So as not to offend, many people on RUclips only want to concentrate on the positives aspects of living abroad. This gives a false impression of what it's like to move to a new country. I like it when people talk about the negatives (difficulties) of living in a foreign country as well as the positives. I'm English, living in Germany, and I don't want to move back to the UK, but I also know how difficult things can be here sometimes.
@@PeppaSauceQn well it is close to be a mental asylum looking at the past 6 years. Germany isn’t perfect racism you have in every country however in Europe yiu have more true freedom and protection than in the USA And more important mich better opportunities. America is a hype nothing else.
I am German and lived in the UK for over 3 years. I still love this beautiful country and many awkward things you have to get used to. After 20 years I showed my family where I lived and we enjoyed fish & chips sitting on a stone wall at the seaside. Yes, I think you have become a real international citizen when knowing the upside and downside of the places where you'd been 😊
Swabians are maybe the most conservative peoples. And Vaihingen is also really conservative. (And because of this also a huge alternative scene as a contrast.)
I am British never been to Germany. I always think Germany as being the most successful European country peoples rights mean a lot to Germans. They work hard.have the impression there is a crazy club and pub scene if that’s what you’re into. you have a lot of clothes brother. leaving the EU has made the UK a poorer and sadder place. Big mistake on our part.🇬🇧🇪🇺🇺🇸❤️
@@TreyDaze Thank trey I have seen lots of RUclips videos about Americans living in Germany. They always seem to say that they love the healthcare. They feel safe and the work life balance. Also the freedom regarding alcohol and speed limit or lack of. I’ve never been to America Would love to visit one day but definitely not to live .The American healthcare, gun laws, religion, politics, wealth, gap woke homophobic trans bigotry racism, BS that has been exported to the UK by the same corrupt greedy power, hungry, hate, spreading shit bags is not for me. PS have a good evening don’t take life too serious we’re not here for long.😂 🇬🇧🇪🇺🇺🇸
Germans in general are suspicious of people they don't know. I lived in Stuttgart back in the mid to late 80s and have lived in a couple of different places in Germany. In Stuttgart people will make sure you are doing everything "right". Horrible mentality!
Elderly people in Stuttgart are infamous for being a more effective surveillance institution than security cameras are. I find this quite disgusting. I'm impressed that you still love Stuttgart, even after all the not so great experiences you had there. Don't know where this comes from, why people in Baden-Württemberg are so rude. But it's nice to hear that you also had a bunch of great experiences.
Sweetheart, first, I am SO HAPPY to see you back and looking well. Secondly, the “judgment” is absolutely not confined to Stuttgart. I assess behavior for a living. I am a trained researcher. I notice patterns. As I’ve told you previously, I lived and worked in Germany for a decade. The judgment and condescension was a norm around K-town and the surrounding villages, as well. Although, I will say it was a lot less noticeable in the Eifel, around Spang, Bit, and Trier.
I can totally confirm your experiences. I was born in Tübingen in the 70s and lived in a city near Stuttgart for 35 years. In Baden Württemberg there is a very strong neighborhood watch. So if you don't mow your lawn often enough or if you don't seperate and recycle your trash the proper way you will have problems with your neighbors. In smaller villages everybody who moves there will be treated like an alien for many many years. I love Baden Württemberg for it's beautliful nature and landscapes and of course there are lots of very nice people but some folks are taking it too far. When recycling was introduced during the 80s some people acted as a trash police and reported others who didn't recycle their stuff the right way. 12 years ago I moved to Mainz and it's so different here. Even it's only 200 km away from Stuttgart. People here are very laid back here. Nobody cares too much of other people's buisness. Here it's live and let live and be nice to others. I like your videos. It's interesting to hear about your experiences in Germany.
What did you respond, when you got asked if you are also living here ? I guess this lady just wanted to "get in touch with/get to know" you as a new neighbour and maybe talk a little while (German type small talk :) ...). She wanted to make sure, if you are one of the new neighbours or just a visitor of the new neighbours - because she is not interessted in getting to know "visitors of strangers". And, btw Germans are also commenting on Germans, if there are issues with the trash or anything similar "to discuss" ... German windows are opening very wide, it is easy to spot others doing stuff :) - but it also helps to get to know each other and maybe form friendships.
When I lived in Stuttgart I had some similar expiriences, so the good news might be, it's not you being american or of darker skin tone.^^ I once sent an older lady into an eternal arguing spiral when I tried to throw away a pizza carton. Apearently it had to go siultaniously into the paper bin and not into the paper bin. It had to go as it was paper and not as it contained food particles. At one time I just left and let her figure it out alone. Another time some one told me, I couldn't talk here as I would block a parking lot. The funny thing was the entrance to the lot was 5 metres over and there were poles in the concrete barring any car from entering at that position. He even claimed that I did it deliberately and discussed it with my girlfriend as his wife had heard me. Funny thing is, I didn't have a girlfriend at the time. So I think it happens to everyone moving to Stuttgart, even if you moved only 100 km like me.^^
Honestly, having lived there for a decade, I found that many middle-aged and older people still held the N*zi views that they are the superior race. It didn’t matter what color you were, it only mattered whether or not you were German! I have many examples, but my fingers would scream at me if I tried to text them via my phone. Lol But that is my unfiltered opinion. And NO, not every person in those age groups exhibited those sentiments, but the overwhelming majority did. Funny enough, in 2021, I found out I have German ancestry. Still makes me laugh out loud!
I agree concerning the more or less uptight and stuffy / square Schrebergarten- mentality of a lot of ( mainly older ) germans. Anyhow, the Swabians really do take the cake. Dare to forgo your Kehrwoche- turn ( the typical swabian cleaning rota for residential communal areas in and around their homes ) , and you will run a serious risk of getting tarred, feathered and chased out of town 😮💨
Dude, a funny thing about neighbors (in germany, i guess): the ones helping you in time of need are MAYBE the same calling the police on your party at 22:01 at night (or at least think about it) and vice versa. I think, neighbors want to be friedliy but WILL let you know, if you step on their toes. "The toes", however, are quiet individual.
We love that you love Germany and life and you as well!! 💙💙💙 When I listen to your stories, I wish I still lived there...especially considering the politics in the US. I lived there - Frankfurt- as a kid, 7yo to 10 (in the late 70's 😂) I loved the four seasons, running around with my big brother (unsupervised 😂). I now live in western Costa Rica as of 24.04.2022 Love your stuff. I always look forward to more of your shared experiences! tschüss später
To me, as a Cologne native, the exaggerated meddling and lecturing as you describe it here still seems very strange. I now also live in the area and still have regularly culture shocks when I observe such grim interactions. In Cologne, besides the Kölsche Grundgesetz, there is the motto: "levve un levve losse." = live and let live. You can feel that clearly. The mood is basically open, sociable and relaxed. There is probably no such thing as a typical German mentality. There are huge regional differences, sometimes over very short distances.
14:45 About that lady: Maybe that was german directness for u, and she wanted to start a smalltalk, wanted to know where u from and befriend u? Not everyone in germany is typical and wont start talking to a stranger spontaneously, there are very social people too.
Thank you, my brother, for your painful but beautiful insights and self revelations. May the Good Lord enfold you in His infinite Love and guide you always on His/your mission. Place yourself under the prayer and protection of our good mother, Teresa of Avila. Oh yes, she will never abandon you/us.
At least in German-speaking countries, the Swabians are considered to be particularly frugal and hard-working. Diligence and work used to be a way of overcoming poverty. But anything overdone amuses other people. As far as I know, the Swabians also know how to laugh at themselves. Nowhere is it written that you have to completely integrate and subordinate yourself. Just be yourself and talk to people. I think the Swabians also like to gossip and they say "talking brings people together". Many people are child-friendly, but since I had a small child myself, it was always the people from the Balkans or Turkey who were there first when it came to getting me on the bus or the tram with the stroller or about others steps to help. They like to look into the stroller and ask about the age and make you feel proud of your child. And they make no difference, if you are Austrian, Chinese or Kiwi.
The positives you mentioned is what I enjoy about my apartment building so much. We all own our apartments so we have to talk to each other to make decisions concerning the building, but this has created a really nice community. I never have to worry about anyone feeding my cats, there will always be a neighbor who is willing to do that. The kids sometimes ring our doorbell to play with the cats (we told them they could come by anytime). And recently I needed a scooter for a week because I had difficulties walking, so I asked around who the scooter in our bike storage belongs to and both people I asked answered "it is not mine, but I have one as well, I can bring it to you if you want". And I have also contributed my part like cooking for our neighbor when she had a baby and things like that. And the best part is, I get all of that, without the judgement. No angry letters in my letterbox, no wagging the finger, but I know that nothing goes unnoticed in this house :)
Being someone who lives in Baden Württemberg I think you’re right about the region. Having said that you will probably find a lot of people who agree with me that this trash person is an idiot. I mean you tore your boxes into pieces. What more can you do? I’d love to have you as a neighbor cause I actually am annoyed sometimes that people don’t do that and my trash doesn’t fit into the bin anymore..
Ok, I just started watching ... let me guess ... Kehrwoche? 🤣 Ah no "Schaffa, schaffa, Häusle baua!" - very nice! I am writing this as someone who has lived most of my life in BW, studied in Stuttgart, but I do have experience living a few years in other places. And I am somewhat surprised about this. I'm not mad by far, these are your experiences. However, it has for a long time been my opinion that this sort of thing happens exactly less in Baden Württemberg and perhaps more in other states. In the face of your experience, I stand corrected, in a way. I guess I have to concede that people here are ... probably as prone to that as anywhere else in Germany. The thing about working a lot is certainly true. However, this whole thing makes me wonder: I am as German as they come, language (I speak standard German as well as swabian), optics (white guy, not too slim, no tattoos ...) and probably culturally acquired movement and posture are simply German. You do stick out, optically. That may be quite an important part of this. Sad, really. However, I maintain that this could have happened to you in any German city, as far as I can estimate. Ok, 2nd part: That appreciation of children is something that has become SO much better than it was when I was little! At that time there were so many people who told kids to shut up when they were loud and many looked at children as a nuisance. These days this is really very much better.
A friend and I got scolded for accidentally stepping in an unmarked bike lane when we were crossing a deserted street late at night in Berlin. The "funny" thing was that we were specifically trying to NOT walk in the bike lane.
@@TreyDaze As a visitor, it definitely left a bad taste in my mouth. It was an odd intersection. We waited for the light to change. We were being as careful as we could be given no bicycle markings on the street or along the sidewalk. I am from Florida as well!
I dont know why people complain about this. its not that serious. unless you really are inhibiting people on a marked bike lane, you can walk wherever you want, and people complaining are just using it as an excuse to feel important. its not a law or something, and many older people use formal rules to just bully or to feel important or to force conversation because they are lonely. The normal response would be to insult them or to put them in their place. Its not like people generally are expected by everyone to act this way. same with cross walks.
Depends where you live. Our neighbors left and right are so different. The left ones are partying every day and park their huge cars directly in front of our garden, taking away the sun. The others cut quietly their gardens, sometimes with some Polish helpers using monster machines... But all of them kind in their way. Lucky that we don't live couple houses away close to the yelling Gertrud I experienced when discarding used glass into the container on a Sunday! 🧐
Hello. First of all, thanks for the video, it turned out very well. Then briefly the info that I write the text with Google Translate, because it's faster and there are fewer spelling mistakes than if I write it myself in English. Also, I don't want to attack you with this text, just share my personal opinion and experience as a German from Frankfurt a.M. with you. First you say that you have to watch the video because you have a lot to do with the neighbors. Basically, I agree with you, but it always depends on the neighbors and yourself. I'm on very good terms with a few neighbors, but I probably wouldn't even recognize others if I saw them. Then I think you spoke about Stuttgart itself.Stuttgart is a very stressful and "serious" city, I agree with you. I believe you about the thing with the park bench and the traffic light, but that has never happened to me personally. I'm not a fan myself when people walk across the street when it's red (few people like it), but many Germans don't correct you immediately, they just think their own part. Maybe there will be a comment when children are around. I haven't actually noticed a finger wave in any city, but I'm not in Stuttgart that often during the year. In general, Baden-Württemberg is relatively strict when it comes to rules, I agree with you in any case. In Frankfurt, for example, this is also important to people, but they have far too little time to take care of it. That's right about judging. I myself also like to immediately judge people based on their clothes, hairstyle etc. (not based on their skin color or similar, everything a person is born with is nothing to judge about). Then the case with your actual neighbors. I can only imagine that someone would put a note in your mailbox because of incorrect waste separation if there were large communal bins. Since you say you live in an apartment, I can well imagine that with yours. If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much about it, that's just Germany. But I also have people on my street who also like to write notes, I keep my distance from them because they usually also have a very selfish understanding of "mine, yours". It has happened to me that someone asks you if you live there and I really look German. Of course I don't know exactly your situation now, but I would see it more as a general interest and not as racism. I write the rest of the text as a comment under my text.
I enjoyed the transparency about Stuttgart and Bavaria at large, I will definitely look into Hamburg and Berlin--I've also heard great things about Koln and Dusseldorf. I loved the Freudian psychoanalysis, I learned a new vocabulary word: Anal Retentiveness. Thank you for these informative and honest videos, will catch up on the ones I've missed.
I am not from Stuttgart but close to essen - and all you say about hard work and how we walk is the same as what you describe. my American wife points that out a lot. The angry point what you mean is a typical German character of being critical and direct.
oh no, Stuttgart isn't the most German town, because the Swabians are very different to the rest of the Germans. This has historical reasons. Big historical reasons.
Stuttgart: schaffe schaffe Häusle baue (work work build a house). Berlin is the opposite. The swabians are like that you said. We northerners are told to be lazy!
The more south you live, the moralizing your fellow men get. Good luck I live in the north. Keep an eye on the raised index finger. Always a good indication to identify germans also abroad
Sorry for your bad experiences with neighborhood here. I live in Baden-Württemberg for around 30 years now (coming from Rheinland-Pfalz originally), and moved from Heidelberg area down to Stuttgart area, and boy what a difference it was even within Baden-Württemberg, even though only moving from Baden to Württemberg! 😂 The mentality is very different here - not the most typical German city as you assumed, it’s typical Swabian. But please don’t take it personal. Welcome back home to Germany! ❤️
I am sorry for you experience with the neighbors. This hast to be the most frustrating part about germany. People just feel entitled to judge you or call you out for things that dont matter 1 bit to them. You probably got watched by the infamous Fensteromas/Fensteropas. They literally put a blanket and coffe next to them at the window and just watch the nieighborhood all day. crazy
Hello Tray, one of my teachers at school used to say that the Swabians are the Prussians of south Germany😅 please mind that this is actually a bit annoying for a couple of reasons which would take a bit too long to explain.😂 Anyway thank you for the video, one of the most friendly and diplomatic rants I can remember😂
do you record videos on your workplace? In a garderobe? Robotic, however, fits it. People there in the southwest, live to work. And have no other destination in life. I remember sitting in a restaurant: people come in, eat, and get up to leave the room. Not spending five minutes there for useless rest. It is probably the most german region of germany, concerning the virtues of workyness :)
I wouldn't say that's a German trait. It can be, but it's more dependent on class and region. Even as a German I wouldn't want to move to Swabia. For the reasons you mentioned. 😆
@@danielhofig8429naja, 's kommt scho e bissle druf aa an wen d' naadappsch... Andererseits kennt man bei uns auch den Spruch "leben und leben lassen". Aber vielleicht ist jetzt auch wieder eher meine oberschwäbische Sicht.
@@michaelburggraf2822 I wohn em Speckgürtl von Schduegert ... bei ons isch es wäsentlich tolleranter (for non-Swabians: I live in the larger Stuttgart area, here it is much more tolerant)
Stuttgart and even our neighborhood out of town is very judgy!! Our neighbors specifically... we lived in Wiesbaden for 3 years and it was so much better!!
When we first moved in we had a neighbor come complain about how we parked in our spot 3 days in a row even though our car was right in front of our garage. I felt so uncomfortable immediately
Hey Trey, I know I know , I'm from Waiblingen/Stuttgart. Stuttgart is a powerhouse. We have Mercedes, Bosch, Stihl, Mahle, ect... . That's why there are so many Karen's.
Hearing about them stopping and asking what he's DOING was surprising to me. I've always been under the impression that typical germans are fiercely private and value their alone time, their privacy, etc...yet, they're asking a complete stranger what he's doing in a manner like it's their own business. Quite odd! I'm from Michigan and there's tons and tons of German descendants here, including Frankenmuth which is an entire town founded by bavarians and is still designed, celebrated, live in, etc like it's still Germany. A lot of the old style cultural things and mentalities abound, especially the privacy and alone time, working ethics, etc
They care about their own privacy, not of the privacy of others.. OK, i'm exaggerating. But, to be honest, my mom mostly knew about my new boyfriend before I did, because this one bored woman would ask, who the guy was, who brought me home. At night. LATE at night. Almost morning...
They gave your son a Ball because the national soccer Team is a catastrophe at the moment and they have high hopes He will become good one day ;)) Sorry to hear that Story with your neighbours, but maybe just a misunderstanding and in the future that relationship will get better. And of course difficult neighbours do exist, not much you can do then.
What is typical german about Stuttgart? Big cities have little to do with the country's own culture, they are now too international for that. If you want to get to know the culture of a country, then a big city is the last place on earth where you will succeed. Berlin, for example, has a population of just over 3 million - how many of them have lived there for 2 or more generations? If you're lucky, you'll find a million real Berliners there. There is such a mix of different cultures that nothing is typical anymore. My advice to you would be - move to a very small village and make another video on this topic in 2 to 3 years.
Berlin always had a strong immigrant population since it started to rapidly grow in the 17th century. It started when Duke Frederick William issued the Edict of Potsdam in 1685, offering asylum to the French Huguenots. Just a few years later, 30% of Berlin's population was French. That's how Berlin got the Friedrichstadt right next to the old town (now largely gone), which is now part of central Berlin. That's why Berlin has a Gendarmenmarkt, the Charité hospital and "Buletten". If you think that migrants aren't "real Berliners" then you don't understand the place. A strong presence of people with a migrant background is what makes Berlin... well, Berlin.
Im German. I lived in a medium sized city for most of my life. Then I moved to a small suburb of that city, just like 3 km from the city. I was treated like a total alien there. 😂🤷♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
The title for this video is probably a bit unfortunate. What characterizes a German neighbor? I am German and have lived in this country for over 60 years ... I couldn't answer that question.
Hi Arno; mit dem Wein muss ich dir sogar Recht geben. Es geht doch nichts über einen guten Tropfen vom Kaiserstuhl oder einen leckeren Pfälzer Riesling.
Haha, did you know that the Berliners _hate_ the Swabians, a large number of whom have moved to Berlin in recent years. After watching your video from a safe distance (I'm in Augsburg), I kind of sympathize with the Berliners, hehe.
@@herrjeh4082 From what I understand as a Bavarian, the Swabians in Berlin have earned a reputation for being ossified conservatives and fussy, which clashes with Berlin's laid-back way of life. Instead of adapting and taking the stick out of their asses, they apparently want to re-educate the Berliners, which they don't like. They are also mostly well off and contribute to the gentrification of Berlin. But I could be wrong, maybe some Berliners in the comments can tell us more?
It is not a strange thing to talk about neighbors in germany! I have been here for 16 years and just moved apartments because the neighbors were so horrible. Germans like to mind other peoples business and will complain about even the smallest things. There is no live and let live ethic here...Just tell others what to do all the time! There are good things in Germany but this is not one of them.
A lot of Swabians have moved to Berlin in recent years and want to make Berlin the village they came from. Don't get too annoyed with your neighbors. Here in Berlin, the Swabians are not very popular either because of their character.
There's no such thing as "the Swabians". Admittedly we might have a few things in common beyond our Swabian dialect, a bit too serious, too cautious, too reserved, too rough and direct... . But there are significant differences too. Stuttgart is located in Lower Swabia which is predominantly protestant. I'm living in Upper Swabia which is predominantly roman-catholic. Stuttgart is surrounded by towns like Heilbronn, Ludwigsburg, Böblingen, Esslingen, Göppingen, Geislingen which constitute a strongly industrialized agglomeration. But the Swabian Alb and Upper Swabia are quite rural. Hence there are quite remarkable cultural differences. South of the Swabian Alb people are a bit more relaxed and friendly. And they're not so stiff and serious as people in Stuttgart. And of course those are generalizing statements - so take them with a grain of salt. BTW, young people from Swabia were moving to Berlin for decades. I'm assuming that there has happened something else which has triggered resentment towards Swabians in Berlin and I'm wondering whether that is actually related to Swabians specifically.
That is so funny! We spent 7 years in Germany and really only made friends with a few Germans, it's a beautiful country,but Germans have their ways that are so different from anywhere
„München is very, very German“… uhm… no. I would rather say that Munich is very, very much what an American expects Germany to be. From a German perspective, I‘d almost say that Munich is the least German city in Germany.
@@M4tti87 Now I’m curious. What is "German"? From a German perspective, what makes a city "very, very German"? For starters, I have never thought of any German city to be more (or less) German than others, as Germany is so diverse. Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Heidelberg,… they are all very different from each other. Now what makes one of them "more German" than the other?! If I was FORCED to pick the LEAST German city though, my answer would be Munich. Simply because no city in Germany feels more "foreign" to me when I’m on a visit. In many aspects, Bavaria tends to do its own thing anyway, but even of all Bavarian cities, Munich seems to have the most "mia san mia" spirit - sometimes even to the point of being quite in your face. In Munich, they are them. And they are proud of it. Again (I can’t stress this out enough): What’s really „very German“ in my opinion is the fact that every region and every city is different. Munich being different from the rest of Germany makes it at the same time very German indeed - if that makes any sense. If German cities have anything in common, then it‘s the fact that they are very different from each other. So if anything, it‘s very German to be different. Every German city is different in its own way. I couldn‘t even say which city is the most Bavarian, or which is most typical for the North of Germany (…), as even within these regions, there‘s so much diversity. No matter where you are in Germany, after a 200 km drive, you will often already encounter a noticeably different mentality, different architecture, different food, different dialects,… If I had to choose the most German city from a US American point of view though, it would without any doubt be Munich, as Munich is most likely to meet the expectations of many visitors from the USA. So from a US American perspective, I can see how Munich is „very, very German“. But from the perspective of someone who knows Germany well, please do tell me what makes a certain city "very German". I am honestly (!) curious.
So as not to offend, many people on RUclips only want to concentrate on the positives aspects of living abroad. This gives a false impression of what it's like to move to a new country. I like it when people talk about the negatives (difficulties) of living in a foreign country as well as the positives. I'm English, living in Germany, and I don't want to move back to the UK, but I also know how difficult things can be here sometimes.
I am a German living in America - and at times I feel I am in a mental asylum.
People have the wrong impression of freedom in America.
@@PeppaSauceQn well it is close to be a mental asylum looking at the past 6 years.
Germany isn’t perfect racism you have in every country however in Europe yiu have more true freedom and protection than in the USA
And more important mich better opportunities.
America is a hype nothing else.
I am German and lived in the UK for over 3 years. I still love this beautiful country and many awkward things you have to get used to. After 20 years I showed my family where I lived and we enjoyed fish & chips sitting on a stone wall at the seaside. Yes, I think you have become a real international citizen when knowing the upside and downside of the places where you'd been 😊
Swabians are maybe the most conservative peoples. And Vaihingen is also really conservative. (And because of this also a huge alternative scene as a contrast.)
I am British never been to Germany. I always think Germany as being the most successful European country peoples rights mean a lot to Germans. They work hard.have the impression there is a crazy club and pub scene if that’s what you’re into. you have a lot of clothes brother. leaving the EU has made the UK a poorer and sadder place. Big mistake on our part.🇬🇧🇪🇺🇺🇸❤️
I’ve yet to meet a Brit proud of the Brexit decision. Hoping for better days for Great Britain.
@@TreyDaze Hurry up, the number of Brexiteers is dwindling. Soon there will be no one left who remembers having voted for it.
@@TreyDaze Thank trey I have seen lots of RUclips videos about Americans living in Germany. They always seem to say that they love the healthcare. They feel safe and the work life balance. Also the freedom regarding alcohol and speed limit or lack of. I’ve never been to America Would love to visit one day but definitely not to live .The American healthcare, gun laws, religion, politics, wealth, gap woke homophobic trans bigotry racism, BS that has been exported to the UK by the same corrupt greedy power, hungry, hate, spreading shit bags is not for me. PS have a good evening don’t take life too serious we’re not here for long.😂 🇬🇧🇪🇺🇺🇸
Germans in general are suspicious of people they don't know. I lived in Stuttgart back in the mid to late 80s and have lived in a couple of different places in Germany. In Stuttgart people will make sure you are doing everything "right". Horrible mentality!
Es gibt jede Menge Deutsche, die neidisch nach GB blicken und auch gerne aus diesem zutiefst korrupten EU System aussteigen würden
Elderly people in Stuttgart are infamous for being a more effective surveillance institution than security cameras are. I find this quite disgusting.
I'm impressed that you still love Stuttgart, even after all the not so great experiences you had there.
Don't know where this comes from, why people in Baden-Württemberg are so rude. But it's nice to hear that you also had a bunch of great experiences.
Sweetheart, first, I am SO HAPPY to see you back and looking well. Secondly, the “judgment” is absolutely not confined to Stuttgart. I assess behavior for a living. I am a trained researcher. I notice patterns. As I’ve told you previously, I lived and worked in Germany for a decade. The judgment and condescension was a norm around K-town and the surrounding villages, as well. Although,
I will say it was a lot less noticeable in the Eifel, around Spang, Bit, and Trier.
Yeah, Germans in general look on strangers with suspicion.
I can totally confirm your experiences. I was born in Tübingen in the 70s and lived in a city near Stuttgart for 35 years. In Baden Württemberg there is a very strong neighborhood watch. So if you don't mow your lawn often enough or if you don't seperate and recycle your trash the proper way you will have problems with your neighbors. In smaller villages everybody who moves there will be treated like an alien for many many years. I love Baden Württemberg for it's beautliful nature and landscapes and of course there are lots of very nice people but some folks are taking it too far. When recycling was introduced during the 80s some people acted as a trash police and reported others who didn't recycle their stuff the right way.
12 years ago I moved to Mainz and it's so different here. Even it's only 200 km away from Stuttgart. People here are very laid back here. Nobody cares too much of other people's buisness. Here it's live and let live and be nice to others.
I like your videos. It's interesting to hear about your experiences in Germany.
We lived in Wiesbaden and moved to stuttgart I miss Wiesbaden so much!!
What did you respond, when you got asked if you are also living here ?
I guess this lady just wanted to "get in touch with/get to know" you as a new neighbour and maybe talk a little while (German type small talk :) ...).
She wanted to make sure, if you are one of the new neighbours or just a visitor of the new neighbours - because she is not interessted in getting to know "visitors of strangers".
And, btw Germans are also commenting on Germans, if there are issues with the trash or anything similar "to discuss" ...
German windows are opening very wide, it is easy to spot others doing stuff :) - but it also helps to get to know each other and maybe form friendships.
I responded by putting my key in my front door and opening it lol.
@@TreyDaze 😄
@@TreyDaze😂
When I lived in Stuttgart I had some similar expiriences, so the good news might be, it's not you being american or of darker skin tone.^^
I once sent an older lady into an eternal arguing spiral when I tried to throw away a pizza carton. Apearently it had to go siultaniously into the paper bin and not into the paper bin. It had to go as it was paper and not as it contained food particles. At one time I just left and let her figure it out alone. Another time some one told me, I couldn't talk here as I would block a parking lot. The funny thing was the entrance to the lot was 5 metres over and there were poles in the concrete barring any car from entering at that position. He even claimed that I did it deliberately and discussed it with my girlfriend as his wife had heard me. Funny thing is, I didn't have a girlfriend at the time. So I think it happens to everyone moving to Stuttgart, even if you moved only 100 km like me.^^
Honestly, having lived there for a decade, I found that many middle-aged and older people still held the N*zi views that they are the superior race. It didn’t matter what color you were, it only mattered whether or not you were German! I have many examples, but my fingers would scream at me if I tried to text them via my phone. Lol But that is my unfiltered opinion. And NO, not every person in those age groups exhibited those sentiments, but the overwhelming majority did.
Funny enough, in 2021, I found out I have German ancestry. Still makes me laugh out loud!
Oh yeah. That is Germany in a nutshell. This place is like one big Schrebergartenverein.
@@PancakeSerenade I guess you're right: it is Germany, not just Stuttgart.
I agree concerning the more or less uptight and stuffy / square Schrebergarten- mentality of a lot of ( mainly older ) germans. Anyhow, the Swabians really do take the cake. Dare to forgo your Kehrwoche- turn ( the typical swabian cleaning rota for residential communal areas in and around their homes ) , and you will run a serious risk of getting tarred, feathered and chased out of town 😮💨
Dude, a funny thing about neighbors (in germany, i guess): the ones helping you in time of need are MAYBE the same calling the police on your party at 22:01 at night (or at least think about it) and vice versa. I think, neighbors want to be friedliy but WILL let you know, if you step on their toes. "The toes", however, are quiet individual.
Exactlya...friendly to your face but will call the police for parking too close to their car or other stupid stuff like this
We love that you love Germany and life and you as well!! 💙💙💙
When I listen to your stories, I wish I still lived there...especially considering the politics in the US. I lived there - Frankfurt- as a kid, 7yo to 10 (in the late 70's 😂) I loved the four seasons, running around with my big brother (unsupervised 😂).
I now live in western Costa Rica as of 24.04.2022
Love your stuff. I always look forward to more of your shared experiences!
tschüss später
Be careful with the blue heards.
Sadly the far right Party AFD is using blue heards as a dog whistle nowadays.
To me, as a Cologne native, the exaggerated meddling and lecturing as you describe it here still seems very strange. I now also live in the area and still have regularly culture shocks when I observe such grim interactions. In Cologne, besides the Kölsche Grundgesetz, there is the motto: "levve un levve losse." = live and let live. You can feel that clearly. The mood is basically open, sociable and relaxed. There is probably no such thing as a typical German mentality. There are huge regional differences, sometimes over very short distances.
14:45 About that lady: Maybe that was german directness for u, and she wanted to start a smalltalk, wanted to know where u from and befriend u? Not everyone in germany is typical and wont start talking to a stranger spontaneously, there are very social people too.
That's actually a possibility! And possibly an example of how awkward we are at smalltalk😅
@@michaelburggraf2822 Yeah. ^^
Thank you, my brother, for your painful but beautiful insights and self revelations. May the Good Lord enfold you in His infinite Love and guide you always on His/your mission. Place yourself under the prayer and protection of our good mother, Teresa of Avila. Oh yes, she will never abandon you/us.
At least in German-speaking countries, the Swabians are considered to be particularly frugal and hard-working. Diligence and work used to be a way of overcoming poverty. But anything overdone amuses other people. As far as I know, the Swabians also know how to laugh at themselves. Nowhere is it written that you have to completely integrate and subordinate yourself. Just be yourself and talk to people. I think the Swabians also like to gossip and they say "talking brings people together".
Many people are child-friendly, but since I had a small child myself, it was always the people from the Balkans or Turkey who were there first when it came to getting me on the bus or the tram with the stroller or about others steps to help. They like to look into the stroller and ask about the age and make you feel proud of your child. And they make no difference, if you are Austrian, Chinese or Kiwi.
The positives you mentioned is what I enjoy about my apartment building so much. We all own our apartments so we have to talk to each other to make decisions concerning the building, but this has created a really nice community. I never have to worry about anyone feeding my cats, there will always be a neighbor who is willing to do that. The kids sometimes ring our doorbell to play with the cats (we told them they could come by anytime). And recently I needed a scooter for a week because I had difficulties walking, so I asked around who the scooter in our bike storage belongs to and both people I asked answered "it is not mine, but I have one as well, I can bring it to you if you want". And I have also contributed my part like cooking for our neighbor when she had a baby and things like that.
And the best part is, I get all of that, without the judgement. No angry letters in my letterbox, no wagging the finger, but I know that nothing goes unnoticed in this house :)
Being someone who lives in Baden Württemberg I think you’re right about the region. Having said that you will probably find a lot of people who agree with me that this trash person is an idiot. I mean you tore your boxes into pieces. What more can you do? I’d love to have you as a neighbor cause I actually am annoyed sometimes that people don’t do that and my trash doesn’t fit into the bin anymore..
Ok, I just started watching ... let me guess ... Kehrwoche? 🤣
Ah no "Schaffa, schaffa, Häusle baua!" - very nice!
I am writing this as someone who has lived most of my life in BW, studied in Stuttgart, but I do have experience living a few years in other places. And I am somewhat surprised about this. I'm not mad by far, these are your experiences. However, it has for a long time been my opinion that this sort of thing happens exactly less in Baden Württemberg and perhaps more in other states. In the face of your experience, I stand corrected, in a way. I guess I have to concede that people here are ... probably as prone to that as anywhere else in Germany.
The thing about working a lot is certainly true.
However, this whole thing makes me wonder: I am as German as they come, language (I speak standard German as well as swabian), optics (white guy, not too slim, no tattoos ...) and probably culturally acquired movement and posture are simply German. You do stick out, optically. That may be quite an important part of this.
Sad, really. However, I maintain that this could have happened to you in any German city, as far as I can estimate.
Ok, 2nd part:
That appreciation of children is something that has become SO much better than it was when I was little! At that time there were so many people who told kids to shut up when they were loud and many looked at children as a nuisance. These days this is really very much better.
You experienced only the light version of Swiss Germans
😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣👍
A friend and I got scolded for accidentally stepping in an unmarked bike lane when we were crossing a deserted street late at night in Berlin. The "funny" thing was that we were specifically trying to NOT walk in the bike lane.
Wow! In Berlin…very interesting!
@@TreyDaze As a visitor, it definitely left a bad taste in my mouth. It was an odd intersection. We waited for the light to change. We were being as careful as we could be given no bicycle markings on the street or along the sidewalk.
I am from Florida as well!
@@jlpack62I think germany is motherland of THE Karen Family
I dont know why people complain about this. its not that serious. unless you really are inhibiting people on a marked bike lane, you can walk wherever you want, and people complaining are just using it as an excuse to feel important. its not a law or something, and many older people use formal rules to just bully or to feel important or to force conversation because they are lonely. The normal response would be to insult them or to put them in their place. Its not like people generally are expected by everyone to act this way. same with cross walks.
Depends where you live. Our neighbors left and right are so different. The left ones are partying every day and park their huge cars directly in front of our garden, taking away the sun. The others cut quietly their gardens, sometimes with some Polish helpers using monster machines... But all of them kind in their way. Lucky that we don't live couple houses away close to the yelling Gertrud I experienced when discarding used glass into the container on a Sunday! 🧐
Hello. First of all, thanks for the video, it turned out very well. Then briefly the info that I write the text with Google Translate, because it's faster and there are fewer spelling mistakes than if I write it myself in English. Also, I don't want to attack you with this text, just share my personal opinion and experience as a German from Frankfurt a.M. with you. First you say that you have to watch the video because you have a lot to do with the neighbors. Basically, I agree with you, but it always depends on the neighbors and yourself. I'm on very good terms with a few neighbors, but I probably wouldn't even recognize others if I saw them. Then I think you spoke about Stuttgart itself.Stuttgart is a very stressful and "serious" city, I agree with you. I believe you about the thing with the park bench and the traffic light, but that has never happened to me personally. I'm not a fan myself when people walk across the street when it's red (few people like it), but many Germans don't correct you immediately, they just think their own part. Maybe there will be a comment when children are around. I haven't actually noticed a finger wave in any city, but I'm not in Stuttgart that often during the year. In general, Baden-Württemberg is relatively strict when it comes to rules, I agree with you in any case. In Frankfurt, for example, this is also important to people, but they have far too little time to take care of it. That's right about judging. I myself also like to immediately judge people based on their clothes, hairstyle etc. (not based on their skin color or similar, everything a person is born with is nothing to judge about). Then the case with your actual neighbors. I can only imagine that someone would put a note in your mailbox because of incorrect waste separation if there were large communal bins. Since you say you live in an apartment, I can well imagine that with yours. If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much about it, that's just Germany. But I also have people on my street who also like to write notes, I keep my distance from them because they usually also have a very selfish understanding of "mine, yours". It has happened to me that someone asks you if you live there and I really look German. Of course I don't know exactly your situation now, but I would see it more as a general interest and not as racism. I write the rest of the text as a comment under my text.
I enjoyed the transparency about Stuttgart and Bavaria at large, I will definitely look into Hamburg and Berlin--I've also heard great things about Koln and Dusseldorf. I loved the Freudian psychoanalysis, I learned a new vocabulary word: Anal Retentiveness. Thank you for these informative and honest videos, will catch up on the ones I've missed.
Thanks for watching brother!
I am not from Stuttgart but close to essen - and all you say about hard work and how we walk is the same as what you describe. my American wife points that out a lot.
The angry point what you mean is a typical German character of being critical and direct.
oh no, Stuttgart isn't the most German town, because the Swabians are very different to the rest of the Germans. This has historical reasons. Big historical reasons.
Stuttgart: schaffe schaffe Häusle baue (work work build a house). Berlin is the opposite. The swabians are like that you said. We northerners are told to be lazy!
The more south you live, the moralizing your fellow men get. Good luck I live in the north. Keep an eye on the raised index finger. Always a good indication to identify germans also abroad
Sorry for your bad experiences with neighborhood here.
I live in Baden-Württemberg for around 30 years now (coming from Rheinland-Pfalz originally), and moved from Heidelberg area down to Stuttgart area, and boy what a difference it was even within Baden-Württemberg, even though only moving from Baden to Württemberg! 😂
The mentality is very different here - not the most typical German city as you assumed, it’s typical Swabian.
But please don’t take it personal.
Welcome back home to Germany! ❤️
Shaka 🤙 bra love da videos man 💙🌹
The older woan who asked you, if you live there ... just be kind ... and give her a chocolate or some flowers ... and I am sure, you will both smile
If my neighbour takes something out of the bin to put into my mailbox..it would be the first and the last time
I am sorry for you experience with the neighbors. This hast to be the most frustrating part about germany. People just feel entitled to judge you or call you out for things that dont matter 1 bit to them. You probably got watched by the infamous Fensteromas/Fensteropas. They literally put a blanket and coffe next to them at the window and just watch the nieighborhood all day. crazy
You are such a nice guy, very heartwarming. I like your videos very much.😊
Awww gee thanks! ❤️
Hello Tray, one of my teachers at school used to say that the Swabians are the Prussians of south Germany😅 please mind that this is actually a bit annoying for a couple of reasons which would take a bit too long to explain.😂
Anyway thank you for the video, one of the most friendly and diplomatic rants I can remember😂
As a NRW dude I would say that all the negative comments about Swabisch people is in disguise also a lot of envy - they work hard and are successful.
Old people are like that …. Same here and i live hundrets of Miles away 😂
do you record videos on your workplace? In a garderobe?
Robotic, however, fits it. People there in the southwest, live to work. And have no other destination in life. I remember sitting in a restaurant: people come in, eat, and get up to leave the room. Not spending five minutes there for useless rest.
It is probably the most german region of germany, concerning the virtues of workyness :)
I wouldn't say that's a German trait. It can be, but it's more dependent on class and region. Even as a German I wouldn't want to move to Swabia. For the reasons you mentioned. 😆
Jo mir hen scho a Blockwartmentalitätle hier.
@@danielhofig8429naja, 's kommt scho e bissle druf aa an wen d' naadappsch...
Andererseits kennt man bei uns auch den Spruch "leben und leben lassen". Aber vielleicht ist jetzt auch wieder eher meine oberschwäbische Sicht.
@@michaelburggraf2822 I wohn em Speckgürtl von Schduegert ... bei ons isch es wäsentlich tolleranter
(for non-Swabians: I live in the larger Stuttgart area, here it is much more tolerant)
@@pfalzgraf7527your dialect kills me as a rheinländer.😂🤣
Stuttgart and even our neighborhood out of town is very judgy!! Our neighbors specifically... we lived in Wiesbaden for 3 years and it was so much better!!
When we first moved in we had a neighbor come complain about how we parked in our spot 3 days in a row even though our car was right in front of our garage. I felt so uncomfortable immediately
Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊
Hey Trey, I know I know , I'm from Waiblingen/Stuttgart. Stuttgart is a powerhouse. We have Mercedes, Bosch, Stihl, Mahle, ect... . That's why there are so many Karen's.
As a German I like it very much that you are discovering some of the down sides of living here😉👍😁
Hearing about them stopping and asking what he's DOING was surprising to me. I've always been under the impression that typical germans are fiercely private and value their alone time, their privacy, etc...yet, they're asking a complete stranger what he's doing in a manner like it's their own business. Quite odd! I'm from Michigan and there's tons and tons of German descendants here, including Frankenmuth which is an entire town founded by bavarians and is still designed, celebrated, live in, etc like it's still Germany. A lot of the old style cultural things and mentalities abound, especially the privacy and alone time, working ethics, etc
They care about their own privacy, not of the privacy of others..
OK, i'm exaggerating. But, to be honest, my mom mostly knew about my new boyfriend before I did, because this one bored woman would ask, who the guy was, who brought me home. At night. LATE at night. Almost morning...
They gave your son a Ball because the national soccer Team is a catastrophe at the moment and they have high hopes He will become good one day ;))
Sorry to hear that Story with your neighbours, but maybe just a misunderstanding and in the future that relationship will get better. And of course difficult neighbours do exist, not much you can do then.
Oh your nice neighbors are from Turky...that explains the helfsbereitschaft...and the food. lol
What is typical german about Stuttgart? Big cities have little to do with the country's own culture, they are now too international for that. If you want to get to know the culture of a country, then a big city is the last place on earth where you will succeed. Berlin, for example, has a population of just over 3 million - how many of them have lived there for 2 or more generations? If you're lucky, you'll find a million real Berliners there. There is such a mix of different cultures that nothing is typical anymore.
My advice to you would be - move to a very small village and make another video on this topic in 2 to 3 years.
Berlin always had a strong immigrant population since it started to rapidly grow in the 17th century. It started when Duke Frederick William issued the Edict of Potsdam in 1685, offering asylum to the French Huguenots. Just a few years later, 30% of Berlin's population was French. That's how Berlin got the Friedrichstadt right next to the old town (now largely gone), which is now part of central Berlin. That's why Berlin has a Gendarmenmarkt, the Charité hospital and "Buletten".
If you think that migrants aren't "real Berliners" then you don't understand the place. A strong presence of people with a migrant background is what makes Berlin... well, Berlin.
must have been one of that retired Karens they have the time and nothing else to do
Im German. I lived in a medium sized city for most of my life. Then I moved to a small suburb of that city, just like 3 km from the city. I was treated like a total alien there. 😂🤷♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
The title for this video is probably a bit unfortunate. What characterizes a German neighbor? I am German and have lived in this country for over 60 years ... I couldn't answer that question.
You might lack the experience to compare if you haven‘t lived in some other places?
I love the accountability the dish out. Americans can learn from this.
18:00 if i ever should see you in my town, i know what to do! Yokes aside, u forget guns at 26:00, but 26:05 the AFD for us is that here in Germany
As a Badener I say about Wuerttemberg/Swabia:🙈 but somehow also cute, but the taste of the wine is a disaster.
Hi Arno; mit dem Wein muss ich dir sogar Recht geben. Es geht doch nichts über einen guten Tropfen vom Kaiserstuhl oder einen leckeren Pfälzer Riesling.
@@Kelsea-2002 Hi, ganz genau. Ich liebe auch die Weinfeste ♥️🍷🙋♂️
"Hosch Gschäft?" 😂
👍👍
Haha, did you know that the Berliners _hate_ the Swabians, a large number of whom have moved to Berlin in recent years. After watching your video from a safe distance (I'm in Augsburg), I kind of sympathize with the Berliners, hehe.
Hahaha! I’ve seen a few videos of Berliners roasting Swabians.
why the hell should berliners "hate" swabians? oO maybe one guy dont like the other one but in general? i dont get it...
@@herrjeh4082 From what I understand as a Bavarian, the Swabians in Berlin have earned a reputation for being ossified conservatives and fussy, which clashes with Berlin's laid-back way of life. Instead of adapting and taking the stick out of their asses, they apparently want to re-educate the Berliners, which they don't like. They are also mostly well off and contribute to the gentrification of Berlin.
But I could be wrong, maybe some Berliners in the comments can tell us more?
@@hape3862
Nope, that pretty much sums it up.
Ummm ... Augsburg?
Augsburg is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben! So ... safe distance? 🤣
It is not a strange thing to talk about neighbors in germany! I have been here for 16 years and just moved apartments because the neighbors were so horrible. Germans like to mind other peoples business and will complain about even the smallest things. There is no live and let live ethic here...Just tell others what to do all the time! There are good things in Germany but this is not one of them.
A lot of Swabians have moved to Berlin in recent years and want to make Berlin the village they came from.
Don't get too annoyed with your neighbors.
Here in Berlin, the Swabians are not very popular either because of their character.
There's no such thing as "the Swabians". Admittedly we might have a few things in common beyond our Swabian dialect, a bit too serious, too cautious, too reserved, too rough and direct... .
But there are significant differences too. Stuttgart is located in Lower Swabia which is predominantly protestant. I'm living in Upper Swabia which is predominantly roman-catholic.
Stuttgart is surrounded by towns like Heilbronn, Ludwigsburg, Böblingen, Esslingen, Göppingen, Geislingen which constitute a strongly industrialized agglomeration. But the Swabian Alb and Upper Swabia are quite rural. Hence there are quite remarkable cultural differences. South of the Swabian Alb people are a bit more relaxed and friendly. And they're not so stiff and serious as people in Stuttgart. And of course those are generalizing statements - so take them with a grain of salt.
BTW, young people from Swabia were moving to Berlin for decades. I'm assuming that there has happened something else which has triggered resentment towards Swabians in Berlin and I'm wondering whether that is actually related to Swabians specifically.
Hahaha I'm a German neighbor 😁
Is Mercedes-Benz not located in Sindelfingen? So, if I move to Newark then I'm a New Yorker, right?
Sauschwowa 😆
That is so funny! We spent 7 years in Germany and really only made friends with a few Germans, it's a beautiful country,but Germans have their ways that are so different from anywhere
Yes the Germans love to watch everything you do...I find it really irritating
„München is very, very German“… uhm… no.
I would rather say that Munich is very, very much what an American expects Germany to be.
From a German perspective, I‘d almost say that Munich is the least German city in Germany.
Definitely not true.
@@M4tti87 Now I’m curious. What is "German"? From a German perspective, what makes a city "very, very German"?
For starters, I have never thought of any German city to be more (or less) German than others, as Germany is so diverse.
Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Heidelberg,… they are all very different from each other. Now what makes one of them "more German" than the other?!
If I was FORCED to pick the LEAST German city though, my answer would be Munich. Simply because no city in Germany feels more "foreign" to me when I’m on a visit. In many aspects, Bavaria tends to do its own thing anyway, but even of all Bavarian cities, Munich seems to have the most "mia san mia" spirit - sometimes even to the point of being quite in your face. In Munich, they are them. And they are proud of it.
Again (I can’t stress this out enough): What’s really „very German“ in my opinion is the fact that every region and every city is different. Munich being different from the rest of Germany makes it at the same time very German indeed - if that makes any sense. If German cities have anything in common, then it‘s the fact that they are very different from each other. So if anything, it‘s very German to be different. Every German city is different in its own way.
I couldn‘t even say which city is the most Bavarian, or which is most typical for the North of Germany (…), as even within these regions, there‘s so much diversity. No matter where you are in Germany, after a 200 km drive, you will often already encounter a noticeably different mentality, different architecture, different food, different dialects,…
If I had to choose the most German city from a US American point of view though, it would without any doubt be Munich, as Munich is most likely to meet the expectations of many visitors from the USA. So from a US American perspective, I can see how Munich is „very, very German“.
But from the perspective of someone who knows Germany well, please do tell me what makes a certain city "very German". I am honestly (!) curious.
We Germans are like all people: Generally normal, except for some few a**holes.