move the body.
Aww, Happy Anniversary! 🙂Happy 2022!
I think the moving/scheduling thing is also somewhat age-related. When I was in college in the mid to late 80s, we definitely helped each other move a lot, and I was very firm on my commitments regarding when I would be at some place with friends.
I'm 29 y/o and I've almost never experienced the flakiness she mentions. It sounds like those aren't actual friends? The moving day story was very weird.
It's really interesting to watch your videos. Especially as an American from the midwest currently living in Italy experiencing my own culture shocks.
327,000 subscribers! You’ve come a long way these past 4 years on UA-cam. I appreciate the amazing subtle nuances you get to share as a born and raised German, now living in the USA! Congratulations and continued success! You are loved and admired by your fans.
She's definitely loved by me, regardless if she reciprocates that sentiment or not.
the soda fountain example was really good. Amazing, actually ...
Feli, I agree with you on the professional relationships when doing business. I want straight answers and proper invoices that pass the IRS test. I also agree with you on commitments to help out, such as a move. If things are arranged for a move and someone commits to help. I expect and planned for the help. I do project management in business on occasion and I need people to carry out their commitments. I guess my German genes are at work in that regard.
"...invoices that pass the IRS test." I think you've hit the crux of the matter -- many people in the current economy are probably running under the radar with 'side gigs' and doing cash business to avoid paying taxes. Especially when they're running out of a home office (or their vehicle, for that matter)...
It's like my sister when we talk on the phone and I still want to talk and she wants to hang up she'll say " I'll call you back later". She never does.
I would love to see a "reverse culture shock" video. I am fine with negative or positive reveals in culture as long as there authentic and honest. The content on your channel is always interesting and compelling so I am sure to watch what ever you post. :)
I love this channel. I have been surprised how atypical an American I am, perhaps because I'm a New Englander and Boston is more like Europe than America in some ways. Or because my mother's family came from Germany and Ireland had retained some European characteristics, or because I spent half of my professional life teaching and travelling overseas. Videos like this are next best to actually going abroad and experiencing life in other countries. Thanks for your efforts, Ich wünsche Ihnen alles Gute im neuen Jahr!
Thank you for this one. I just have an anecdote to share. When I was around 18, this guy came to my home town in Norway (Kongsvinger, some 100km north-east of Oslo, close to the Swedish border) all the way from Australia as an exchange student (high scool). We became friends and later he told me that when he arrived in Norway, he found people cold and enclosed, somehow, possibly because it was winter time (imagine coming from the summertime in NSW to -20C in Norway) and he just wanted to go home. He later learned that although it took time to make friends in Norway and people didn't speak to you at bus stops or in shops, when you got friends, they stayed friends for a long time.
Btw: He also said that when summer came, the Norwegians became more open and friendly than he'd ever realised before. I'm not sure if this is true or that it was just the summer/winter contrast that led him to beleive this, but hell, it's probably mostly true and in this regard, I guess this must be pretty much the same as with Germany. We have more or less the same climate, albeit a bit cooler up here, but then, the social codes are more similar, perhaps except that up here, addressing everyone with their given name is common practice.
Keep up the good work :)
roy
My first tour in Germany I talked to an old man who had been drafted in the Bundeswher back in the 1960s. His one horror story was a field exercise in the cold winter in Norway. I wouldn’t blame any people for being “enclosed” because of that weather (and maybe seasonal depression due to lack of sunlight).
Yeah. I'm very interested to hear about it.😁
Love your videos and totally agree with you on the portions at restaurants
I agree with you on the overuse of disposable plastics. My grocery store recently began offering old-fashioned paper bags again - which I've always preferred anyway - and they were so popular they quickly became the standard bagging option. Same with disposable plates and containers, they can often be paper or waxed paper instead. Paper is almost infinitely sustainable, since wood is a crop, and we can grow as many trees as we need, like we grow potatoes or corn. We should use more paper when possible, and less plastic.
Hi Feli!! Happy New Year to you, and congrats on your 4th anniversary.
I absolutely agree with you about the waste in America. Really frustrating. I Also agree with you about the professionalism....you "hit the nail right on the head" on both of these. As for friends helping each other, I must be lucky because in my circle of friends, if one of us needs something, we drop what we are doing and go help. It's sad that you have not experienced that. Anyway, Happy New Year and love your channel!!!! LJ
The waste part is incredibly accurate. I work here at Walmart and sometimes the bag would rip from the top part and instead of using that bag, people just throw it away
Hi Feli glad to see you back 😊
I'm not sure what makes me happier, integrating German speaking into the video, or finally hearing Feli drop an F bomb haha.
Babble is excellent. I've been a subscriber for nearly three years and it really helps.
Some of these issues differ by region. Here in the Bay Area, I haven’t seen a plastic bag in years and most people bring their own cloth bags. We’ve been recycling since I was a kid (I’m 60). But I do notice some of the things you mention when traveling on business, especially the wastefulness.
The Greenest Grocery Bag
ua-cam.com/video/JvzvM9tf5s0/v-deo.html
I was going to say the same, Feli really needs to venture the US. Places like the bay area (west side) are crazy clean and progressive. The midwest is a terrible example of American progression for sure.
@@averycooper427 I’m firmly located in the Midwest and I recycle what I can, and (pre-COVID, anyway) took reusable bags to the store.
I agree, CA has some of the most progressive rules in the US and it really impacts sustainability in a good way. Also seems to attract people with that mindset.
@@averycooper427 San Francisco was disgusting - trash everywhere - last time I visited. This was 2009, before the metastasization of human feces on the street. Oakland was also disgusting.
Your way is good and active. thank you for your positive attitude
The funny thing is that the majority of the reusable grocery bags I use are from German stores. I lived in Würzburg for two years and built up a collection of nice bags. They’re mostly from Lidl, TeGut and my favorite German grocery store, Edeka.
And you took them with you?doesn't get any more german!😙
I spent two months due to work business living in Germany, and I made my grocery shopping at Reve. I bought 3 super useful bags,and brought them back home with me. I still use them up until today! And they are huge and so practical.
Happy Anniversary and Congratulations!
I agree that we have become wasteful. I am conservative, and in my view, that includes being conservative with our resources. And being a conservationist. I hate waste and I hate unnecessary plastics in our landfills. So…I totally understand you here. I have many reusable grocery bags and I use them religiously.
Religiously? I don’t understand
@@thesquirrelempire5658 It’s a turn of phrase in English.
@thesquirrelempire5658 it's a phrase meaning routinely or as a part of daily llife... people use to be more religous here and adherence to Sunday church or daily prayer or Bible reading was observed heaily.. so the phrase to do something religiously is reflecting the strict adherence or disiplined use, not meaning like worshiping or other religious aspects..
Having lived in both countries, I totally agree with everything you said. Thanks for your honesty.
I drove from Boston to San Francisco back in 1985. One thing I noticed was that different cities had widely varying levels of cleanliness. Philadelphia had lots of trash blowing in the streets, while Pittsburgh was very neat and clean. Also in some cities people jaywalk like crazy, while in others they always use crosswalks.
Jaywalkers, must have been in Hartford
Happy New Year 2022 to you too, Feli from Germany.
She’s talking specifically about the Midwest. In California free bags are illegal. And we have to recycle at home and separate used food vs packaging or you can be fined.
Yes, I am originally from SFO Bay Area, we rode bikes everywhere, recycled, and brought our own bags. Also rode the bus to work every day after school. It isn‘t all over the US, like you said. My son lives in Utting (outside of Munich) and he calls America Fat because of all the waste! Haha
I really got a good laugh on your rant about the customer service runaround because it's so relatable.
“What the fuck, they sell their mayonnaise in buckets over here?!” Absolutely SENT me 😂
Good God, I can't believe people using that much Mayonnaise unless they run a restaurant. I'm a 3rd generation Ami of German descent.
Yea I think she’s referring to places like Costco that cater to businesses.
When did she say that? At which minute?
Great videos Feli!
As regards our social independence….well….that’s a relatively recent phenomenon. Back in the old day, we were fiercely independent when it came to our freedoms, but we were also very plugged in to our communities and were most helpful to our neighbors. I’m afraid that isn’t always the case these days, but …..you can still find that wonderful community spirit in many parts of our country. Please don’t judge based solely on any big city like Cincinnati.
I think the internet might've taken us out of the physical communities unfortunately
I live in Utah. Since this state is very much permeated with LDS culture, and community is a large part of the belief we still very much have communities that help each other, and are very close as neighbors.
No, it isnt just about religion. It's a true sense of working together and helping those in need.
@@JonahNelson7 It's been happening for a long time, but Internet 'social media' has definitely accelerated it...
I would love to hear about reverse culture shock. I truly enjoy your perspective on both countries and look forward to your upcoming videos. Happy New Year.
Your perspective on the US is a perspective on the Mid-West. People use their own bags here, I've never seen someone grab a new cup for a refill unless there was a problem with the first cup, but we're also less enthusiastic though our superlatives are absolutely supreme.
Would you mind sharing what super awesome place you are from? :)
The Greenest Grocery Bag
ua-cam.com/video/JvzvM9tf5s0/v-deo.html
@@dirkschwartz1689 The Best Coast
@@dirkschwartz1689 looool. Exactly. Hate when people imply stuff.
Thank you for an informative video. You have a nice smile. I would be interested in a reverse culture shock video about what you noticed most about Germany when you came back from your first long stay in the U S.
Viel Dank Feli😀
Yes, please do a video on Reverse-Culture-Shock in Germany 🇩🇪
Thanks Again!!!
Sure, I love hearing different perspectives from different cultures. It's interesting.
Congratulations....We have the exactly same complaints about the USA and I'm a born American. Yes, a reverse culture shock video would be a great idea.
Please do the revere culture shock. 43 years since I was in Munich. One huge shock for me was weisswurst. Didn't know I was supposed to skin it before eating.🤣😅
Your straightforward personality is an attractive trait.
Very interesting video! And yes, a video about reverse culture shock would be a good idea! I've experienced that, myself, as an American. Long time ago when I was about 16 years old, I spent 3 years in England. England is similar to Germany in the ways Feli points out, so when I returned to the US I was rather shocked by the exact same things that Feli was shocked by! Not long afterwards I spent 2 years in Germany and had the exact same culture shock when returning from there! Now as an old man (70 now) I'm living in England again. I like it much better in many ways here, but I still occasionally get a bit of Sehnsucht for home. Ich wünsche mir 'ne kleine Mietzekatze für mein Wochenendhaus! Except that while I have a pussycat, I don't have a weekend house. LOL.
Thank you for sharing. It was fun to watch. Happy New Year to you & your family. Stay safe.
As an American those stories about the businesses are super unprofessional and I'm surprised to hear them. That's definitely not the norm.
Also the people who left and didn't tell you are definitely not nice and I think any American would be annoyed by that. These are very surprising stories. Just know that these are very atypical for the rest of America.
Reneging on plans is one I'll disown.
You may say this is not the norm, but the way she experience a situation may still very much vary from how you would estimate it. You DO have different cultural expectations and therefore perceptions.
It is like when my American friend complained about some rude dude "bumping into him" and I was like... that dude? He was just passing by and did nothing wrong..? Or US tourists complaining about an "unfriendly" service person when I think they are perfectly fine & on the other hand I feel very uncomfortable when someone acts over-the-top fake friendly (my perception of American friendliness).
But there are similar observations from various youtubers who are not used to that. So it must be more common.
Great video, as usual, Feli. Greetings from Aalen (2 hours from Munich) and have a great 2022! Loved your comments about the wasteful lifestyle lots of Americans have. I experienced that for 4 years in California a while back. Yet, at the same time it was a weird feeling of freedom and “everything goes” that came with the wastefulness. It’s hard to explain but some negative things have their own kind of attraction when they’re combined with being American. It’s just a great place to be and its magnetism is hard to explain to lots of people. Anyway, you’re doing the explaining reply, really well. Mach weiter so! And yes, keep going with your observations on cultural differences. Take care und bleib gesund!
Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions and insist on information in business dealings. My husband (also an American) fails to do that sometimes because he assumes they will do what he expects. Then he is frustrated with the lack of business response.
Never assume
And ask,ask,ask.
I find all of your vids just great. Please continue.
I suspect people being friendly at first meeting, professionals being very casual, and friends being unreliable may be different facets of the same phenomenon: how big the U.S. is and how commonly Americans move from city to city. As a very large country that was populated by immigrants over a short period, it was necessary for people who didn't know each other to begin interacting very quickly, and to this day it's not uncommon for close friends to move far away, yet continue to live among other people with the same culture and dialect. I know multiple people who have moved from Cincinnati to Los Angeles; that's about 3100 km flying distance, or about 4½ times the distance from München to Kiel, or roughly the distance from München to Damascus.
That is what the internet is for! I recently moved from Connecticut to North Carolina.
Ther are clusters of "Snowbirds" from the US Midwest and Northeast in Arizona and Florida. Likewise frost-bitten Canadians.
You were awesome, as usual! Danke
Feli, Have you seen the Paramount+ series '1883'? There are German immigrants venturing the American west in 1883, Lots of German spoken in Season 1, Episode 1 I'm curious as to the accuracy.
I've watched on UA-cam after reading you comment. It is German spoken without a recognisable accent. It is spoken in a way that I expect from a German actor. The only thing that is not realistic is the absence of any accent. Back then people usually did not have a "speech education" (?). I, as a German, would have expected to hear some local pronunciation, i.e. at least some form of accent or dialect,
@@McGhinch Thanks, You'd think if it was big enough to be written into the script, it would be important enough to be more realistic.
@@mrchrislatino Might be, I just gave my impression after watching it on purpose (you asked for "accuracy"). If I had watched it without being triggered, I would not have considered this noteworthy -- except that in this case German was delivered realistally, in correct grammar and pronunciation. The absence of an American accent is pleasant.
@@McGhinch Oh so it was fairly accurate, I mis-read your original reply. Thanks
@@mrchrislatino You're welcome.
Yes to a video about your observations or reactions upon returning to Germany.
I relate so much on your point about reliability. The way I was raised in the US (apparently very German) was such that when a plan was made with someone, it was just normal to follow through with that plan to the letter. This only changed in me, somewhat, after having an entire year go by where it seemed everyone I made plans with, whether it was a stranger I'd connected with, or a friend I'd known for years, seemed to fall through to the tune of any excuse imaginable. That said, I do enjoy that I have friends whom I may have not spoken with for months, or years and when we reconnect, it feels like we'd seen each other yesterday. This feels doubly important for someone like me, who covets their alone time.
Yes, say what you will do and do what you say, simple.
Please make the video on Germany culture shocks! My family and I are planning to move there in a couple years. So I’m learning as much as I can!
Yes, a reverse German culture shock would be interesting. Please don't worry about offending or sounding arrogant. As long as you don't hate the US for no reason. Hearing criticism is a good thing.
In my opinion, Feli is sarcastic and has a holier than thou attitude. She should make some vids about how the US and Germany are similar. I am really tired of hearing about her superiority complex. Es ist wirklich zu kotzen...Google translate that if you don´t understand!
Hello Feli! Welcome back, I missed you and your beautiful smile.
Positive things about the US? You're here! Enough said.
Happy first birthday! 🤗
The yellow text on the red hoodie looks so good! 😃👍
About the chlorine: this reminds me of my first visit to the USA.
I could always find the bathrooms by smell (yes, I mean the chlorine-smell 😉)
But the more difficult problem was the taste of the tap water. And of course ice cubes are made from chlorinated water as well and I would taste it in every drink and it was disgusting. But if you ordered drinks without ice, everyone would look at you like you were mad… AND of course your drinks would be lukewarm since they weren‘t pre-cooled because everyone uses tons of (chlorinated) ice 😉
This is one of the generalizations that bothers me a lot. The United States is a _huge_ country, and the quality of the water varies greatly. Here in the Pacific Northwest our water is generally not chlorinated, and tends to be slightly acidic (hence it is pretty soft water like you're likely used to in Europe.) Other parts of the country I wouldn't drink tap water on a bet. Water in the Southwest for instance tends to be pretty alkaline, and very hard. Yuck. Other places, particularly larger midwest cities, tend to rely on less safe natural water and have to use chlorine to make it drinkable. But again, this isn't a "United States" thing, but a regional thing.
@@tarmaque -- I was thinking the exact same thing as I was reading the original comment. New York's tap water ranks nearly top in the world for purity. Los Angeles tap water seems like it is practically straight chlorine.
Feli I fully agree with you on business interactions! I'm significantly older than you and it may be that I expect business to be done correctly, which is somewhat formally.
All in all, great videos! Even though you're my grandkids age, I get a kick out of you & your observations. Thanks!!