Living in Germany: 3 Things Americans Can Learn from Germans
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- I believe there are valuable things that we can all learn from different cultures, and after a year and a half of living in Germany there are a number of cultural and lifestyle differences that we believe Americans should incorporate into their lives. In this video, we'll talk about three things that Americans can learn from Germans.
Shout out to Anni from @AmericasGotGermans , don't forget to check out her channel, and her recent video on three things Germans can learn from Americans here: • 3 Things GERMANS can l...
And while you're there, show some support and subscribe to her channel (and to ours if you're not already). We have some great collaborations planned that you won't want to miss!
#lifeingermany #germanculture #germany #culture #cultureshock
00:00 Intro
00:59 Work/Life
02:52 Outdoors
05:15 Parenting
10:32 Conclusion
About us: In July, 2021, after a long time of hoping, dreaming, and planning, we sold or gave away almost everything we owned and left the United States to begin our journey with four children as an expat family. We moved to Leipzig, Germany, a beautiful city in the state of Saxony. This is our story.
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Thanks so much for watching! Let me know your thoughts below... Do you agree with these things? Disagree? What else would you add to the list? Drop a comment!
We ,Germans are not the peak… but for life work balance, labor rights and parenting , healthy food… we are a bit ahead .
@@cazfloor3041 I agree. Germans get some things right, other things, maybe not quite as much. 😁 I really do believe every culture has something we can learn from and that's why it's important to leave our own bubbles and experience new things. 👍
@@OnwardMJ Exactly, cultures learn from each other since ancient times. We would have no paper in Europe, when the knowledge had not been transferred to Europe.
At least not that quick, and maybe we would still write on animal skins. 😂
There are 2 essential items for parents in germany when taking your kids to the playground. A book and dark sunglasses.
Kids always look out for their parents, especially when they fall. But if it isn't that bad and the parents around looking the kid will just shrug it of and keep playing. So you take a book and dark sunglasses with you and can keep an eye on your kid without him noticing that you are watching all the time.
Great idea! I think when a child sees that you're concerned with their fall, they are more likely to be concerned and upset. When you act like it's ok, they will, like you said, shrug it off. 😃
Most restaurants and cafes are open on Sundays. For many that's the busiest day of the week. To the point where you may need a reservation - at least in small towns. It's why they are often closed on another day during the week.
Cultural things like cinemas, museums and tourist attractions are also open. Things are just geared towards eating out and leisure activities. Not shopping.
Just remember, it's not just about learning your limitations. It's also about learning how to overcome your limitations!
Absolutely! And kids (or anyone really) can't overcome limitations if someone is always helping them! 👍
I always told my kids, if the wanted to climb up a ladder or a wall on the playground, and they asked if I could help: "If you can't do it on your own, you might be to young to do it." And then they tried to do it on and on, until they succeed or got a little taller.
And If my kids say: "I got to my friend." That is nice and they go their.
I remeber the time, when I was young and able to ride a bike and was able to go to friends that were not only two streets away but up to two kilometers, because riding a bike was so much freedom.
Thx. Great Video.
Sad Helicopter Parenting is a Trend here too, more and more. imao
It's hard. As a parent I want to make sure my child is safe and getting what they need in life, but sometimes getting what they need means letting them figure things out on their own and work through their own struggles. I think we have to try and find a balance, but Germans definitely seem to be ahead of Americans on this.
I totally agree with the 'Peace on Sunday' laws, especially living in the US, where the new philosophy seems to be: 'I can make lots of noise, therefore I am'. But some of the Sunday peace traditions
I consider a bit over the top, especially when they are anchored in religion, not in 'disturbance of the peace'. Like, decades ago, when I drove cab, I was not able to drive it through a car wash after the night shift, because it was Sunday morning, and when I recently visited a friend, and wanted to hang the laundry on the line, as folks there do, the land lady came out waving the hands over her head, telling me that I could not do that, because it's Sunday.
"I can make lots of noise, therefore I am" - Descartes' famous quote!
had to laugh when i read that
Loved the "Wegbier" XD
I love that I can have a Wegbier! 🍺🍻😁
Thanx for that interesting video! Being German, I am always curious to get an outside view of our culture/country. It's nice to see it through another one's eyes ... what is so common, suddenly seems amazing, freaking or just ... interesting ;-) I totally agree that sharing cultures is important - all of us are humans, and we have a whole planet in common :-)
Thank you for the shout out 😍! I learned so much about my culture and country from watching your videos! I love that you take us places I haven't been and that you speak your mind. This not only helps me to question my thoughts and beliefs, but also to appreciate my country more and more. Keep it up! I really hope your channel keeps growing fast! You deserve every single subscriber! 😊
Thanks so much! And I hope some of my viewers check out your channel too! You have great content on the flip side of the coin. 😃😃
@being outside: Did you yet came across the German "bushcraft bubble", e.g. Fritz Meineke? THOSE are guys who love to be outside :D
Wow, that took me back a few years. I grew up in Germany. Looks like things haven't changed much. I have lived in Canada for quiet a few years, but I still miss that work-live balance. I always said to my friends if you get a personal phone call at work there, that means someone in the immidiate family has died. Otherwise everything else can wait intil you get home.
Love your posts.
German work-life balance in a nutshell: A boss is not allowed to force his workers to answer the phone and messages after their work time!
Which should be normal everywhere, but in the US it just seems to be expected that employees will respond even after hours. I'm sure it depends on the career, and in some cases I can understand it, but for the most part, being off from work should be personal time.
Also depends on the kind of job. There are positions where you have stand-by time, mostly for emergency staff, technicians, but also IT experts etc.
@@joachimschwabe3301 But this is Bereitschaft (readiness) and must be paid. It is paid with lesser per hour.
@@kingofshit303 Sure, but still it is not "offline". Also, I know two people who have these kind of shifts included in their fixed salaries.
@@joachimschwabe3301 I was an about to say the same like King of S. It's paid time! When it's not paid, your boss is not allowed to force you. This is based on a court decision, so it's a law now.
I went to primary school in Germany. The first week of first grade my mother brought me to school by bike, which was about a km away. But after that I went with my sister which went to the same school as I did, she was 10 at the time. The next year in second grade I had to go to school by my own every day because my sister had left another to school. And it was completely normal. And when I went to high school at 12 years old, I had to take public transport for 45 minutes every day, which also is completely normal in Germany. I personally think it is a problem that American parents are so overprotective because it makes the child afraid to go out on its own.
That lines up with what we see here. It makes sense, but there is that American fear that I still have to shake. Anni from the channel America's Got Germans and I talk about it a bit in our collaboration videos that will be out on Sunday. I'm a lot better with giving my kids independence and letting them work things out on their own, just not fully German yet!
Try a German Portuguese family, irony plus logic. Apparently when he as a very young toddler my older brother use to "fall" a lot, for attention and grandmas helping him up.
Brother "Mom I falled!"
Mom "Poor thing, come here and mom will help you..."
Brother gets up and goes to mom.😁
Mom "Did you start the fight or did you end it?"
Us "Ended it"
Mom "Ok".🧐
There is a really good video by Sara Zaske on German parenting (ruclips.net/video/L7-k6nK1VUw/видео.html) and comparing it to American parenting.
It is important for kids to test themselves, to experience what they are able to do on their own and where they touch their limitations. There is no greater achievement than "I've done it all on my own" and there is no better teacher than "I failed, how can I do better" (without being watched by people that matter to you or being showered with well-intended but not wanted advice). Children have the right and the duty to fail in their endeavors. Without failing and realizing their limitations they are prone to taking (too) high risks, not recognizing danger, and thinking they're invincible when they are not.
We try to install realistic thinking, self-reliance, self-esteem, and resilience in our kids. We hope it makes them less vulnerable to peer pressure, group dynamics, or predators. We hope it makes them find their path in life easier.
Give children roots to ground them safely and give them wings to fly and explore freely.
Thanks, I'll have to check that out. And I totally agree with you on the benefits of parenting in this way. It's so much better for the kids to learn their own boundaries and to be able to fall and get hurt, and learn from that (both physically and in other ways too). Thanks for watching and for the insight! 😃
I just want write the same
thx
Another thing with kids is, some parents are afraid that their kids get dirty. This is not good at all, because to get in touch with bacteria let them develop a good health, because the immune system will be better. A study shows, that kids, that were raised on a farm are more resistant to bacteria than others.
@@kingofshit303 I've always been ok with that (although German kindergartens take it to an extreme 😁). Food falls on the floor, dust it off, it's still good. I've seen so many parents in the US constantly disinfecting their kids and everything they touch - can't build any immunity that way.
I definitely love theres a better work life balance. My only complaint is I think nightwork should be available for stocking and cleaning shops so the pallets are not in the way and workers cleaning floors with big bulky machines.
Greets Im an American living in Leipzig for 9 yrs and Germany 11 years. Im part of the goth and metal scene which is very big here.
Yeah the stocking the shelves in the middle of the shopping day can be annoying - especially in the smaller shops!
It has to be a quite nice day in the middle of winter for people to sit outside in front of a cafe. :)
Nope! I see it all the time
The crowd is bigger when it's nicer, but even in the they are out there! Maybe not in the rain as much (well, unless there are umbrellas at the tables 🤔)... It was crazy to see at first, but now I just expect it.
yesterday a child ran to quick to the automatic slidindor and ran into the glass window XD
it cryied and although the parents found words to help the child to not feel to embaressed they stayed calm and all no helicoptering
And not calling for the Manager and threatening to sue
Ouch! But that's a great example - in the States, parents would be right there dusting them off and cuddling them. Here, a little encouragement and let them get up and figure it out. Makes so much more sense.
@@jonson856 Ha! So true.
3:47 maybe this fits well especially for this part, in at least southern Germany we also say related to the beergarden culture "there is no bad weather only bad laminated menue cards" 😉 just if a friend excuse himself due to bad weather for 😉😉
I love that - bad laminated menus! That's really funny. 😂
Really like your videos
Thanks so much!
Very nice video as always. Good to hear that you have adjusted to our Sundays, I love them. I think as an american, you need to live here to understand the benefit of it.
When I was younger, I thought it would be better to have 24/7 shopping opportunities, but now I love them.
With four kids and a busy life, sometimes that 24/7 is really nice...You never know when something crazy comes up and you have to grab something really quick. But that's an exception, and I do appreciate the Ruhetag now.
@@OnwardMJ Good thing in big cities like Leipzig is, the larger stations sometimes have stores that open at least 10 AM or 12 PM to 6 PM on Sundays.
@@joachimschwabe3301 I appreciate that, and I've had to take advantage of it a few times! 😂
If I may add: Not all jobs in Germany are like: OK, work time is over, no checking of emails and calls in the evening, vacation, weekends. In fact depending on your job this might very well be a reality that is "normal". It was for me. BUT: the big difference is that you are not expected to react instantly, you are given the trust to decide if this can wait until tomorrow or can be delegated (if you are on vacation), you always have at least one colleague (usually more) that have access to your emails and phone, so you can re-direct, they can check your mails and will contact you in case something is really urgent. so it's not like this doesn't exist in Germany at all. It does exist, but it is handled differently. So not everybody is "clocked out" and "disconnected". Small correction: The law only says that you have to have at least 20 vacation days, for a five day week and 24 for a 6 day week, but in reality most people will get more, I have worked in jobs with 24, 28 and in the last job 30 days. So the 28 days you mentioned "might" be an average but not by law. So everything above the legal requirement is really good-will from your employer.
That makes sense. Still seems to allow for more room to choose to wait until you're actually at work, as opposed to the expectation of an immediate need to respond (if you don't want to get yelled at by your boss).
In regards to the vacation days, it's probably a matter of how we look at them. In the US if you have two weeks vacation, it's technically only 10 days - the other 4 are the weekends that you would have off anyway! So sure, you have 14 days off, but only 10 are actually vacation days. And 20 is still better than the 5 or 10 most Americans get! 😂
@@OnwardMJ Yes, I have lived and worked in the US, I only had 5 vacation days, which was extremely difficult if I wanted to go home to Germany for christmas or other. In fact most of the time I had to stay in the US, but my very nice colleagues invited me to their families on christmas so I was never really alone. I got to experience a Greek christmas, jewish Hannuka, thanksgiving, Indian celebrations and more, as we were a really international bunch.
In regards to emails and mobile phones, I lived in the US BEFORE this was even a possibility (i8st saying it was the 80's and early 90's) so this wasn't always the case either. I worked in Investment Banking in the US and even though we often had to work long hours or weekends, it was different. once you left the building you were definitely "off", which wasn't the case for me in Germany before, there were many times when I was already at home and had to come back to the office, but then I worked in logistics/import/export and my working hours depended on the trailers, when they would come in, when goods had to be cleared through customs etc.
Before I came to work in Investment Banking in the US I briefly had another job in food imports and that was in fact a job where you had set hours and that was it. In Germany I never had such a job where I knew exactly when I would get to go home. So the kind of job you have really has a lot of influence on your working hours, in the US and in Germany and also if you need to be available after you left or are on sick leave or on vacation. There is no in Germany it is always like this and in the US it is only like that. Most of the time the kind of job dictates what it will be like. And I also strongly believe it is the times you live in! Believe me, it was very different in the 70's / 80's and early 90's. Since then things have started to change in the US AND in Germany. But I am sure it is still more "human" in Germany, as we try not to invade privacy and still like to have a clear division between work and private life - not always successful, but I am sure better than in the US. Funny thing though: there have been studies that working longer hours and being available at all times does not mean you are more productive. In fact quite the contrary. I read many articles also from the US where slowly this seems to be sinking in, so maybe there will be changes in teh future :-) Who knows!
in any case I am happy you are enjoying it here in Germany😊
I think it is very safty, your child doesnt help of the playground go climed Up, and put it higher than are can make alone. Now are Limited for your on personalaty, the age, the temperament, the expierence, the hight and weight. The children learnd with your own personalty and this very importent.
Die Amis könnten vor allem endlich mal lernen, keine Fragen zu stellen, wenn sie die Antwort weder abwarten, noch überhaupt hören wollen, wie z.B. bei den Fragen "What's up Guys?" oder "How are You?"
That is true. Im an American but I answer honestly when asked those questions. People get taken aback when I do so. I also do not like small talk.
Das ist ja auch eher ein Mythos, Wenn hier jemand fragt: Na wie gehts oder alles klar hört man auch nur:"Gut!". Selbst Leute, die sich kennen, schütten nicht ihre Sorgen aus Wenn man fragt Alles klar ? Es ist nicht so verschieden ...
That is also rather a myth, If someone asks here: Well, how are you or all right you hear only: "Good! Even people who know each other do not pour out their worries When you ask All right?It is not so different ...
@@kingofshit303 Und warum warnen dann viele Englisch sprechende Ausländer davor - so eine Frage einem Deutschen zu stellen? - Ganz einfach, weil sie die Erfahrung gemacht haben, denn zugetextet zu werden!
Ein guter Deutscher sagt was er meint und meint was er sagt, dieses aufgesetzte, über- und falsch-freundliche Getue und die verlogene Fake-Freundschaftlichkeit der Amis ist den Deutschen ein Greuel!
Welcome to Germany.
Thanks! It's great to be here.
We say, it takes two persons to make a child and a village to raise them. And the village keep looking even the parent are not present.
Yeah, in the US I feel like we've lost that village mindset. What about in some of the bigger cities here in Germany? Do you think there is still that same community looking out for each other and the kids, or is it more in smaller towns?
I didn't want to be polite here, I just wanted to be clear and direct, because after such brutal tonal abuse I really don't feel like conjunctive politeness!
I am German and I hate to be outside...
Yeah I never really understood why Americans never go outside even though they have much much more beautiful Countryside. The Countryside in the US alone is probably 10x bigger than all of Germany 😂
helicopter parenting teaches dependence
Definitely. I don't think I was a helicopter parent in the US, but I've learned how to be more hands off living here. And it's been great for us and great for the kids. 👍
Above all, the Americans could finally learn not to ask Questions if they neither wait for the Answer nor even want to hear it, e.g. with the Questions "What's up Guys?" or "How are you?"
I ask "How are you?" and even here, "wie geht's?", but I'm one of those people that actually wants to know how you are doing. In the collaboration video coming up next week I talk about this a little bit, and how "small talk" can lead to deeper conversations and relationships, but yes, not all Americans ask that expecting an answer. Except "What's up?" No one expects an answer to that. 😂 Not sure if it's all of Germany, but I've heard the German equivalent is "Na?"
@@OnwardMJ i am North German, we say moin!
Interesting, especially number one, that is one I see Americans complain about a lot.
It can be tough in the US. Sometimes people work long hours because they are passionate about what they are doing, but often it's just because it's what is expected of them. It's also become so normalized to work ridiculous hours that people don't question it anymore. Hopefully we'll see some changes at some point, but it's difficult.
There is a school in my street and morning and evening there are young children walking or on their bike. But everybody knows that so all drivers are careful, you can see that. And that is the first necessity of safety: the drivers being careful. With children you never know what they will do. But with this stupid American trucks they can not even see them when they are upfront.
“Successful people make money. It’s not that people who make money become successful, but that successful people attract money. They bring success to what they do.” - Wayne Dyer...,,
It depens how you define success. Raising kids can be a success, too.
The American parenting raises Donalds and Karens.
Sure, Americans can learn from Germans. Are Germans assimilating immigrants well though?
The most people have 30 days off in Germany... not 28...
cant look - his arms are just aaaaall over the screan aall the time-
Taking off ?- very distracting-