7 things I had NEVER SEEN before I came to the USA 🇺🇸 | Feli from Germany

[@justacatwhocantype]

I'm German and have a handcrank sharpener similar to that one, and it's even made by the German company Dahle, a leading manufactuer of shaperners worldwide. It's not mounted on the wall, but firmly attached to my desk. It's much easier on pencil leads than the little handheld sharpeners, and that is why I like to use it for my more expensive color pencils. If you are a color pencil artist in Germany, you will most definitely know this type of sharpener.

[@Jeff_Lichtman]

Spray oil and butter are for baking. When you have to grease a pan, it works better to spray the oil than to spread it around with a brush. This is especially true for pans with a lot of corners or nooks and crannies, such as Bundt pans. There's even spray oil with flour mixed in, for recipes that call for a greased, floured baking pan. Professional bakers use these products, so they're not just for lazy or inexperienced cooks.

[@SixStringViolence]

Yeah, but a brush is way more environmentally friendly than a disposable spray can.

[@Harley831]

@@SixStringViolence other than the water and sop need to wash it over and over again. Aluminum cans can be recycled

[@SixStringViolence]

@@Harley831 Wow! You should stop washing your face and your body with water and soap and instead spray it off with dry shampoo and compressed air! This was literally the dumbest thing i've ever read!

[@robertlear2735]

It is also very useful on waffle irons

[@frozenharold]

@@SixStringViolence cans are recyclable

[@vanys8120]

We have a drive through ATM in my village here in Germany 😂 and also the spray oil is quiet common because it is really great for preparing the baking pan before putting the dough inside

[@Mel-wl6lh]

same!!

[@tbolt5883]

What is scary is that the drive-up ATM has Braille on the keyboard.

[@jakefromsf7580]

Well, a blind person can always walk up to a drive-up ATM and use it that way.

[@acer3573]

ATM's don't come in "drive-up vs. regular"

[@tbolt5883]

@@jakefromsf7580 Disability laws require Braille on ATM keyboards whether they are installed in a bank lobby, in a baseball stadium, a drive thru lane, etc. You just don't expect a blind person driving a vehicle and using a drive-thru ATM. FYI, I walk and use a drive thru ATM all the time.

[@HermanVonPetri]

Blind people can ride in the back seat too.

[@tazepat001]

I've never noticed that 🤣

[@cristinabivins2240]

As a teacher, I must say those wall-mounted pencil sharpeners are the best-and they last FOREVER!

[@lindseymarotti4606]

Did you see them in college? I don't feel like I did. I think the last time I saw one was in elementary school.

[@honeybeastie1]

We had one, in my house when I was a kid (1960s)...it was bolted down to one of our bookshelves.

[@cristinabivins2240]

@@lindseymarotti4606 I did. But, I graduated college 20 years ago 🤔. Things may have changed since then 😂.

[@lindseymarotti4606]

@@cristinabivins2240 I'm 41, so I'm right there with ya. Lol

[@MrOnyxRaven]

I had one on my wall at home growing up (1980's-1990's). I rarely saw them in college and now we have an old one mounted to an old table at work. This one must have been from the 1970's and has moved through 3 building changes in those years. People bring in pencils to sharpen from home since no one has them anymore. I am a mechanical pencil man myself since high school.

[@joebikeguy6669]

FYI. The pick-up truck "dual wheelers" you referred to are sometimes called fifth wheelers. They have a tractor trailer type coupling (this is the fifth wheel) mounted in the bed of the truck. The four rear wheels and the robust coupling allows you to haul a much larger camper/trailer than you could with a typical two rear wheel set-up in that it provides increased stability and safety. You frequently see folks traveling across country (vacationing) using them.

[@bobbyknight3589]

Wtf do they not have semi in Germany 🤦🙄

[@bennybenicasa]

@@bobbyknight3589 Germany has semi trucks, however European tractors and trailers are built differently than US semis. In Europe, the engine is usually under the cab, and not in a protruding bonnet. Pertaining to this topic, usually German semis only have dual wheels on the rear axle of a three axle tractor, and no dual wheels on the trailer.

[@bennybenicasa]

@@bobbyknight3589 But to be more specific: In the video, I believe that she was only referring to dual wheels on personally-owned pickup trucks, and how they are not seen in Germany. I would add that (although occasionally seen) they're also not very common in the more populous metropolitan areas of the US.

[@Traumatized_Mel]

@@bennybenicasabut how does that actually equal efficiency?

[@Traumatized_Mel]

@@bennybenicasadaul-ees (spelled phonetically there) are by far extremely popular in some southern metro areas and they also don’t have to have fifth wheels. Which is why down here they’re called dually or duallies plural. I had a ‘97 side step that came with extended fenders so owners could self convert. As for fifth wheels it is a “semi type” connection (I’m guessing that’s what you’re referring to goosenecks as) but you can make one out of an old wheel if you know what you’re doing that’s common too.

[@tomaskot9278]

I'm from the Czech Republic (we are one of the neighbours of Germany) and usually everything you say about the differences between the USA and Germany applies fully to the Czech Republic as well. And this video confirms it, too :) I'm pretty sure most of it actually applies to the whole Europe...

[@Lily_and_River]

Yes, except in the Netherlands we did have those large pencil sharpeners in primary school, only then mounted on the teachers table, not the wall.

[@veroniquewolff751]

It is about all Europe I guess. I am in France and the things applies to France

[@BaronSamedii]

I lived in Slovakia, Hungary and Austria and I can confirm it applies to those 3 countries as well

[@JackFate76]

@@Lily_and_River In Switzerland we had them mounted to the teacher's table too.

[@lukasrojko5455]

I'm from Slovakia and since I worked in USA I'm trying to do everything American way.

[@chucktx5957]

Trucks: Some just like ‘em. Mostly tho, the dually models are used to tow boats or RV’s to weekend/vacation places. They’re not attached to the truck every day, so you wouldn’t necessarily know. I lived in Augsburg area for 3 years & Berlin for 4. Everything we needed was always w/in easy walking distance & we walked. Now in US (Texas), my nearest access to any kind of business is over 3 miles away - so, yeah, I drive.

[@D7712-e5w]

Some are actual work trucks to pull large trailers carrying heavy farm equipment, livestock, excavation equipment, etc.

[@BEaton-kf7ej]

@@D7712-e5w You can tell who has a "dualie" to tow a boat or RV...their trucks are clean and shiny.

[@josephsoto9933]

That pick-up truck with dual wheels are to tow large vacation trailers. The trailer is very heavy and a normal trailer hook (or hitch) that comes off the back of a truck (or car) is too weak to connect a heavy trailer. The dual tires provide extra support. These trucks are called a "5th Wheeler". If you look in the cargo part of the truck you will see the heavy-duty connection for the trailer.

[@skyhawk_4526]

Dually trucks are designed to take a large amount of weight on the rear axle. So they're not necessary for towing standard (even if heavy) trailers that hitch at the rear bumper. They are designed for heavy fifth-wheel and "gooseneck" trailers where the weight of the trailer is distributed between the connection point over the truck's rear axle (in the bed) and the trailer axles. Duallies can't typically tow, and aren't necessarily rated to tow, more weight than their standard four-tired counterparts, but they can take more weight over the rear axle and are more stable when hauling heavy loads. They typically have stiffer springs on the rear axle because they are designed to have a lot of weight pushing down on that axle. The dual rear wheels also provide added traction since the rear axle is the drive axle (under normal driving conditions where four-wheel drive is not used) and four tires on the rear axle are better than two when it comes to traction. This is especially important when hauling a heavy load/trailer on unpaved roads like are typically found on farms and ranches, or climbing when hills in wet or snowy weather.

[@charleskelly7588]

Your videos have helped me understand so much about the German side of my family. After years of believing their behaviors and traditions were merely quirks specific to my family, I now see it is really due to our German heritage. Thank you for giving me greater insight.

[@frugalforge3657]

Cans DO warm up faster than bottles, and for two reasons, 1) the walls are thin, and 2) they're aluminum and have high thermal conductivity.

[@scarharting5577]

But they all get warm, so I always use a coozie or can cooler. It sure was great the first time I used a thick one at the beach!

[@vissolispower]

Well, what she meant to say is that Germans drink beer faster than Americans! The beer does not have a chance to warm up 😂😂

[@andreas.9175]

A trip to the pencil sharpener was always somehow fun and at the same time made one feel self conscious because everyone in the class could watch you do something that looked funny.

[@bothellkenmore]

My distance vision started getting bad the summer before 6th grade so I got glasses but never wore them. When school started I didn't want to wear them and because my last name starts with "A" I was always within 3 seats of the front of the class because that's most teachers organized the seating alphabetically. My Mom ratted me out about my glasses and the teacher moved near the back to force me to wear them. I wouldn't do it and if I needed to really see the chalkboard I'd pretend I needed to use the wall mounted pencil sharpener at the FRONT of the class, take a long look at the board and go back and do the quiz. Next summer I got contacts LOL.

[@sallylambert7552]

And the boys could watch your butt if you moved your whole body with the rhythm of the sharpener! Lol Sorry!

[@TheRealWeirdoC]

Oh, "beater" cars are still quite common in states that require annual inspections. Just east of you here in Pennsylvania, a vehicle can look ready to fall apart and still be perfectly safe and legal to drive. As long as the important safety systems are functional and nothing is in danger of actually falling off on the road, you're good to go.

[@ralphbalfoort2909]

New York has very strict annual vehicle inspections. Tennessee inspects your exhaust, but not much else.

[@JBWinter]

@@ralphbalfoort2909 Mississippi's used to be very strict on paper, but in practice the mechanic just walked a circle around the car and told you it passed inspection

[@donhigbee9919]

Dual wheels on a truck (referred to as a "Dually" are primarily for hauling large loads. If you go to farms in rural areas you see a lot of them.

[@wgreenbaum]

FYI: There’s not just one drive-thru wedding chapel in Las Vegas. There are MANY drive-thru wedding chapels there.

[@bobbyhood101]

The dual wheeled trucks are for towing boats , caravans, and utility trailers for carrying riding lawnmowers , motorcycles or other vehicles they are used in cities by landscapers , carpenters, movers , and associated tradesmen it's a tool that is also used for basic transportation when you aren't on the job , much the same way as the white vans are used in Europe.

[@TerryReedMiss]

I remember when there were NONE! And, I'm only 64!

[@SarahLizDoan]

Several, yes! I live in Las Vegas and there’s quite a few!

[@buddyrevell511]

Not really something to boast about 🙄

[@SarahLizDoan]

@@buddyrevell511 not boasting, simply stating a fact. Not really something to roll your eyes about. I was just participating in conversation.

[@maralisil]

In snowy Syracuse NY we have something called a "winter rat", a car that you drive in the winter that's dependable but usually older or beat up! Especially with sports cars and high performance vehicles, the nice car will go into storage in late autumn for the winter to escape the salt damage (we get A LOT of snow here by Lake Ontario) and winter accidents.

[@thomasschellberg8213]

Most American vehicles have high ground clearance because of the snow, but also many rural side roads are unpaved (even in NY, e.g., Tug Hill). The little dinky things that Europeans drive would be chewed up in the U.S.

[@nataliajimenez1870]

@@thomasschellberg8213 because of snow AND heavy rain. Heavy rain also creates a lot of potholes in the streets. When the streets turn into rivers a sedan will probably break down. Interestingly, a sedan that was able to withstand flooded streets was the old VW beetle.

[@bflaminio]

Oh geez, the TÜV. When I lived in Germany I had a car and took it there for inspection. They gave me a list of things to fix, which I took to a mechanic and paid about $500 to fix them all. I took the car back to the TÜV, and they gave me *another* list of more things to fix. After that I just lived as a scofflaw for a while, as I was moving back to the US soon enough.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Glad to see your wrist is healing up nicely.

[@randyc5650]

Felicia, dualies are usually used by people who tow trailers which are taller than the truck towing them, like horse trailers, walk in utility/work trailers and heavy duty trailers where the trailer mounts inside the truck bed called a "goose-neck". A strong crosswind on the highway or a bridge can flip both truck and trailer over. Dual wheels eliminate that except in extreme situations like a tornado or hurricane. They also assist in carrying heavy loads. Nobody buys them just to have them for no reason. Also, "beaters" allow even the unfortunate to own a car to get to work.

[@bob5074]

I noticed the lack of “beaters” when I visited Germany for the first time. People usually have dual wheel pickup trucks because they tow something like a camping trailer, horse trailer, car trailer, or construction trailer...

[@chrisrogers3787]

Love the driving in the opening clip! 🤣🤣

[@FelifromGermany]

Yeah I'm REALLY driving hahaha

[@raymondschneider1414]

The car next to you matched your driving!

[@dng2000]

I visited Germany with friends back in the summer of 2004 and the things I have never seen before in the United States before my visit were the way German windows work and window blinds that are built-in and very convenient to use the way their designed, at least in my opinion. And I have never rode on a genuine "high-speed" train until I visited Germany, which means the ICE are still the only high-speed trains I've ridden on to this day.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Y’know, you really “get” America. You really understand us better than we know. And I really like seeing us through your eyes and experiences.

[@SarahLizDoan]

Same.

[@goodfella1401]

Everything she mentioned doesn't make your country any more appealing to live in except for the fact that you really like your beverages cold

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

@@goodfella1401 Um...why the ad hominem attack on US culture?

[@Desperoro]

I like it as european as well. I have only 2 months experience from America and Canada so it is very nice to compare.

[@idemandabetterfuture]

@@goodfella1401 As an American, that's one thing that drives me nuts. I get served beverages so cold you can't taste them. Of course, in some cases that is better than being able to to taste them.

[@smgs921]

Duallies are made for towing as they have a much higher towing capacity than a single rear wheel truck. However since people who own them arent towing 24/7 youll often see them just driving around without anything on or in them. As far as the beaters. Myself for example own what i call a beater even though its in pretty good condition. I use it to get back and forth to work so i dont put tons of miles and wear and tear on my BMW. Plus mine is 4x4 so in cincinnati winters it is much easier to get around. Greetings from a fellow cincinnatian

[@jfisch]

Good point on the towing. A lot of people don't seem to understand it but I've always found it normal since my dad has one for towing our cattle and hay trailers.

[@leefischer5814]

I notice yuppies driving pickups with duals more and more or damn mudding tires. In ND we call "beaters" Rez Runners 😂.

[@SLOBeachboy]

Yes, dualies are great for their intended purpose but the fact remains that 90% of the Americans who own these monstrously large pick-ups (even including dualies) don’t really need them. It’s purely a macho thing. The majority of pick up truck owner here will go for years and years without ever towing anything, going off road, or even hauling the kinds of loads that only a pick up could handle. If that’s the case then it would make more sense just to rent a truck every few years. Not only that but most of these trucks are kept spotless clean all the time. When I was a kid back in 60’s pick-up trucks made up a much, much, smaller percentage of of all vehicles on the road and when people did own them they were usually work horses and were usually not the person's primary vehicle, unless of course that person lived on a ranch. These days however it’s all for show and for how it makes these people feel about themselves to drive an absurdly big truck. Of course what really irritates the sh#t out of me is when people raise their trucks up and make them look like a hard core off-road vehicles but then they put these absurdly low profile tires on them, which effectively makes them useless for going off road. If you are going to own a truck then you should have tires and wheels on it that allow it to be used as a truck was intended to be used.

[@295g295]

> 9:38 < dual wheel

[@AndrewAMartin]

The level of 'beater' depends on what state you're in too. As a Pennsylvanian, we have to deal with yearly safety and in most counties emissions inspections. Growing up in Michigan, there was no inspections of any kind... And even in those states that do inspections, the level of strictness varies widely.

[@shawnbflannigan]

I’ll speak for myself....a drive thru anything makes tasks more fast and efficient rather than “not liking to walk.” Most Americans work really hard and long hours and have to balance tasks with family etc so drive thru’s are a godsend

[@nataliajimenez1870]

They also tend to be safer than regular ATMs. With a regular ATM the person standing in line behind you can be a robber. It's harder for a person driving a car to get out and rob you and also it's easier to notice anyone suspicious standing around. It's also easier to drive out of a dangerous situation if you are in your car

[@Emme333]

Also in the US we have extreme weather conditions. Getting in and out is exhausting.

[@RangePisteMies]

Hello, i accidentally found your channel when i was looking for videos about living in america and must say that very good content here! Your soul must be pure light, waterfall of light! Keep up at good work and stay safe! Greetings from Finland!

[@IronCavalier]

Our German exchange student couldn’t believe our “beater” my wife drives to work everyday. It is a ‘96 Chrysler Sebring convertible. My wife loves it! Plus, it puts the miles on it instead of our “newer” (‘06) car.

[@4beats56]

Met a very young German girl with my wife when I was in California. Became friends for life with her family. They came for a visit in Canada. Went to that girls wedding and she became a airline pilot. The family was from Hanover. Her father came and visited us when I was working in Spain and brought some German beer with him . Nice people 👍

[@Graygeezer]

Dual-wheel pickup trucks are used for pulling a heavy-duty trailer, such as a large livestock trailer or a large travel trailer. The extra wheels provide better weight distribution, towing capacity, and braking traction. Sure, some people buy them for no other reason than they like the way it looks.

[@LythaWausW]

Right, cuz even a "normal" truck (1-ton) won't always be able to slow down a heavy trailer, I still have nightmares of the times I've been cut off on the highway because people don't want to be behind a trailer, and the brakes weren't able to slow us down fast enough. People buy them for how they look? I sincerely hope not.

[@jamesglendening5180]

@@LythaWausW I've known people who bought them just for how they look. The individuals that do are usually (but not always) the same sort that take even compliments as insults and swagger into bars with puffed out chests and loudly tell every attractive woman they see that they are god's gift to women.

[@chitlitlah]

They're called dualies by the way. They're quite expensive, and someone who has one probably has a need for it unless they're pretty well off.

[@uwekonnigsstaddt524]

Some people get big trucks just for the heck of it. Of course, they are the minority, since most own one for towing, carrying heavy loads. I know a fellow worker that owns a BIG truck. Single, no kids, no dogs or cats. He has to park that.....”thing”...way out there in the corners of parking lots in order to fit. Gas-guzzler galore. He makes enough money to pay for its fuel. His money not mine.

[@Jawsjawsjawsrg]

@@LythaWausW I use to want them because they looked cool, and I thought better, tougher things to be towed. But I live in Minnesota, then I found out they are difficult to drive in the snow, and then I didn't want it so much anymore.

[@Jules-o7u3v]

Those dually’s that you see in the city are used by snowbirds to tow their fifth wheels south for the winter.

[@UsmanBello]

I do have a response for #6 dual wheels: Earlier today, as I was driving back to Stuttgart from Nürnberg, I saw no less than six Mercedes Sprinter 3500 vans on the A6 that had dual-wheels on the back. Two of them were Deutsche Post vans and the others were of others places like Luxembourg, Italy, and even Russia!

[@LiveFreeOrDieDH]

"Cheese" in a can is the most American thing that most Americans find absolutely ridiculous (but also surprisingly convenient). Side note: The government (FDA) has a specific definition for "cheese" and American cheese, cheese in a can, Velveeta, Cheez Wiz, etc. do not actually fit the definition of "cheese." So if you look closely the packaging for all these things it will actually say "Cheese Food Product" or something similar.

[@tlockerk]

And we ALL sneakily use it every few years while sniffing and looking down our nose at it; like SPAM once a decade.

[@RyTrapp0]

American cheese is literally made of cheese, that's why it's called a "cheese", a processed cheese. The FDA definition of processed cheese literally REQUIRES that it be made of, you know, cheese. That's literally cheese, regardless of it not being a natural cheese. Government definitions of foods are largely irrelevant, as they're for economic purposes, not "how can we pretend like food is something that it isn't". Just like the "controversy" a couple years ago of Taco Bell's beef "not actually being beef - according to the government!" Actually, Taco Bell does in fact use real ground beef, and they add a LOT of seasonings & ingredients that lower the percentage of ground beef that makes up their "beef". No different than a homemade hamburger not being "100% beef" because you added salt, pepper, etc. when you made them. That obviously doesn't mean that you put "fake beef" in the burger just because it isn't "100% beef" - that's what government definitions are, technicalities to the extreme for business purposes. If all you're worried about is word for word definitions, maybe it's debatable. If you're talking about what actually IS american cheese - it's a product made almost entirely of cheese, which is why it tastes like cheese, is used like cheese, etc. It's almost the equivalent of buying ground beef that's already been seasoned before packaging rather than plain ground beef(not a perfect analogy, but you get the point).

[@smallhelmonabigship3524]

Artificially flavored, artificially colored, processed cheese food. And it doesn't even taste good. It's a wonder it's even sold.

[@Hiraghm]

yup, that's why I only buy Kraft American Deli Cheese. It doesn't say "processed food product". It costs more, but worth it.

[@TheOtherBill]

Canned cheese is the best thing for making chili cheese dogs at home.

[@CFWhitman]

I've never had much use for several of these items myself (koozies, spray butter or oil, e.g.), though I was aware of their existence. The "beaters" item actually surprised me. I live in upstate New York, and cars have to pass an annual safety inspection here. Here a "beater" means a vehicle that is toward the end of its usefulness and you don't worry a lot about getting dirty or rusty (because it already is somewhat rusty), not one that can't pass inspection. Bumpers and working versions of all lights, for example, are required items.

[@Traumatized_Mel]

See cozies (we spell and say it like that) are necessary in the humid hot states bc we’ll condensation gets slippery. Spray oil we had it but only for like cakes and such because the other methods were “too messy” my moms not much of a baker. As for beaters in my area they can look like they’re great but the handling is absolutely the worst. Or they can look like they fell off a wrecker and handle like butter.

[@HappyTinfoilCat]

We hosted some German students and they found #7 to be shocking to them. Another thing they found surprising were our hybrids; they're everywhere in California but not in Germany. Of course, the size of the vehicles and freeways with a dozen lanes or so kinda blew their minds.

[@alanbud5181]

And no speed limit on the autobahn

[@scarharting5577]

How would you tell a hybrid from any other car?

[@jimgreen5788]

@@alanbud5181, it used to be that you'd get pulled over for speeding, but some years ago, for who knows why, I stopped seeing enforcement, and in its place--absolutely nuts driving--like the speeder bikes in Star Wars.

[@boostin1994]

We refer to those trucks as "Duallies". In the south, people will even lift those trucks to ride higher.

[@DesertStateInEU]

And they look mad cool. I live in the EU but when I see a Ram 3500 it definitely has a presence.

[@brianplum1825]

I see plenty of these here up north as well.

[@flagmichael]

I had a work truck with duallies for the off-road locations where our communication sites were located. The worst was that rocks would wedge between the tires and were the devil to get out but would puncture a tire if I didn't get them out.

[@scottlarson1548]

When a high school friend and I traveled in Germany for eight months in 1985 we had a running challenge: find just *one* pickup truck. Just one. That's all. After several months he finally pointed out one outside of Celle (a fabulous tourist town). It looked like it was about forty years old and we suspected it had been left by American armed forces after the war.

[@douglasgreen437]

Germans use Vans 🤔instead of pickups..

[@TruckDrivinGamer]

To be honest, America is about the only country with this many pickup trucks. The Toyota Tundra and the Honda Ridgeback, they don't even manufacture those in Japan at all. Every single one of those vehicles is made in America to be sold to Americans, because Japanese drivers wouldn't buy them either lol

[@drcfgonzo4961]

Seems they got more common since, especially mid size ones like the Hillux, Navara or the Amarok. However, as the bed of a pickup offers less protection from thieves and the environment and towing is not so popular, too (you require a special driving licence for towing trailers over 750 kg AND with any trailer you have to obey an 80/100 KMH speed limit on the autobahn), people prefer large vans like the Transit or Sprinter

[@doug112244]

@@douglasgreen437 try carrying a load of manure in a van and you'll see their used don't totally overlap.

[@doroparker1702]

@@douglasgreen437 no, they just use so called combination cars. Look up VW Passat, VW Golf and Opel Zafira. Some german cars have fold away passenger seats. So they can transport some kids and their friends and afterwards go to Ikea and fit in everything in the car.

[@jeffreyeichelberger6550]

When I lived in Germany I noticed that people went grocgrocery shopping almost every day and didn't have huge refrigerators

[@xDarkestDemonx]

More like every week, twice a week if something comes up. I genuinely don't know a single person that goes grocery shopping more than that unless they plan to prepare something that has to be used same day. Even then it's only for that specific item and not genuine "grocery shopping"

[@k.s.421]

Depends of where you live, Jeffrey. When i lived in Berlin, i was grocery shopping like nearly every day (apart from sunday, because everything was closed). And that was pretty easy, because the next supermarket was 300 meter from my flat. Now ( i am living in Austria) i am used to go maybe twice a week by car, it would be to far to walk...But i see your point: part of our family lives in California and they have huge refrigerators, some of them even 2! 😅

[@neachtarrsainn3216]

Duel wheel trucks or "Dullies" are primarily used for towing heavy loads such a "fifth wheel" campers and horse trailers and such... j/s

[@markriley141]

I saw a quad cab Cummins dually in Frankfurt about 20 years ago.

[@kirksway1]

I worked at a Dodge stealership in Nebraska about 8 years ago. We sold allot of dualy's. I'd say 80% of the trade-ins we got never towed a thing and never had the paint scratched off the bed floor. kind of pathetic if you ask me, but they sure made my sales figures look good :)

[@sanniepstein4835]

I pulled a 4 horse trailer with a diesel pickup, as did many in my area. Extra wheels were not required, even on dirt roads. Maybe they give extra protection in case of flats.

[@rm2kmidi]

@@sanniepstein4835 they're supposed to be more stable with heavy loads, especially with a goose-neck hitch. The duallys are often rated for a higher towing capacity than regular ones.

[@anthonykaiser974]

@@markriley141 possibly American GI, though it's totally possible that it wasn't, since I've seen a DR platform (03-11) Ram pickup in Andermatt, CH, along with a few other older American cars from the 70s ad 80s - IIRC a Vette and a Firebird. Two years ago, I saw a Challenger Hellcat parked next to the office of Oman airlines which was at that time near the Intercontinental Hotel Frankfurt. Twenty years ago, we had more military presence in that area. Rhein-Main AFB hadn't closed yet, and USAREUR was still at Campbell Bks in Heidelberg. USAREUR footprint shrunk after 2005 or so. The collapse of Soviet Communism was a sea change.

[@OldQueer]

As an Englishman who says Autumn instead of Fall, it always throws me off guard when you say "Fall of 2016". I imagine it like the fall of the Berlin Wall.

[@anthonycaminiti8734]

I never even thought of it in that way. That is hilarious 😂

[@thomaskalbfus2005]

Leaves fall from trees, that is why it's called fall.

[@OldQueer]

@@thomaskalbfus2005 Sand is called sand because it is in between sea and land.

[@thomaskalbfus2005]

@@OldQueer unless its in a desert.

[@ronaldgreen5119]

We also use the term Autumn, perhaps not as frequently.

[@stevenskorich7878]

I often have felt like a little child discovering the world for the first time in the past 70 years. They keep changing stuff!

[@sallylambert7552]

Absolutely Steven! I say I dont know anything anymore. Sometimes its intimidating. But once you figure something out ... then it changes again.

[@russellcannon9194]

I cannot imagine a lot of people having dualies "just because they can" because they add a great deal to the cost of having a truck. I know several people who have them, and they all have a good reason. It is usually for the increased load/towing capacity-big trailers, fifth wheels and such like. They are popular with farmers, ranchers, and people who have travel trailers. Just because you don't know the reason doesn't mean there isn't a good one. Cheers, Russ

[@markymarknj]

I was going to leave a comment to that effect, but you beat me to it.

[@amenrakwamehotepporchprima9307]

In Canada, it is a male vanity thing, small penis, vicious dog, quad cab dually, live downtown, lies to get farm licence plates, works out at the gym more that he works to make money.

[@jackoneilsg1]

Yeah, here in Germany, you can see dual wheels on some large vans. Like the large version of the Mercedes Sprinter for example. Like you said, mostly for heavy loads.

[@MV-qm9ne]

I agree with your idea of why Americans might own dualies; that they need them to tow things. But in the suburb where I live, mostly they are towing nothing. I find that peculiar too.

[@eddiewillers1]

@@jackoneilsg1 But Euro-vans usually have the second wheel inboard (like the Ford Transit), so the overall width is not greater than the single-wheel version.

[@quintrankid8045]

Your comment about Americans not wanting to walk reminded me of a woman who told me that I had moved to a place where I could walk to the supermarket because I was too lazy to drive there.

[@bdickinson6751]

Ah yes............pretzel logic at its finest. Some people should keep their mouths shut, lest someone deem them to be an idiot. Had a boss one time say something similar. Claimed I used the push mower, instead of the riding tractor to mow, because I was lazy. 😲 IDIOT!

[@Roonasaur]

@@bdickinson6751 Or maybe she was just having fun :)

[@bdickinson6751]

@@Roonasaur No, he was an idiot!

[@justintime5021]

I remember being in school. The classroom is dead silent because everyone is taking a test. Then disaster strikes... My pencil breaks. So I get up and walk to the sharpener on the wall. Nothing in the entire world is louder than those pencil sharpeners during a test.

[@ChristopherX30]

😅😅😅

[@Traumatized_Mel]

When I saw the picture I had to think about it for a moment. Now I’m in grad school. But we had the all metal ones and most teachers removed the outer cover to keep students from forgetting to empty it or break it when removing it to empty. There was a trash can miles below of course.

[@hardcorealf8684]

The beer holding thing is very Aussie and is called a stubby holder

[@caraiya]

I used to pick away the wood just to avoid using the pencil sharpener during an exam

[@Iowa_Boy669]

I remember those. The Knuckle Destroyer 3000. That's what we called the wall mounted pencil sharpeners

[@TheRifleman336]

"Dually" wheels on pick-ups for legitimate purposes, are for increased weight handling usually professional use like carpenters and farmers who have heavyweight objects.

[@fuzethehostage8898]

I picked this over a game theory vid. man this girl is awesome!

[@FelifromGermany]

I'm honored!

[@williamhickstein685]

I use pencils for years. One reason was, I worked as a press photographer, and I had to take notes, outside in the cold, and using a pen the ink will freeze in the cold weather.

[@steffieonline]

Pencils always write, no matter how you hold them. Even overhead. Pens do not.

[@sweetcanada17]

What about mechanical pencils?

[@Otokichi786]

Yep, the "Russian Space Pen-cil."

[@joelwalberg9802]

I think it would be interesting to see this channel and "Lost in the pond" do a collaboration video in order to compare some differences from a British and German perspective.

[@gwillis01]

Another vote for a joint video working with Lawrence from "Lost In the Pond" . Lawrence talks about cultural differences between the U S and England. He was born in England but came to America for a work project and never left.

[@HenrikWind]

There are some similarities but a lot of differences too, between the european countries. I am from Denmark.

[@jack-1955]

Lost in the Pond should stay as is. Love Lawrence's dry English humor. Any collaboration with another channel would only dilute, imo.

[@leslieq958]

I was thinking Joel & Lia

[@gwillis01]

@@jack-1955 I think it is possible for Lost In the Pond and German Girl In America to collaborate for a short time once or twice without either channel having their core concept or basic appeal compromised or diluted. Assimilation is a long way away from a short collaboration.

[@juanpablocastano2192]

I'm a Colombian 🇨🇴 living in America. I've been for a while and I remember one of the things that surprised me was the all-you-can-eat buffet. I like Germany because that's where Porsche is from.

[@ansv3340]

Yeah but owned by VW, and

[@brandonbutler9833]

Most classrooms I can remember had one of those wall-mounted pencil sharpeners on the wall...particularly in the earlier grades in school. Most of them were made by a German company, Faber Castell.

[@Baughbe]

About the cars: Beaters- In US most states do have inspections. Most have annual inspections. They do not require the same things yours probably do. You have have a car missing quarter-panels passing inspection in some states. It can be missing bumpers in some states as long as the lights work and you have some place your car plate can be seen. It can be pocketed with rust holes as long as the frame itself is in usable shape. This does vary state to state so a car that will be OK in one state will not be able to pass inspection in another. But as you also found out, some states do not have inspections, or they only have inspections when a car is sold and then there may be no record of the inspection itself. As for pick-up trucks with dual wheels. In spite of people telling you they are used for heavy loads and heavy towing... 90% or more of those never actually see a days work in the entire lifetime of the vehicle. I know. I have those owned by neighbors. They do not have jobs that need them to have such a truck. They do not have anything they haul, tow, or need for that heavy a vehicle. It's all a machismo thing. About one in 10 pickup trucks you see in America is ever actually used as a pickup truck. (no guys, two bags of groceries in the bed of the truck does not mean you need the truck) They are symbols for the driver. I even have one neighbor who has such a truck and could use it for work... except they don't. They use a van for their work because they don't want to mess up their pickup truck. The truck is better maintained than any other vehicle... or their house... or their kids. They only use it to go out for drives.

[@UrsusMajeure]

Yes, if you spend some time living on the East Coast in particular, you’ll often have some combination of annual/biannual safety and/or emissions inspections. Maybe not in Ohio, but those apply in a number of Eastern states-nearly all of the states from NC north, I think. Probably elsewhere too, but I’m not certain.

[@jrhackman7414]

Annual inspections in Pennsylvania are pretty strict. Definitely can’t have missing bumpers or other body panels. Can’t have rust that weakens the structure of the car, or allows fumes to get in the interior, or could injure somebody if they rub up against it. Tread depth,brakes,steering,and suspension components are all checked. Emission testing is only in certain counties with higher population.

[@stevengarrison8107]

I am very glad to live in a free state

[@jbmcdoogle]

Car inspections in GA means paying $20 and getting a new sticker. There's no inspection per se. They hook something to the computer and that's it. In Europe your car gets inspected from top to bottom. If it doesn't pass, it doesn't drive. I heard that the US used to have these inspections but because everyone needs a car and some people couldn't afford to fix their cars to drive so the government stopped inspections. We have some of the worst cars on the roads as a result.

[@azul8811]

@@stevengarrison8107 Don’t have to wear a mask in a public place, huh?

[@sheep1ewe]

Interesting, especialy since all my deskmounted pencil sharperners after granpa is made in Germany. ha ha

[@micheal49]

High school. German exchange student. She had no idea what a pencil sharpener was. She giggled every time she saw one. German schools (back then) were strictly pen only.

[@nilsvonsteinfelde2116]

deskmounted pencil sharpeners exist in Germany.they are maybe much more uncommon but I know them because my father and grandfather had a lot to do with precision drawing in their Job. But I’ve never seen a pencil sharpener mounted on a wall.

[@kennethdonaldson3087]

i looked up what savos means i t said slave or serf i dont mind being called slave by felicia anyway im obsessed anyway i might have the wrong word

[@sheep1ewe]

@@kennethdonaldson3087 Yes, Servus! = (I am Your) servant. It's an old greeting phrase.

[@al3xa723]

What? What does this comment mean, I don't understand it at all.

[@mtnbiker014]

I am so impressed with your English. Pronunciation and sentence structures are spot on.

[@robinmills8675]

I agree. In the 70's I worked with a German woman who came to America directly after WW2. She still had a very thick accent after 30+ years.

[@I_am_Raziel]

Some people don't even try to pronounce correctly. Had to learn German and later English.

[@gwillis01]

One thing contributing to the use of pencils in American schools is when teachers use answer sheets for tests that are graded robotically by Scantron machines. When teachers do not want to grade test papers by hand, they can pass out special answer sheets for the test that can be scanned by the Scantron machine. The Scantron can only handle tests where all the test questions are multiple choice. The machine is programmed to look for concentrations of graphite on the answer sheet. If you chose the correct answer, the graphite mark from the pencil will show up in the correct tiny oval shape for that line. If you mark the wrong answer, the machine will put a tiny bright red line next to the number for that question. Woe to you if you show up on test day without a number #2 pencil. You will inconvenience the teacher by making her/him look through the room for the stored stock of special test taking pencils.

[@RonJohn63]

Nah, we used yellow #2 pencils long before the Scantron was invented.

[@avenity8409]

In my country all official exams are graded that way and yet we use black pens instead of pencils.

[@larrydillard8163]

In math class pencils were required. We used to line up to use the wall mounted pencil sharpeners. Loved to watch the girls sharpen their pencils. One of the perks of mass education.

[@S_Roach]

I've seen a lot of school rules that are more "that's the way we've always done it, and so that's the way you're going to do it", than for any practical reason. I've seen rules against elementary students using mechanical pencils. Why?

[@mmt44y]

Pencil "lead" is electrically conductive; making machine grading easier in the days before light sensors.

[@MichaelScheele]

Metals like aluminum conduct heat more efficiently than glass. A thin aluminum can has less thermal mass than a glass bottle, so it will heat up more quickly.

[@HAL-nt6vy]

Aluminum is lighter than glass too--you can have more beer in the cooler.

[@avafrisbee1949]

I moved to Hamburg Germany in 2006 when I was 22. I was surprised to learn about photos on resumes (my profile picture is actually my “Bewehrbungsfoto”). Other things that shocked me were church taxes, the monthly fee for owning a TV and/or Radio but still having commercials, everything closing on Sundays, and (at that time) the lack of fast and convenient food. It’s changed a lot in 15 years but when I first moved here fast food was usually an imbiss or Döner stand. Maybe the sausage truck. Now it seems there are a lot more options. BK and McD‘s being the big ones but also subway, KFC, starbucks, and Dunkin‘ Donuts have popped up. When I became a mother so much more surprised me. 3 days in the hospital, mandatory 6 weeks paid leave before and 8 weeks after the birth and up to 3 years reduced-pay or unpaid leave. A insurance paid mid-wife to come check on you and the baby at home the first weeks after birth, Rückbildungskurse, Kindertagesstätte, Tagesmütter, Waldkita, optional vorschule, Einschulung (OMG the Schultüten!!!), the Schulranzen, the fact that kids habe the same teacher and classmates from grades 1-4, the kids are separated out to real-, haupt-, or Gymnasium schools after 4th grade! They are 10 and they‘re already being labeled as „University material“ or „a painter, maybe?“ That made me mad which is why we are considering a private school for our kids after their 4th class. I could probably go on. Also I’d love to see a picture of your Einschulung with your Schulranzen and Schultüte! I love seeing my friends and colleagues pictures. Sometimes back to like the 50‘s!

[@SheaMF]

I’m Canadian; grew up in Eastern Canada, and now live in Western Canada. My last year of high school, I had an foreign exchange student from Germany, we were friends then and still are to this day after 30 years (😯). She would always use a pen...now I get why! We always used pencils and were expected to do so, even at university. To this day, I still use pencils a lot. I started using pens when I started working for the government. So having wall-mounted pencil sharpeners were “normal” to me. We even had them at work...

[@tenmillionvolts]

Here in New Zealand, we used pencils for about the first 4 years of school, then they took them and gave us pens. I remembering them telling us that we were grown enough to use pens now and we better not make mistakes. At first we used those erasers with the sand paper tip that eat a hole in your page to erase ink. Then we just made a lot less mistakes :-)

[@doroparker1702]

@@tenmillionvolts in Germany kids start writing with a pen in first grade. It is softer and it is supposed to give kids feeling how to write. Pencils are for filling in answers in books as they can easily be erased. Pencils with different colours are common for drawing.

[@jackoneilsg1]

How was it in written tests in high school or college? Here in Germany, from second grade on, you can't fill out tests (except for geometry or other drawings) with a pencil. If you do this, you would usually get into trouble with your teacher and your answers might not count, so that you can't manipulate your test later on.

[@SheaMF]

@@jackoneilsg1 pencils...actually the use of pens is discourage...still the case. My son is in his last year of high school (grade 12), still using pencils. My daughter is in grade 10: using pencils when not doing stuff online as she attends a virtual school. I did all my stuff at university in pencils, whether it was when I was first an engineering student or later as an English studies student...essay questions done in pencils. That being said, I’m a mechanical pencil kind of gal, and I started like in grade 2...which was discourage as teachers preferred we use a good old wood pencils. Even a few years back when my kids would get school supplies list, there was usually just one blue and one red pen on the list...just in case. But many pencils. Even at work when I was doing financial monitors for government programs (mini-audits), I was using pencils...I was actually taught by accountants to use some specific colour pencils! Even when we vote we use pencils!

[@doroparker1702]

@@SheaMF this is so strange. Pencils can be erased. Especially when you vote. No wonder people don't trust votes in USA. It always has to be pens in Germany. In schools it has to be pens or fountain pens. There are document-- proof pens. Means the ink can not be erased for sure. Signatures on documents have to be done with document-- proof pens.

[@annbsirius1703]

Those school pencil sharpeners were the best! Kids should be able to reevaluate their writing and edit it. That happens with computers, and also with pencils and erasers, but not so much in pen. I've had a few pencil sharpeners over the years, but none that match the classroom pencil sharpener. Perfect point every time.

[@Cre8Lounge]

Some students use it as an excuse to get out of their seats

[@fipsvonfipsenstein6704]

When I was in elementary school (in Berlin) over 40 years ago, we had these pencil sharpeners in the beginning too. Not on the wall, but clamped to the teacher's desk. I can't remember anyone ever using them. At some point the discussion about knives - or rather their prohibition in school - came up and someone must have realized that a stab wound with a pencil is not only at least as painful but often far more dangerous. So the pencil sharpeners were removed. From then on, every student had his own pencil sharpener and the dirt was distributed in half the classroom (sharpeners with their own collection container were rare in those days). By the way, hardly any of the students adhered to the ban on knives at school, they just weren't shown around so proudly anymore. After I had treated a classmate who was stung by a bee with a freshly cut onion on a field trip, even my class teacher knew that I always had a pocket knife with me - and he accepted it.

[@TrueThanny]

Pickup trucks get a second set of rear wheels when they move from 2.5 ton class to 3.5 ton class, to distribute the weight of cargo in the bed. Anyone getting such a truck either has to carry a lot in the bed, or needs the increased towing capacity that comes with it.

[@brynpookc1127]

Regarding ATMs. People were getting robbed when going to outside non-drive-thru ATMs so many people, at least in my mid-country medium sized city, would not use them. I have ridden my bicycle through the drive-thru ATM.

[@hughmungus1767]

BrynPoo KC - Couldn't a robber still jump you while you're in a car at the drive-thru ATM? If he pulls a gun on you, it's going to be very risky to drive away because his bullet can travel much faster than your car. Sorry to be graphic about it but it doesn't seem a lot safer to me if the robber is halfway determined.

[@FelifromGermany]

Hmm interesting...

[@flagmichael]

@@hughmungus1767 If you are in a car you have options - roll up the window and drive. The robber gets nothing but grief if he shoots. On foot you are dead meat: you have the card and know the PIN when you walk up to it, and both can be forced from you. Knives are silent and effective at persuading victims; guns are for fools. I lived in bad neighborhoods for a few years (the first Oakland, California police helicopter was shot down a couple miles from my apartment) and know a death trap when I see one.

[@doug112244]

@@hughmungus1767 you are going to have to be very unlucky to get hit by a bullet fired from a handgun from someone who likely has never been on a range in their life. Also in a couple of seconds you are going to be out of effective range of a hand gun anyway.

[@hughmungus1767]

When I was in Switzerland in 1991, I stayed overnight in Bern and saw my very first self-serve gas station, not far from the train station. You could drive up, put your card in the slot, and dispense as much gas as you needed, all without having to interact with any human being. I'd never seen such a thing anywhere before. But it wasn't long before I started seeing them here in Canada and now they are everywhere.

[@bigscarysteve]

I'm surprised they didn't have self-serve gas stations in Canada in the early 1990's. In most states in the USA, self-serve gas stations began in 1973 (New Jersey and Oregon being exceptions). Before that, when you rolled into a gas station, usually about three to six guys would run out to your car. One would pump the gas, one would check the oil, and the others would clean the windows. Then the Energy Crisis of 1973 struck. In order to keep fuel costs down, gas stations cut all this in-person service out and made you pump your own gas. You did still have to interact with the cashier, as credit cards were still relatively rare in the early 1970's. And this didn't just affect gas stations--the amount of service that could be expected in just about any retail situation collapsed in 1973.

[@tedpark6814]

I think it's cheaper for the station because you're not hiring someone to dispense gasoline. I particularly like the RF fuel access tags because in the winter it reduces the time which you're outside fueling the car. At one time you could fill the car and go inside to pay, but now you have to pay first or pay at the pump.

[@tomfrazier1103]

How very Swiss!

[@natbarmore]

There's also a dialect thing going on: in the upper Midwest, I've never heard "koozie" which I just found out is a specific brand name. I've always heard "drink cozy" or just "cozy". I only hear "koozie" when I go back east (and, yes, from my perspective Ohio is part of "back east", in part due to exactly these sorts of linguistic differences).

[@mikelastname1220]

You are right. Here in Kentucky, they are called a "cozy".

[@tomfrazier1103]

I heard Koozie in Hawaii, but the first drunks I met were from the East Coast.

[@_leon.rv_]

10:32 it's called HU (Hauptuntersuchung=main inspection). The TÜV is just a very common institute for the HU in germany ;)

[@klebnikow]

Klugscheißer :)

[@voiceofresn]

I was actually shocked to hear that there are no regular car inspections in Ohio. I am from Texas and we have to get our cars inspected every year in order to get required tags for the car. If they are not up to date then you will get pulled over and ticketed.

[@jesspeters1611]

That seems to be a Texas thing. I have lived in several states, Texas being the only state that required the inspections. It seemed a bit if a scan as inspectors would send you to a specific shop to get repaired to pass inspection.

[@johntorrington2672]

inspections are required "as needed", such as following accidents or emmissions violations in Ohio.

[@RyanS32]

As of a new law just passed in 2023, Texas is getting rid of required state inspections in 2025

[@johnkelly1198]

Ohio has them in Cleveland, because of too much smog

[@Traumatized_Mel]

Three syllables Tennessee…..we don’t have inspections here…we do have useless signs though. (Speed limits bs and yield signs) I say useless bc either you follow them and nearly get hit or you ignore and nearly cause a wreck.

[@dkSilo]

Fascinating stuff. When I was still driving in and out of Berlin, I've definitely seen people asking for money on traffic lights. Most offered to clean your windshield for some of your spare change. Don't know if this is still a thing, as I moved to the UK in 2015 and haven't been driving in Berlin since then.

[@dkSilo]

@Evi1 M4chine What she's describing there are things Feli NEVER seen in Germany before going to the US. Doesn't matter if it's exceptions in Germany, all I wanted to bring across is: There's places where that might be common. Just think of Feli having been from Berlin and going to the US. She would not have mentioned this. So, keep an open mind. And while I agree Berlin isn't perfect, your rundown just now was a bit ... And I even hate Techno.

[@houstongardener477]

There’s many cultural differences and foods/drinks in different area of the US as well. I hope you take time to travel around the US as well to experience these! I was supposed to go to Frankfurt in the spring (first visit to Germany) to visit my cousin and her family. However, the pandemic postponed those plans until travel opens again. In the mean time, I am trying to learn German and enjoying your videos☺️ Danke!

[@CChromatic]

When I lived in Germany in 1987, I was surprised to see TV programs uninterrupted by commercial breaks.

[@Dalmen]

we have some channels from public television and they only show ads between the movies. Maybe in the 80-90 they was ad free. On our commercial channels they interrupt the movies as well with ads. But in the 80 we had just 3-4 commercial channels.

[@Wildcard71]

In most European countries, you'll have to pay licence fee.

[@noumenine6474]

Cable originally served this function. You'd pay for a lack of ads. But...Well.

[@bbranett2188]

@@Wildcard71 stole my thunder

[@Filtertuetchen]

@@Dalmen And back in that time, even the commercial channels had way less commercial breaks. Movies up to 90 minutes had only one break, longer movies maybe a second. TV shows up to 45 minutes had no break at all. Today you nearly can forget to watch a movie on a commercial channel. More commercials than movie...

[@tshoveltuski8273]

Güten tag, I was born down the road from your Muniche in Bad Kreuznach. Mother full blooded German, soldier father. I Didn’t stay long unfortunately... is A Beautiful country, will go back someday. Just wanted to mention; Your lighthearted & funny channel is refreshing from all the seriousness on KZbin these days! I Thoroughly enjoy your channel, keep them coming...Albeit er sane

[@notmyworld44]

One thing I have noticed about cooking oil in the spray can: It coats the pan more evenly, because it comes out of the spray can as a foam. I like the convenience of it.

[@sarahgilbert8036]

But why do I smell gas (as in gasoline) when using it? My ex bought these all the time, I never do!

[@victorunbea8451]

"Americans really don't like to walk." One of the most 'merican thing I know is that they would rather drive a block to the gym where they run a mile.

[@hengineer]

Americans would drive around a parking lot for 20 minutes just to be 2 parking lot spaces closer to the entrance.

[@goodfella1401]

Explains the obesity rate even more

[@marcg6575]

It's best shown in Steve Martins "L.A. Story" where he drives 15 meters to his mailbox and 15 meters back 🤣🤣

[@MDavidG1]

Walking is GREAT except when it is cold, raining, hot, or you have a week's worth of groceries to get home. And one of those things is happening about 85% of the time.

[@ntvtexan5015]

@@hengineer Yup, just did that yesterday for a spot ...2 spaces closer !!!

[@matthewgroff433]

I remember the old metal wall/desk pencil sharpener. We had them in Elementary School through High School, graduated 1990. I even saw them in the College I went to, I took 1 or 2 classes a semester, but never completed a degree/graduated. I even have one sitting on my book case, but it has the plastic container for the shavings.

[@hughnelson5136]

Something about a German Girl talking about “beaters” in the US cracked me up! I lived 6 years in Munich, so I can attest to it all. Great video!

[@ryansc0tt0]

To be fair - as an American, Germany is the first place I ever saw bumper guards on cars!

[@S_Roach]

But again, you Need a car in the US. With the often regulation enforced separation of commercial and living spaces, even if you live in town, odds are shopping is a decent walk, and so is work, likely in opposite directions from your front door. It's good that people who can't afford a car in decent shape can still, often, at least afford a beater.

[@fredgrove4220]

You never see "beaters" in UK either. Cars have to pass an M>O>T< Test every 12 months and it very strict. It will fail with just a light bulb out.

[@drcfgonzo4961]

Germans are just very specific about their cars. You will not see this kind of "keep your car in perfect condition" culture in most European countries

[@bigscarysteve]

I didn't know what she was talking about at first. Where I live, we call them "junkers," not "beaters."

[@jameskrivitsky9715]

Hi Felicia, during one visit to Berlin, my mom, her cousin and I went out to a dance hall. While walking to our destination, I heard the sound of a band singing from inside a pub. I thought they were Americans because they were singing in ENGLISH and I recognized the tune. I found out later that the band was indeed GERMAN and that it was not uncommon for bands to sing American songs which were popular at the time. More respect when I came back to TEXAS and played a CD by the SCORPIONS which are from Deutschland. JwgK

[@willblood7082]

You typically find beater cars in northern states. The beater car is saved for snowy days when more accidents occur and salt is used on the road which rusts cars easily. Most people with a beater car have a much better car that they drive when the weather is nice.

[@tychobra1]

10:35: The inspection itself is not called "TÜV". Of course everybody says things like "my car has TÜV" or "I need TÜV". But the inspection itself is called HU (Hauptuntersuchung/general inspection) and since 2010 also includes the AU (Abgasuntersuchung/emissions test). In order to get your seal of approval (i.e. the "TÜV" seal) you need to go to a state-approved testing organization. It is true that the "TÜV" (Technischer Überwachungs Verein) was a monopolist back in the day. However today there are a couple of such organizations besides the TÜV: DEKRA, GTÜ, KÜS for example. You are responsible to bring your car (motorbike/truck/trailer/bus) to such an organization of your choice on time in order to renew your seal of approval every two years as Feli said. If you buy a new car, however, you initially have 3 years until you need to bring your car to the first HU. Usually you do not actually go to the TÜV or GTÜ or whatever, because these companies offer to come to your auto repair shop. Therefore most people combine the HU update with a regular inspection at the auto repair shop. If the HU inspection was successful you get a new inspection sticker which is attached to your rear license plate.

[@baskervillebee6097]

My dog didn't like the drive through atm, because she didn't get a taco.

[@flagmichael]

You are a very mean dog owner. Bad owner! Bad! Bad! Now you go lie down!

[@billdougan4022]

My dog prefers the drive thru window at the bank. They give her a dog treat.

[@DerAltruist]

I don't get it

[@baskervillebee6097]

@@DerAltruist I usually drove through a taco stand and bought an extra taco for her. When I went to a drive through atm, she didn't get a taco, and was mad.

[@felixfranke2838]

Actually, I remember a drive-through ATM in Heidelberg (full of US tourists ;-) ), the Sparkasse had one in the 1990s IIRC. No idea if it is still there. Anyway, it's the only one I have seen in Germany. Or even Europe for that matter. And I have lived here for the most part of 53 years. I also liked the "drive-through-beggar" at the traffic lights... (well, not "like" because they are poor people, but I had to smile at the idea. But it makes sense. Just like the drive-through ATMs, also makes sense (although I do not have a car)

[@Texas-Chris]

You figured it out, everything is really spread out. Also public transport is very different here than in Germany. I was lucky enough to spend a month in Europe when I got my bachelors degree. I spent a week in Germany, I wish we had been there longer. Love your content !!

[@kleinarilou]

When I was on holidays in the US, there always was a small cubical-shaped plastic bucket in every hotel room, always approx. 20x20x20 cm in size. It was quite helpfull for washing fruits, but I had to ask for its genuine purpose - it's meant for getting ice!

[@kmakhlouf4387]

haha, what's funny is Ive never seen anyone actually put ice in those things, but they are in EVERY hotel now. It's just tradition.

[@653j521]

@@kmakhlouf4387I've used it for ice. I don't show it around so everyone knows, but then, who does? How else do you think the ice gets to the rooms? (In summer a lot of people fill coolers with the ice but that's another story.)

[@dnocturn84]

The regularly inspection of cars or vehicles in Germany actually isn't called "TÜV". It's "Hauptuntersuchung" (translates to: "main inspection") or "HU" in short. "TÜV" is the short form of "Technischer Überwachungs Verein" and is the name of a technical service company, that carries out those "HU" inspections, among other things. It is very common for Germans to call it "TÜV", because it once was a monopol of that company, which used to be directly under government control, before it got privatised. You will be able to get your mandatory inspection done by many more technical service providers today, like DEKRA for example. Calling it "TÜV" in front of those guys might actually offend them, because it's the name of their main rival company.

[@hansbrix2495]

And HU still doesn’t ensure compliance to clean air standards. Thanks VW.

[@dnocturn84]

@@hansbrix2495 Yes, the "AU" or "Abgasuntersuchung (translates to: "emission test") wasn't mandatory for cars that are conform with Euro V or Euro VI emission standards. It became part of the "HU" and only OBD was checked for errors of the emission reduction system of the vehicle. But after Dieselgate, the government made it mandatory again. But that is actually a hoax, brought back by hardworking lobbyists. The "AU" only checks the smoke pollution or smoke opacity to be more precise, during free acceleration of the engine. Every Diesel of that generation comes with a Diesel particle filter, which will render this measurement obsolete. If a car fails this test, than something really serious is broken, propably something that will prevent you from using that car anyway. It's impossible to detect a manipulated car, like VW created, because you would need to test gaseous components of the exhaust gas for things like NOX, CO2, etc.. These measurement devices are so freaking expensive, that no small technical service station would be able to afford them in the first place (not to mention to maintain them) and the test process is far more complex, so that they would actually need to simulate load, like a test bench for power measurements for example. That was also the reason, why they switched to OBD analysis and stopped forcing people to "AU" previously. So thanks for forcing us to pay extra every two years, VW.

[@hansbrix2495]

@@dnocturn84 it’s sad also because the government knows it depends on VW surviving, since it and das Auto is such a big part of the economy. There is no real incentive to ensure compliance. Luckily there were some college students at a small university in the US that discovered this scheme.

[@buddyrevell511]

Similar to "Kleenex"

[@buddyrevell511]

@@dnocturn84 this explains why I as a VW diesel owner am exempt from annual emissions test here in Georgia. So glad about that... saves me $25 each year 🙂

[@TheRealSnowCat]

I had to watch this again today, because when I saw it last night as I was going to bed, I nodded off in the middle, and my brain mashed two sections together into "drive-through homeless people." Great video, as always!

[@stevethepocket]

I am going to start referring to panhandlers as such from now on and no one can stop me

[@TheTHX1138lives]

I actually had a chance to drive a Duramax Diesel Chevrolet Silverado pickup around Stuttgart with dual rear wheels. I was working with a major supplier there on the fuel system and they had it imported as an experimental vehicle. They wanted me to drive it because I was used to it. It attracted more attention than an exotic car.

[@jasonh8043]

Hey THX1138, (props for the user name) That's amazing you were driving that monster around Stuttgart !!

[@UTubeHandlesSuck]

Hehehe...was a gasoline engine, but working at a Ford dealer I had to troubleshoot a fuel injection problem on a long-bed 4 door cab 460 cubic inch duallie with a bad throttle position sensor. The gas pedal did nothing until halfway to the floor, then suddenly engaged at half throttle like throwing a switch. This thing came just a hair of lifting the front wheels off the ground every time it took off until I changed out that sensor. Wild.

[@peterkoch1676]

In Stuttgart that thing surely was more exotic than anything else on the road, including tons of Mercedes prototype cars

[@jonathonleggins6680]

I was surprised when I moved to Germany and saw that they take their dogs everywhere. The bus the store the restaurant everywhere.

[@buddyrevell511]

This is becoming more common in the U.S... I noticed it this year.

[@davidc.maughan399]

The big difference is that folks in Germany have well behaved dogs. In America people take their dogs into stores and let them jump on other people, fight with other dogs in the store and let them crap on the floors. Only once in all my time in Germany (mostly in Dachau, Munich and der Oberpfalz have I ever encountered Dog Mist out and about and the owner was in the process of cleaning it up. Oh... and I have never had to listen barking dogs.

[@mrlafayette1964]

@@davidc.maughan399 So live in Germany.

[@davidc.maughan399]

@@mrlafayette1964 I have familie in Bayern.

[@HAL-nt6vy]

In Germany, dogs are substitutes for the children they failed to have.

[@blatherskite9601]

I'm from Norway, and was blown away by a drive-thru bottle-o in Perth, Western Australia. Two days later, it went one better - a drive-thru bottle-o WITH TWO LANES! Fabulous!

[@midi510]

Duallys are necessary because when you need to haul a lot of weight, you can design a stronger suspension, but two tires can only hold so much. Four tires can hold twice as much weight.

[@UTubeHandlesSuck]

Also, the axle used for most duallies actually has two tapered roller bearings per side, rather than the single ball bearing per side of a lower-rated light truck axle. The whole thing is built more heavily to be stronger for heavy hauling use. Designed for purpose.

[@midi510]

@@UTubeHandlesSuck Yeah, but you could build and entire drive train to be as strong as you want, but if you only have two tires, your capacity will be limited to the load rating of those two tires. With twice the number of tires, you potentially have twice the load capacity.

[@rrrob19]

I live in Virginia where we do have inspections and you’ll still see plenty of beat up cars driving around.

[@ansv3340]

Free country, you cannot force someone to spend their money they may not have on the nice car, car has to have working lights and brakes bumper or fenders does not have to be straight or same color,

[@jennykinas3023]

My husband and I just purchased a "dually" truck. We need it for pulling our fifth-wheel camper. I can't imagine people would want them if they didn't have a purpose for them as they are not very economical to drive and they are difficult to park and go through the popular drive thru locations you also mentioned. Interesting video!

[@justcallmejohn2833]

We have electric pencil sharpeners too for people too lazy to turn the crank!

[@mazdaman2315]

Who would be to lazy to turn a crank?

[@hydrolito]

I heard Prince Charles has someone put the tooth paste on the tooth brush for him.

[@brianhiles8164]

Why do they always make the on/off buttons so hard to push?

[@thepaintingbanjo8894]

More please. Apparently the fact there are weed stores on every other few block around were I live and that really amazes/freaks some foreign students who check around Boulder/Denver. Never loses its charm.

[@johnmcnay2607]

Just discovered your videos. Great stuff. I taught in Germany at Lueneburg three times in a study abroad program, where I taught history (two summers, one semester). Learned a bit of German while I was there. I really enjoyed the place and traveled a lot. I teach at UC. Keep up the good work!

[@katik4208]

Lüneburg is one of the prettiest, if not the prettiest city in Germany.

[@k.s.421]

Lüneburg is so beautiful! My sister used to live there for many years. I like it more than Hamburg...

[@MeiyuAkumano]

The first time I came to a drive thru ATM, I got out of the car and walked to the ATM, 'cause I didn't realize what to do.🤣

[@timbuktu8069]

I've been to ATMs that are designed for giant vehicles. I can't reach the buttons from my car seat. I *have* to get out.

[@oxigenarian9763]

Beaters: We USED to do car inspections (I was an inspector) due to the widespread belief that they prevented accidents. Fact is, at least in the USA, it was statistically shown to be less effective than we thought and not worth the time/money it cost us to do them. Today, we are more concerned with the pollution they may produce if the engine systems are as bad as the mechanicals...

[@jillengel4124]

Indiana used to do vehicle inspections but the state legislature abolished them because it was too much of a “burden” on car owners. There are a lot of cars without working brake lights or turn signals on the roads. Just plain dangerous. Also cars without mufflers pollute.

[@markw208]

Most states still do inspections. When the technician drives your car they are checking for functional brakes, turn signals, emergency brake, lights, wipers, etc.

[@oxigenarian9763]

@@markw208 I SHOULD have said, in Colorado, we don't do them anymore...

[@oxigenarian9763]

@@jillengel4124 These types of programs end when we can no longer make the connection between the inspections and crash data or the data shows that the benefit is too attenuated to support the program. The real cause of accidents is overwhelmingly driver-caused (I'm retired law enforcement). Distracted driving, fatigued/impaired driving, etc are the real culprits by far... I think the program DOES have some benefit in beautifying America, though! :)

[@markw208]

@@oxigenarian9763, No big deal. No disrespect intended. As you say, the thoroughness of the inspections vary by state. When I lived in Oklahoma my VW Rabbit failed inspection because the emergency brake handle had broken away from the floor. I’m sure no state in our country inspects cars the way they do in Germany. I appreciate your polite comment and I intend my to be friendly also.

[@BruTwo]

i love that you even call it a beater. I know people who buy a beater every year just because it had a valid inspection/emissions sticker

[@rach9622]

Gosh, those pencil sharpeners are so damn nostalgic for me. Lol

[@seed_drill7135]

Especially the ones with the adjustable holes so you can fit the fat pencils they used to make for tykes in them. Don't quite understand why they made crayons and pencils bigger for those with the littlest hands, though.

[@joep1551]

@@seed_drill7135 kids hands don't have great dexterity, it's easier for them to manipulate a thicker object. Sorry if you were just trying to flirt with the cutie.

[@ryank5424]

Me to and I'm in 🇨🇦 😁

[@bbranett2188]

I sat by the sharpener (alphabetical seating) my whole school career. Thank you, the wiggle was cute.

[@MDavidG1]

They had them at my grade school in Canada when I was growing up in the '60s.

[@fpier]

I've just watched some of your videos and I realized how much Europe is well integrated. When you explain the differences between Germany and the US i think Italy is 99,99% like Germany

[@AlohaCraw]

When I went to Japan, there was a sink on top of the toilet in the bathroom. When you flushed, the sink ran and you would wash your hands with the water that would be used to flush the next time. I have since created a similar item here in my house using a bar sink.

[@markwilliams2345]

Dual wheel trucks are for trucks that are for big loads or trailers

[@southernladyish]

I live in the south and yes, we have many “dual wheeled” trucks, jacked up trucks, and big SUVs. Most people are farmers here so that’s why those types of vehicles are everywhere. They’re meant for carrying big loads and towing. Of course, there are some people who just prefer having these types of trucks because they like the style but that’s their main purpose anyway.

[@michaelb4733]

Rear Duel tire trucks are actually functional when transporting a over the bed trailer load, or fifth wheel as it's called.

[@kiev740]

In NY we have car inspections every year.

[@truenanashminitdapressure1708]

Isnt that everywhere?

[@flagmichael]

@@truenanashminitdapressure1708 No - it is all state by state. I think California started doing it since I moved out in 1974, but Arizona still does not. Parts of Arizona require emission inspections (look to see that the light is off and the monitors are ready) but no equipment inspections. We can also ride in the bed of pickup trucks.

[@jyoungbr549]

Actually in Ohio the inspection requirements are left up to the counties. For instance, one county could have a requirement to have an inspection sticker every year but the county right next to it it is very likely does not.

[@Reactordrone]

In Australia a koozie is called a stubby holder.

[@SonBokan]

Kozees does exist in Germany. They are called Kühlmanschetten here. They are not that popular here but I had some of these for long trips.

[@robertwilloughby8050]

And in the UK, it's either a small, personal pencil sharpener, or a rotary pencil sharpener clamped to a table. We're weird.