American Couple Reacts: German Culture Shocks! SURPRISING & SHOCKING! FIRST TIME REACTION!

American Couple Reacts: German Culture Shocks! SURPRISING & SHOCKING! FIRST TIME REACTION! This is our first look into some of Germany's Cultural differences. There's quite a lot here and although many were very different to life here in the USA, there were some that were surprisingly the same! We love learning about different cultures! We find the more we learn the differences, the more we really are the same, no matter where we live. We did have A LOT OF QUESTIONS in this one and would love your help in the comments. Thank you SO much for watching! If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our channel, it is the BEST way to support our channel and it's FREE! Also, please click the Like button. Thank you for your support! *More Links below.
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[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

This is our first look into some of Germany's Cultural differences. There's quite a lot here and although many were very different to life here in the USA, there were some that were surprisingly the same! We love learning about different cultures! We find the more we learn the differences, the more we really are the same, no matter where we live. We did have A LOT OF QUESTIONS in this one and would love your help in the comments. Thank you SO much for watching! If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our channel, it is the BEST way to support our channel and it's FREE! Also, please click the Like button. Thank you for your support!

[@FSboy70]

Cultures within the same type of civilization ARE similar - hence the distinction or classification. Not to forget that Americans and American culture is the end product of a deliberate amalgamation of different European peoples and cultures - or "the melting pot" some 400 years ago. Try comparing any western culture - to one of the other cultures from other different civilizations 🙂

[@krisa990]

This was an interesting video,I followed these guys in a number of videos that I watched by them in Germany,they seem to be very friendly and nice people...and I love to watch people from American adjusting,visiting and living and sharing their experiences in Europe,in this case, Germany...keep doing reactions on this family...:)

[@sharonealleyne9839]

Check out some more of their videos as they also do Travel Vlogs when they take the kids around Germany. They are very detailed, and show pictures or videos of what they're describing. The one on German Playgrounds is quite enlightening! Their channel is awesome!

[@tonys1636]

Airing the house daily is common throughout Europe, I have stayed in small family hotels in France and Germany and returned to the room after breakfast to find the duvet being aired out of the window. As my bedroom window is always open all year I just air it by hanging over the door, hanging it out the window and the birds would deficate over it and it would be damp from the rain. Having permanent vents through the walls to the outside in all downstairs rooms and the bathroom means that windows don't need to be opened so often, the downstairs rooms also have open fireplaces.

[@jessgunn6639]

rain pants are made of the same material as water proof rain jackets, and they`re a must for wet weather!

[@kiewsky]

Germans air their houses because they are in general well-insulated with very efficient windows, so humidity tends not to be able to escape unless you open the windows-

[@NennaC]

The denser you build, the more in need of a mechanical ventilation system you are. We build denser and denser here in Sweden too but ventilation systems are used unless the building is old with a natural draught or unless you build that way intentionally which is very unusual here.

[@afjo972]

Exactly 😂 you just need to draw the curtains 😂 Americans make such a big deal out of nothing

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

We have them n the U.K. too. Even in our badly insulated homes. Would love to move to Germany or Sweden but too old now. 😢

[@markusschenkl7943]

@@NennaC Same here in Germany. Newer houses (from the 2000's onwards, I'd say) usually have those ventilation systems, but older don't. However, many older houses get refurbished and then often also get ventilation.

[@nitefact]

Stonewalls absob moist from the air and can give it back in dry air. After sleeping airing out the house helps to get rid of the moist that was to much for the walls to absorb. To much moist on the wall surface hinders the breathing of the walls, so mold can live a good live

[@jimclark1374]

Americans are quiet on trains? You're kidding. Every country I've been in you can always spot the Americans because their decibel level is ten times higher than everyone else, especially here in Japan. You can hear the quacking of the angry ducks from one end of the carriage to the other.

[@Spikebhaal]

"You can hear the quacking of the angry ducks from one end of the carriage to the other." I laughed out so hard at that sentence because it is so true. XD

[@ericv7720]

I was in the US Marines stationed in Japan in the 90s. Taking the trains to and around Tokyo, myself and most of my buddies were quiet and respectful, but there were a few (self- described) rednecks who wanted everybody to know they were American and were rather obnoxious. I did my best to distance myself from that crowd (being in another car, etc.).

[@nedludd7622]

They don't even realize that they are basically shouting into their microphones.

[@hape3862]

As you make German reaction videos now, you can expect a subscriber boost! Oddly enough, we Germans seem to loooove watching videos of foreigners learning about our country and culture. Here's my recommendation for your next reaction: "This is Germany" by Dr. Ludwig. It consists of drone flights over German cities, sights and landscapes and should give you a first overview of what it looks like here.

[@michaelbruce5415]

I'm English, but consider Germany to be like a second home.

[@hape3862]

@@michaelbruce5415 I hope you feel welcome here!

[@michaelbruce5415]

@@hape3862 Always.

[@oliverpartl448]

Da schaut man einfach mal sehr informative und unterhaltsame Videos... Und was sieht man hier? Das Wappen seiner Heimatstadt... Gruß aus Augschburrrggg.

[@hape3862]

@@oliverpartl448 Huhu aus dem Stadtjägerviertel! 🙋‍♂

[@michaelbruce5415]

The restrooms in Germany are not free, but they are normally immaculately clean. Well worth the 0.6€ small change😊 Almost all bars and restaurants have restrooms

[@juwen7908]

Not almost, but all. Their is a rule, if they offering seats they also have to offer a toilet. Only small imbisses with only standing tables or if the small restaurant is included in a big center which already offers toilets, they don't need it.

[@michaelbruce5415]

@@juwen7908 Thank you for the clarification. I have never been to a bar in Germany where there was not a restroom but did not want to assume that this was 100%.

[@user-no4le4jm5y]

Toilettenbenutzung in Deutschland minimum 50 Cent bis 1€ ! Das sind die aktuellen Preise ,für auf Toilette gehen .Gruss aus Deutschland !🙋‍♀️🇩🇪

[@ginster458]

We don’t have AC here in most houses, so we a) need to air out our houses to get fresh air and oxygen into the house cause if the windows are closed, theres NO airflow at all. b) it’s a cultural thing that developed due to the way our houses are built, but it’s also a huge part of a certain feeling, opening up all the windows and having all that crisp air rushing in. People think that cools out the house, but if you do it for 10 minutes you have fresh air that heats up much faster than the „stale“ air (because of humidity levels). We also, as said, mostly do not use electrical driers and hang up our washing to dry (there’s nothing better than sun-dried fresh laundry) so we hang the washing up inside during the cold months and we need to lüften to get that humidity out of our houses to avoid mold. Also some very old houses are still made from mud, clay and straw and those substances need a lot of airflow and certain maintenance! As for the stores: the wednesday thing is mostly a family shop thing, yes. On sundays everything is closed except for restaurants, bakeries in the morning, gas stations and entertainment places like cinemas or amusement parks etc.

[@neilgayleard3842]

Do you have air bricks like we have in Britain.

[@ginster458]

@@neilgayleard3842 I don't think in general? I've lived in several old houses (like, pre 1900) that had them, I don't think newer houses (post 45) have them as much, but honestly that is just a guess. The newer windows in the last like 40-30 years have seals that you can tighten or loosen in winter and summer and they do allow a little airflow that you can regulate depending on the season, so that might've made air bricks obsolete?

[@werpu12]

Tell that to my ac outlet which is hanging 2 meters over me, it really depends, we have ACs and a heatpump and I live in Austria! But I do not have an expensive car, just priorities!

[@ginster458]

@@werpu12 yeah I mean I never said they don't exist over here, just that they're not the norm. It's definitely rarer that people have AC's here, which is partly due to different materials and building techniques but also that we didn't use to have such high temperatures that they were really necessary. I'm not condemning AC's I was just giving context why lüften is a big part of the culture

[@user-no4le4jm5y]

Das stimmt !

[@amayahanada6330]

Hello, I am a German mother of 3 boys. Rain pants and slippers are completely normal. They look like fisherman's pants. There are slippers for visitors, they are slippers of different sizes. It was a shock for me to enter our American friends' house wearing street shoes. That made me very uncomfortable. Bring the dirt into the house.In this video you can see Bavarian culture and it's only like that in Bavaria. Every federal state has its own traditional costume and tradition, only in Bavaria is it celebrated in great detail.

[@mariejoyce5150]

My hubby is of German origin , he came to England with his mum and dad as a baby in the late 1950s. For the first years living in England his mum dressed him in Lederhosen (we have photographs to prove it Lol ) His mum defected to the west from East Germany by herself when she was only 16 , she left a note for her parents saying gone to the west , she walked through the woods and sneaked over the border. She was a very determined East German lady , very house proud , very independent, very strong woman . The airing of the house is a fact , she did the same in the UK , even hanging the Duvets outside in the fresh air. She passed away last year aged 90 and was still running her own home and life.

[@seeyouanon2931]

I don't think it's just a German thing , there are many countries that air their houses in the same manner. Even in Britain many have in the past, and still do the same, especially the older generation, my grandparents (English) used to open a window in each room for at least a couple of hours every morning, and some people sleep with a small window open in their bedroom, and the small window in the bathroom is open most of the day for condensation. They would also hang bedding out of the window to air for a couple of hours, they even had the front door open on many occasions. Many old photos online that show this. Personally, I don't think many people nowadays (especially me) would hang bedding out of the window now, but the rest of what they did, yes. And to me, nothing smells better than freshly washed bedding and clothing that has been hung out on a washing line to dry, and if it's raining, it is hung over a clothes horse. Which many people still use.

[@melovesawyer]

My dad was born in the 1950s in Hamburg, his mum also came over the border from East Germany (Leipzig), though she was older than your mother-in-law. She unfortunately died before I was born so I never met her.

[@mariejoyce5150]

@@melovesawyer My Mother in law was from Magdeburg and my father in law was from Silesia

[@Philemaphobia]

Why would a East German dress her kid in Lederhosen?

[@fourlance8633]

My mother was an Original bavarian and my dad was from Magdeburg, my grandparents left Magdeburg AS my grandpa heared the words " Nobody wants to build a Wall" , he get his Family, 5 Childs,one of them as Baby his wife,my grandma and a lil suitcase and fled to Bavaria.

[@ritaboes]

For all the Germans send poor Debbie some snacks😂😂😂😂.

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

I'm fine. I ate all the other snacks from the previous videos. I'm glad Natasha had these. And we don't accept food items

[@RustyDust101]

@@TheNatashaDebbieShow Not even non-perishables like snacks? I completely understand why perishables are a no-go, but long-shelflife snacks?

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

@RustyDust101 we appreciate the offer but we've had a policy since we started the channel to not accept any food items.

[@RustyDust101]

@@TheNatashaDebbieShow Gotcha, respect your wishes, albeit a bit sad. I would have loved to send you some real specialities instead of the basic store brand ones.

[@Slippy6582]

Airing out the house is very important. We do not have AC here, our walls are BIG BRICKS, well isolated and our windows are 2-3 layers of glass (so to speak)... We do it every morning and 10 minutes before we go to bed, it is a ritual and it is just amazing to have fresh air in your house, cannot live without it!

[@dearseall]

Children outside: There is a saying in German (which I translate): "What Billy did not learn, Bill won't learn anymore." Therefore the society tries to teach children to play and stay outside as much as possible. They will discover the TV, PC etc soon enough.

[@stephsteph4574]

I live in a small village in Germany and I can say that my daughter loves to play outside with her friends! Driving her bike, inliners or in wintertime playing in the snow is a "normal" thing to do. In school they have to go outside, too and enjoy their break there. If there is really bad weather she always complains that they have to have their break inside. On the other hand of course there are videogames, tv or the internet! I think you can't avoid this! And I don't know how it is in a big city. I'm only used to a country life, so maybe it's different!

[@t.a.k.palfrey3882]

A good friend of mine, an American who has lived in Germany over 25 yrs, lived in a neighbouring village to this family. I met them during my regular visits following my retirement. They are a delightful family with children who coped eminently well with their transition into typical rural Bavarian kids. The younger ones speak with the lilting Bayerisch dialect, so disparaged by northern Germans. Children who grow up in two or more countries have a perspective on life entirely different from regular young people; richer, broader, more tolerant, and far less constrained than others. 🤔🙂

[@michaelbruce5415]

100% Learning and living with other cultures enriches everyone, with the caveat that acceptance of cultural differences has to be a two way street.

[@hape3862]

Are you still in contact with the McFalls? Sara suddenly stopped making videos last year and many of her subscribers are wondering if they are still well?

[@arnodobler1096]

@@hape3862 me too 😢

[@hape3862]

@@arnodobler1096 Weiß ich doch.

[@arnodobler1096]

@@hape3862 Echt schade, oder?

[@pfalzgraf7527]

I loved "Merry Messy German Life" as long as they posted stuff. I can only recommend their stuff for further exploration of Germany! I'd encourage you to research their back catalogue. Bakeries are open on Sunday Morning for fresh rolls. Like 7:00 to 10:00 - not longer. Otherwise: Wed. afternoon is quite the usual thing for, yes, smaller family owned shops, to be closed.

[@GuinevereKnight]

I liked them too, do you know why they are not posting anymore? Have they written anything on some social media or something? I haven't found any message on YT. Miss them!

[@zwiderwurzn5908]

Of course, bakeries can stay open longer than just until 10 am. The bakery in my neighbourhood is open on Sundays from 7 am to 5 pm. As far as I know, it depends on whether coffee and cakes are also offered for consumption there.

[@nbarrio]

​@@GuinevereKnightI read they are back in Atlanta. No idea why they didn't post about it. I also liked them a lot

[@GuinevereKnight]

@@nbarrio Hi, and thank you for answering my question! They are?! Oh, I really hope nothing "bad" happened and that they are ok. They disappered so abruptly, I was a bit worried. I wish them all the best! Miss them! Thank you! 💗 I googled a little, seems something sad happened and they were probably needed at home, in the US. So sorry.

[@tk0x0x0]

on 22:32, This is due to the climate zone in Central Europe. Ventilating houses and apartments helps to prevent mold. In Germany we call this shock ventilation, 5-15 minutes once through the occupied rooms.

[@No_Usernames716]

German (and even Bavarian) here and I think this cultural appropriation business is a bunch of nonsense. Just because someone from outside the country with no ties to it does or wears something (stereo)typically associated with that country, does not make it inappropriate or something that should not be done. How else are they supposed to follow a potential first interest other than engaging with the most known aspects of a country or culture? The way I see it is a natural part and the most common start for the process of learning about other peoples. Obviously there is also a mocking way to incorporate someone elses culture and thats not how one should express their interest or intereact with the culture, but other than that i think having something widely regarded as a famous part of that country be the first thing you latch onto should not be met with more than maybe eye-rolling because it is still so surface-level. tldr: just do whatever you want

[@Brainreaver79]

cultural appropriation .. for me .. means taking a part of a culture and DELIBERATELY making a mockery of it.

[@pavelmacek282]

I would say this problem is (like black face) mainly American issue as in Europe it is not seen as mocking the culture cos it's not. It's funny how the cultural appropriation is always connected to clothing but nobody mentions food as that gets literally butchered way more e.g. pizza and should be also considered a cultural heritage 😅

[@Brainreaver79]

@@pavelmacek282i agree with you, most problem are american made, and most arent even considered rude oder mocking by the culture they are "appropriating". you could include food,..or.. anime come to mind,..you could literally,... call out ALL disney movies,.. because they 99% of the time made a mockery of the original story

[@louisemiller3784]

I’m in Scotland and I automatically open all the windows every morning and close them at around 430-5 o clock at night. Not because I would get mould in the bathroom, my gran did it, my mum did it. I just like the air in the house, the windows are opened regardless of the weather

[@alicemilne1444]

You must have massive heating bills!

[@sylviadrees3761]

​@@alicemilne1444why? No heating at that time.

[@coolhomeschool2267]

My neighbors would miss their cats...nobody is stealing your computers, if you are going to work?

[@SatuGustafson]

We need to air the houses because of brick walls and good insulation. Plus, we usually don’t have AC. Our house (built in 2011) has a ventilation system so there is no immediate need but we still do it.

[@Connie.b69]

Well...Bavarians are... let's say..... special. Grettings from Germany ❣

[@RustyDust101]

The McFals are a great family. I am worried a bit about them as a long time subscriber as they haven't released a video in the last eight months or so. Sarah was such a regular and suddenly everything stopped with no indication why. I hope they are fine, just a bit burned out of YT. 😢 Edit 1: you had a few questions. I'm sorry I can't answer all of them as it's a fairly long video. Airing out the house / Lüften (Luft = air). German house have THICK solid walls. They allow a very slow exchange of air through the walls, and the tiny gaps between window and door frames. However the air volume inside a building with such walls needs to be completely exchanged at least six to eight times a day. The small amount exchanged through gaps accounts for 0.8 to 1.5 times the volume only. Thus the exhalation of any living creatures containing a lot of moisture builds up and slowly seeps into the walls if not exchanged regularly. This may actually cause molds, and a specific kind of spongey growth inside the masonry. This may lead to spores being released from these molds that affect the respiratory system. The spongey growth may even weaken the structural integrity of stone or wooden internals. So this is not something you want to take lightly. The solid walls offer incredible safety vs most types of storms, rain, and temperature extremes, but they come with their own type of problems. Fortunately with some regular airing out of the house these can be eliminated.

[@ginster458]

they‘re back in the US apparently, no word why :/

[@RustyDust101]

​@@ginster458 gosh darn it. I am so sorry to hear that. Thanks for the info.

[@hape3862]

​@@ginster458 Oh, that's a bummer. They seemed to do so well here.

[@AP-RSI]

@@ginster458Maybe something has happened in the family?! Sad... Edit: I just checked, she is still posting on her FB page. The last one was 12 hours ago. Maybe she's taking a YT break! But, she only posts there as "mother of 4 kids". Maybe something happened with her husband! Or they have separated. But can't find anything about it! But about 2-3 months ago they posted a short on YT! Looking at her FB posts, it really looks like she's back in the US. Also, there were confirmations that her house in Germany is being sold and other stuff too.

[@ginster458]

@@AP-RSIyeah I know all of that, there's plenty of discussions under their last video. They're definitely back in the US, everything else is speculation and I don't think the channel will ever resume or we'll get answers. At least we can say that they all seem to be okay health wise

[@blackwolf721000]

With the restrooms, it's not so difficult, as every mall will have public restrooms, and every restaurant that has tables with seating also has to offer a restroom. I'd love to use my bike to ride to work, but an hour or more through the city is just too much if you don't feel like sitting at work wet with sweat and shaking from exertion (if you're untrained like me). Most German Trachten ("traditional outfits") were actually invented in the 19th century by tailor guilds to increase their sales and have a demonstration of their skills to visitors. So it's not a s bad with the appropriation. I've never seen a German being annoyed, except maybe if you bought an authentic old outfit and wear it for carnival.

[@Kristina_S-O]

Hello from northern Germany! Just wanted to leave a warm "thank you" and "good job" for you. I really enjoy Debbie's straight forwardness and Natasha's dry humor. 😊 Don't ever be ashamed for not knowing things about other countries, and don't feel intimidated if Germans correct you in a very blunt way. It's just what we do. 😂

[@suedhoern]

Mold loves it warm, moist and dark. Warm air carries much more moisture than cold air. Just circulate is not enough. They must be removed and replaced with dry ones. Especially after showering. In Germany, you ventilate for 5-10 minutes each morning and evening with the window open. This is our air condition.

[@gregclark5084]

I came to Germany in the early 80´s and love it still! The part where they say there are no restrooms in stores is not true. Most of the larger stores have restrooms it is only the smaller ones that hve none. As a kid in America (back in the 60´s) we had those bright yellow rain jackets with the same yellow rain pants. It is pronounced trahkt not traekt. Letting fresh air in the house daily is good for your health . You should watch how German houses are built. There are many videos of this on KZbin

[@Herzschreiber]

the restrooms! Yes most big stores have one. And it also depends on how you interpret the word "restroom", because each and every hotel, restaurant, café, museum, gas station has them. The only thing that restaurants don't like is when someone comes in just for the use of the restroom, without consuming anything. But when it is really urgent, why not hopping inside a restaurant, use the restroom and then sit and have a fast coffee, soda or snack? Easy! In gas stations the restrooms normally are a bit out of the cashier's view, so they might be locked to avoid access for junkies and you might have to ask for the key, but that isn't a problem. Only one sort of restrooms is rare in Germany: The ones run and maintained by the city itself. And they usually cost money which helps paying the employees who keep it clean, but first and foremost also hinders junkies or homeless persons to use it as a shelter - they simply can't afford a coin.

[@schuhschrank947]

Tracht , there is no k in it.

[@gregclark5084]

@@schuhschrank947 If you read my comment I spell the word phonetically so they can pronounce it the correctly.

[@schuhschrank947]

@gregclark5084 Sorry,! When you pronounce it there is no k in it.

[@bigtiger1964]

After World War II Germany was split into four zones. The Soviet zone was in the east, later becoming the German Democratic Republic until the reunification with the West in 1990. The British zone was in the north and the west. The French zone was in the south-west along the border to France. The US (“American”) zone was in the south plus the harbour city Bremen on the North Sea. These three zone later formed the Federal Republic of Germany. That’s the reason why the public picture of Germany in the US in the second half of the 20th century is that of the south rather than the north. Thanks for your reaction!

[@BeckyPoleninja]

Yup, UK here my friends take their kids 7 & 9 on 10 + mile rides every weekend.

[@hertelantje]

I love that you discovered My Merry Messy Life . I followed this lovely woman for close to 2 years, until she stopped posting. I hope you react to more of her videos. What might interest you are Christmas markets Her Christmas Decorations Trips ( Burg Elts for instance) Ella in kindergarten The schools Play grounds….

[@SusanCampbell-j1f]

What a nice couple and some very interesting facts on German cultural differnces.

[@frogmouth]

I have rain pants Australia. Waterproof to go over jeans or other non waterproof pants

[@carstenoelke3507]

As she said, that she used dishwasher tablettes for the laundry, I had to laugh out loud. That is so relative to me. Even us germans (especially men) could easily confuse dishwasher tablettes and laundry tablettes, because it is both available in Germany. So now I use tablettes for the dishwasher and washing powder for the laundry, to avoid any confusion. 😂😂😂

[@nedludd7622]

You should use powders for the two. If you don't, you are losing the purpose of pre-wash and are wasting hot water which would make your clothes or dishes cleaner.

[@HenryLoenwind]

There's no central air in Germany, heating is radiator-based. That means the air will sit in the rooms forever, with no way to get rid of excess moisture. And even breathing alone generates a lot of moisture, add to that sinks, showers, cooking, etc., and you'll soon find the air to first feel heavy and then to have condensation on cooler spots---like the grout lines in the bathroom. With one or two people, normal airflow from opening doors is often enough, especially in not overly modern apartments, but with 6 people you certainly need to actively do something.

[@elmarwinkler6335]

Ladies, HE teaches engineering at the university, SHE is a book author and entrepreneur on the internet and a good mom!!!

[@gorodneypace]

Okay, the short opening hours are mostly in Bavaria and in rural areas. Here where I live (Ruhrgebiet) 7am-10pm Mo-Sa. On Sundays most normal stores are closed by law..... only restaurants, gas stations, kiosks, and businesses in the train stations are allowed to open. A few other exceptions. You get used to it.

[@Herzschreiber]

hahaha I really love you two! 1) Natasha and Debbie like: "We don't accept food gifts." 2) Natasha and Debbie like: "... if you want to send us some rain pants....!" 🤣

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

😂😂

[@almanoor-bakker5964]

Our houses are made of stone and concrete, and very well insulated. That makes it necessary to air out very well, as it is not unvolontairy done through airgaps.

[@retropolis1]

You can usually use the restroom in any restaurant you eat at. Any shop or service that sells food (where you also eat the food) has to have restrooms by law, so there is always somewhere you can go.

[@LalaDepala_00]

Airing your house is a thing in most of Europe. I am Dutch and as soon as I wake up I open the windows. Most people have no AC here and it is important to have clean air in your house.

[@101steel4]

I have AC but still open windows in the morning. All houses need airing, whether you have AC or not.

[@LalaDepala_00]

@@101steel4 I agree

[@sofiatarazi8607]

Same here in Greece. We open the windows first thing when wake up.

[@ericv7720]

Here in Arizona during the summer, A/C is a must because it's so hot around the clock, so airing your house just isn't a thing. In other parts of the country I've lived, like Colorado and California, airing the house was far more common.

[@biancaglawan7150]

IHi from Germany!😊 In big cities you have restrooms, but you have to pay for it. But if your kid needs to pee you can ask in any shop and they show you the way! We learn from our mom's and granny' s to let fresh air in and it helps to breath,clear your mind and let you smile!😊 Sunday is familytime! Eat breakfast, go to church,meet family and friends without stress . It's very important to us. But on the coast,Northsea or Eastsea, the shops open up for 4-5 hours. It is normal here that most Shops are closed to have Lunch if the owner is alone. We don't have 24/7 stores, because it makes not enough money.😊

[@amayahanada6330]

Genau 🥰👍🏻

[@RolandDeschain19]

There are public restrooms, but I would always go to a restaurant or a public building like a town hall (Rathaus, as it was mentioned) instead as these public ones are often pretty run-down and not too clean or taken care of frequently.

[@Muck006]

1. "bagging groceries in the store": a) if you only have a few items ... bag them; b) if you have a full shopping cart ... shove it back into the shopping cart, pay and then move out of the way to a quiet corner to bag it in your own time ... if you shop with your car ... there are foldable rectangular baskets that are easy to fill and stackable 2. If you need a rest room ... try a restaurant ... and leave them a tip, because they technically only have to provide them for CUSTOMERS ... in Berlin we have the "WALL toilette", which are installed and serviced by the WALL advertising company ... they are very spacious (large enough for several people, so you can go in there with your kids and they are wheelchair accessible) but it might take some time to recognise them as what they are 3. school supplies are exaggerated by them 4. hand writing depends on the teacher ... I didnt have to do it "properly" in the 70s, but my sister did 5. house shoes are situational ... and depends on the people you are visiting ... house shoes are OPTIONAL, just have DECENT SOCKS 6. nothing beats a snowball fight!!!! 7. "rain pants" are simply thin "plastic" (but not like plastic bags) pants that you can put over your regular pants ... they are oversized for that purpose and there are similar jackets as well ... which allow kids to walk to school in the rain. "snow pants" are designed to keep you warm, but you can just as well use those rain pants over a decently thick pair of trousers to achieve "waterproofing" 8. backpacks arent supposed to put all the load on the shoulders ... which is bad while the children are still growing. The REAL support is supposed to go ON THE HIPS and the shoulder straps are just to prevent the backpack from tilting backwards *this rule applies for grown-ups too ... in case you intend to go hiking with a 20kg backpack ... and the problem with children is that they wont close the BELT buckle* 9. GET OUT OF THE BIKE LANE ... because bicycles are HARD and have SHARP POINTS and potentially TRAVEL AT HIGH SPEEDS. This is for your own safety. [I'm 56 and it takes me ~1 hour to do the ~19km ride around the lake.] *children up to 8 years HAVE TO use the sidewalk, up to 10 MAY use the sidewalk ... from 10 years on it is THE ROAD or the BICYCLE LANE* 10. Arent "kids [in the USA] outside with no adult MONITORING THEM" going to result in a police report & child protective services coming around to reprimand the parents? The USA has a serious problem with the CAR-CENTRIC CULTURE! 11. 16:10 TRACHT (not "tricht") ... basically the traditional clothing of a certain region ... which is different everywhere (but has practical uses) ... "cultural appropriation" is a COMMUNIST term to allow them to "barge in and declare someone a bad guy for political reasons" (mexicans have no problem with "people wearing sombreros" but "white US university liberals" [=commies] have) ... if you go to the Oktoberfest in München ... you will see many women in "Dirndls", which are clearly bought off the rack while actual garments are MADE TO FIT ... it is kinda like the DISNEY CASTLE being a MOCKERY of Neuschwanstein/german castles ... easy to recognise and worthy of a "facepalm", but NOT a general cry of outrage ... *_people should adopt the GERMAN WAY of doing it: PROPERLY instead of the "US way": CHEAPLY._* 12. the "recycling mindset" started in WWI, where Germany was cut off from outside resources and had to reuse stuff that was broken (melting it down into something new ... metal) OR reusing bottles.

[@clivewilliams3661]

I am half German and as a child i had lederhosen and I still have a pair from my childhood that my mother kept. On a trip to Germany a few years ago I bought a pair in Munich, initially out of nostalgia but have since worn them extensively in UK because on hot days in summer they are surprisingly cool (temp) and surpass ordinary shorts for comfort. I am not a fashionista, I wear what I like and b***s to fashion, comfort is the primary goal. Mould in the bathroom is caused by condensation and a good mechanical ventilation system should orevrnt that happening. If you have to air the whole house, which used to be a tradition then today something is wrong with the house or its management. Today, whole house ventilation with heat recovery is popular. The bakeries are open on Sundays because bread has to be eaten fresh. Brotchen (bread rolls) are a favorite for breakfast, they are absolutely superb when warm out of the baker's oven and a chewy disaster after lunch, so what are you going to eat at Sunday's breakfast? Also, Kaffe und Kuchen (afternoon high tea) is a family afternoon favorite on Sundays, when magnificent pastries and cakes are served that have to be fresh along with the Schlagsahne (whipped cream) that is bought along with the cakes. Of course, all of the products are in the language of the country you are visiting - what a pair of Prats!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@kiric95]

Loved this episode and learning along with you. I’ve been to Germany multiple times and I really do love the country. The only thing I can comment on is that despite their summers often being much warmer than the UK, quite a lot of the houses still don’t have A/C, so airing the house out frequently is the only way to get air to circulate and prevent mould. Again, great video girls! Really enjoyed this one!

[@michaelkuschnefsky362]

I don't think this will change any time soon, if at all. Do you know how expensive electricity is in Germany? Who should afford such an air conditioning system? and if so, in Germany we have maybe a maximum of 6 weeks a year when it is really warm. Air conditioning for that? It may be different in Britain. Sorry, I hope I wasn't too direct. Please don't feel hurt.

[@biggelmo]

In the UK we used to have half day closing of shops on Wednesday, we also had strict Sunday trading restrictions based on religious rules but both of these have now been abolished.

[@JimbalayaJones]

Every Restaurant has a bathroom/toilet. Even if you are not a customer, you can ask to use it. Just give a Euro when leaving AS a thanks-tip. ☺️

[@fr3akzilla769]

Houses are built very solidly in Germany and we don't use ACs, so you have to ventilate to regulate humidity.

[@katemarriner1172]

Hey ladies, unfortunately i missed this morning...i got the lurgie from somewhere & was up coughing most the night. Thought this was fascinating, particularly considering the UK is relatively near as far as Europe goes,it's SO very different. We rarely hear much on specifics in Germany. As always,you were both a delight and cheered me up for a while, greatly appreciated. Heading back to bed with a cuppa,take care x

[@TheMrBusty]

Love the channel of this family!! sadly they didnt uploud anything recently.. but im so soo looking forward to it

[@reginarickborn8554]

I love „American in Germany“ videos. Back when Nalf started to do them, fo example.

[@martymcfly4772]

Ventilating the houses is advisable as it prevents mold too. In Bavaria, bakeries are open here and there on Sundays, but mostly only in the morning. People also want to have breakfast on Sundays ^^

[@stevethewomble]

When we lived in Germany whilst in the army I always used the restroom in the bars,and out of courtesy I would stop for a couple of beers 🎉

[@patrickadam-sh4uu]

Hallo from Germany. Please Show this Video from Dr. Ludwig...,, This is Germany "...is so beautiful.❤❤❤

[@ShazzaUK70]

Is Debbie related to Sarah? The likeness is uncanny 😊

[@kennym5898]

Yes, that's what I thought. Two Debbie's, how wonderful! 😊💐

[@katemarriner1172]

I know,i thought that. A very retro,simpler version of Debbie but the likeness was blatant. I was waiting for a wise crack from Natasha!

[@tonyde6423]

Same here thought it was comedy skit cheers ✌

[@michaelkuschnefsky362]

In Germany, the house or apartment is essentially ventilated for the following reasons. On the one hand, we have a different window system in Germany than in the USA. First of all, the windows here are very well insulated thanks to multiple glazing. There are now more and more windows with triple glazing, and German windows have a tilt and turn function that is operated by a complex scissor system. So it's easier to ventilate the house because you can open the window completely. I know this because I built and installed windows as a carpenter for years. More than 90% of German apartments do not have air conditioning, which is also one reason why ventilation is used in Germany. Ventilation is therefore a necessity so that mold cannot form in the first place.

[@amayahanada6330]

Closed on Wednesdays? I don't know it. is owned by a family business. On Sundays the shops are closed and everyone can take care of their family and friends and enjoy the day. Nice quiet day. ❤️

[@Mediawatcher2023]

Its the Same in Australia when you have a shower you have an excust fan not only it stops the bathroom full of steam it also prevents mould.

[@rennratteb.8614]

@Natasha You are not old, you have been in the world for a long time, big difference!

[@juliathommes8672]

The thing with airing out the rooms is kiiiiiind of a rule. If you rent a apartment or house you are obligated to retain a regular air flow to prevent mold, because landlords COULD deny compensation for any damage the mold did on your home if there is any proof you didnt "lüften" right.

[@tonybaker55]

Ah, recess is break time in England. We were sent out in good weather, but kept inside if it was raining, but given structured play to do.

[@MartinAmbrosiusHackl]

Usually you air out the room several times the day. The same applies for office rooms, which most of the time do not have AC. In respect of days with closed shops: Traditionally physicians close their practice on Wednesday afternoon. Barbers do not work on Monday. (Sunday is holiday anyway.)

[@bgtjunkie6993]

The first city (3:40) is Cochem near the river Moselle. What you see on top is the Reichsburg Cochem and is located directly on the river. It was built around the 12th century, was completely disdroyed in the 17th and rebuild in between 1868-1877. Very impressive and worth to visit. Especially in autuum - you can taste wine everywhere around 😉 btw. I like you 2 and what you do. go on! Greeting from Leipzig/Saxony

[@patriciabailey1937]

Hausshoe - fantastic! I adopted the custom when I lived in Germany and now,almost forty years later, I keep to it. I respect my home (and other people’s) and it is a small matter of respect.

[@ralphe5335]

I always find it very strange when Americans claim that there are no dryers in Germany. The Germans even invented them! And almost every household in Germany has a dryer. Everyone can decide for themselves. "Lüften", i.e. letting fresh air through the house in the morning, is not just about "feeling good", but also about avoiding dirt, dust and mold. And By the way I really like videos like this, with the perspective of foreigners who live in Germany, or report or react about Germany. Because they show me the high level at which we Germans often moan and complain about inadequacies. Compared to most countries in the world, we Germans are doing really, really well. We have so many things that don't exist anywhere else, but which make everything easier for us and make everything as pleasant as possible.

[@riker1701D]

Hello from Germany. That's true about the public toilets, but I've found that if you ask politely, you can use the toilet in almost any store, pub, ice cream parlor or snack bar. As long as you behave like a human being and leave everything clean. But the fact that it sometimes costs money also means that you will find toilets that are reasonably clean.

[@TheNatashaDebbieShow]

Good to know, thank you!!

The restrooms point is a bit lisleading. there are plenty of public restrooms in many areas, but they usually cost money to use. in restaurants and so on they are usually free if you are a patron there.

[@Etswe]

In Sweden we don´t airing out our houses every day because we usually have good ventilation. If you have adequate ventilation you don´t get mold. I even have a small fan in the bathroom that runs all the time. You can have good isolation AND ventilation.

[@jonathanvince8173]

OK in the UK shops used to shut on a Sunday and Wednesdays they were open half day same with bakeries. Fish N chips always shut on Sunday's. But pubs bars restaurants were all open on Sundays. within time limits though. Plus when I was younger we had Sunday school in the early mornings.

[@dhtran681]

10:20 😂 true. We have at least 6 pairs of them for friends/guests.

[@HerSandiness]

Oh, and the restroom thing: NOT true. German law mandates that all stores and public venues (museums, libraries, etc.) above a certain capacity have to have facilities. I personally have never had trouble finding a restroom when I need on. But I also live in a big city, not a small village like them.

[@janettesinclair6279]

When visiting friends in Austria, they had a long pocketed hanger in the hall full of different sized slippers and mules. Every visitor took off their outdoor shoes and found a pair of slippers that fitted. It makes sense not to drag outdoor dirt off the sidewalk into the main part of the house.

[@phoenix-xu9xj]

Here in the U.K. we ask everyone to take off their shoes but most everyone does it anyway. Our family and friends. Filthy not to.

[@tonybaker55]

We do not have a drier, but have a garden to hang clothes out in fine weather. De-humidifiers used in drying areas on the bad days.

[@Avi-rn6ei]

About the house slippers. We often do house multiple sets of slippers. For personal use anything that you prefer goes. Be it slippers, flip flops, crocs, birkenstock, socks etc. As for guests they either use spare once you have (again most already have multiple pairs) or, my fav, take one out of these specific guest house slipper sets you can buy. They are relatively cheap and have 4-8 pairs of slippers (sometimes even in different colors to indicate the size). A lot of people I know have these inside a pouch shaped like a giant slipper. However in any case, if not told by the owner otherwise, always remove your shoes at the entrance. Noone wants a dirty home Edit: Germans loove their bike. Where im from we host yearly competitions around lakes in our state wich have so many participants that streets have to be closed periodically to make room as the routes had to be switched to handle the masses safely. There are full, half, challenges, clarity and free races with a program at each city where the route went through. Its a huge deal. In general we germans love sports of any kind and value activities a lot.

[@Philmaster07]

from a german: the houseshoe thing is not THAT common. It is more in kindergarden and elementary. At home it depends on the parents tbh. The toilet thing is also not that bad as it sounds. mayor malls, restaurants and tourist attractions all have toilets for a little fee. it's really not that bad. Also the train thing... well in local trains it is loud :D in ICEs (long distance trains) there are mobile phone areas (where you can call or talk etc) and "quiet" compartments where it is more silent. The opening times are only reduced in really small towns. in towns from 10k or 20k inhabitants its monday - saturday open until 8pm or 9pm in general. and bakeries on sunday also open from around 7 till 11

[@jerrihadding2534]

When I moved to Germany I had the advantage of my German partner to help me grocery shop. When I moved to Sweden (keep in mind, this was 26 years ago), I figured that it would be a simple adjustment to grocery shop. Boy was I wrong! While my Swedish husband was absolutely willing to help, he frequently did not know the English words for food items. (My German partner had lived in the US for years. She attended Harvard College when she first came.) AND, to my vast astonishment, my English/Swedish dictionary offered very little help. In the end, I resorted to the ads the stores left in our mailbox. (Me, who had a strict policy of “no advertisements!” for all of my adult life 😲😔!) These ads came with photos of the products they advertised and that is how I initially learned food and spice names. Later I attended the free school five mornings a week where “Swedish for Immigrants” was taught.

[@cketts8128]

As a Brit, I also open our bedroom, bathroom and kitchen windows daily to get nice fresh air in. Have a dryer but only use it when it’s too cold and damp outside to hang out the washing (laundry). Many of our children ride bikes and take part in Cycling Proficiency Tests. Nearly all of our shopping trolleys are coin operated and we have to bring bags and pack ourselves. And we definitely are expected to be quiet on public transport etc. it’s frowned on if you’re not quiet! We still do have plenty of public toilets (restrooms) but not as many as we used to. Neat handwriting is still expected here. Our kids have plimsoles they have to wear inside school. Our kids have to go outside at break times unless the weather is extreme (mind you the schools wouldn’t be open in snow 😂). Sunday opening for shops is hit and miss. It’s 50/50. Shops (not supermarkets) tend to close at 5/5.30. So lots of similarities but a few differences! 💚🧡🇬🇧

[@hellpleasure1]

Oh the toilette issue is mainly in smaller towns - but that is changing fast

[@Mr_Kenneth]

Germania is a seriously cool and beautiful country. Very clean and spacious and very welcoming. You shoud do a video in local german beers, delicatessens and smoked fish on sticks - all amazing!

[@hagbard-lz3oy]

No public restrooms in Germany? I must be living in a Parallel Universe Germany then... 🤣

[@jpo78]

Opening times: they are in a smaller town for sure, and the shops certainly family owned or at least small. In smaller towns that is normal. However in cities shops usually have longer opening times, and grocery stores easily open 8-20h...

[@Ceen328]

- Rain pants are like loose fitting pants, you wear over your real pants, made out of a waterproof fabric. Just like a thin rain coat. If you go outside, just pull them over, so your pants don't get wet and you have to wear wet pants, when you go back inside. Outdoor people have them too. - For the house shoes - there are 'sets' of multiple slipper stye house shoes you have for your guests. These shoes fit sizes. Usually you get like 3 pair mediums sized and 3 pait large sized ones. But it is also common to just wear socks inside. If everybody does it, there is no street dirt, so that is no problem. If you have a party it is common for everybody to just wear their street shoes. After the party you have to clean either way. - Learning to ride a bike and learn to swim has a very high priority in germany. - Airing is mostly to get fresh air inside the house. You shouldn't have mold problems, if you skip put on airing. One thing to note tho, our windows are way better at sealing, than alot of these sliding style wood windows in the US. We build them this way, to give make them more efficient at sealing. But that also means, there is very little air exchange, so we have to force an air exchange. It may seem daunting, but it is just nice to let the fresh air in and it only takes like 2 min to open and close the windows. Just open them, start your coffe and go to the bathroom and close them like 15min later. If you have smart radiator valves with window sensors, the radiators turn off while you air the house, so you don't waste money and energy. - Smaller privatly owned buisnesses tend to have a closed day. Stuff like tailors, hair dresser, shoe maker, and so on. Huge stores like Aldi have a normal schedule mo - sa, excluding hollydays.

[@Ubique2927]

Debbie’s Twin!?

[@Schon1Kevin]

about public rest rooms in stores: those stores do have to grant small children, pregnant women and elders access to their employee bathrooms if they have to use a toilet. its just considered that a grown person can plan ahead or hold it somewhat longer. even tho if you really have to go youd probably be granted access if u nicely ask because if you pee yourself the employee would have to clean it up anyways. about the "house shoes": im 34 years old myself and i have never ever experienced anyone having house shoes for guests. its very common for most german households to leave your shoes at the front door and run around in socks. if youre having several guests like for a birthday party or something everyone usually keeps their shoes on. mainly because a lot of german partys contain some sort of barbecue where you have to move in and out of the house several times.

[@marciarichards9446]

Another fab show from you, too. ❤ from Birmingham

[@oopsdidItypethatoutloud]

I remember having to draw lines at school, for neatness But i too was educated in days of Yore

[@Jean-MarcBordeaux]

In France we have solar panels on the roof our double glazing has gas plasma in-between the glass to trap extra heat and to reflect heat, and very efficient water heater system that last all week after just one switch on and also smart meters. , Jean-Marc

[@j.d.l._666]

21:41 it doesn't have to be every morning. It hugely depends on the humidity of your area. And yes, in Bavaria of you live near woods or are surrounded by Mountain and woods it's verry humid so you should air out your house at least once every other day. But yes, in my home we air out our house every das too. It's just a good feeling, having all this fresh air in your home You need to air out your house in Germany to prevent mold growing in the walls and other surfaces. Because we don't usually have AC's so in order to have a Flow of fresh air we need to open our windows.

[@BA-ik5be]

The village with the Castle in the beginning is Cochem.

[@roydalezobel4946]

3:48 To me, Burg Eltz is the most beautiful castle in Germany, because one can see how it grew and grew and never got completely redone. It looks and feels like straight out of Harry Potter. By the way... the family that built Burg Eltz over 800 years ago, still lives there in the 33rd generation and the biggest part of the castle is open for visitors.

[@MrJudgeSauter1]

When I see these kinds of videos, I like that there are still open minded people there outside who don't care of which country is first. Just enjoying how other countries do things, how different the cultures are and this for me is...how the world is working! Keep on the good work. Visit us some time. Greetz from Germany!

[@dagmarszemeitzke]

About Trachten: The „Bollenhut“ (a strawhat with big bolls on it, either in red for single women or in black for married women) in the Black Forrest is only weared in the Gutachtal, a valley with three little villages Kirnbach, Gutach and Reichenbach. Not in the whole Black Forest.

[@steviekenevil]

Ive never been to Germany so cant really compare, but in the UK most of the big supermarkets normally have public toilets except maybe Aldi and Lidl which don't

[@PeterBuwen]

I used to use a bicycle to ride to school everyday 40 years ago. One way 8 miles (12 km).

[@amsel6383]

German here. My english is very bad. So sorry for that😂 You can buy a package of shoes for your guests. In the package are maybe 8 pairs of shoes in different sizes. Sometimes your guests bring there own shoes or you got older shoes for them. Its really different because some people also get on socks. And there are differents between people who came often in yout house and people who came just for some special events. My grandparents have there own pair of shoes at our house and when they come over to meet us they know exectly where to find them. I hope everybody can understand that😂😅. Bye

[@KrisThroughGlass]

In the big cities, chain stores will only close on Sundays. I'm the rural areas and smaller shops will close more, because they can't cover more hours with their few employees. A lot of Germans have a big family breakfast on Sundays and eat Brötchen (a bread roll with a lot of variations), which they buy at the bakery.

[@bavragorHammerfaust7]

Ventilation is said to help prevent mold formation

[@andreasbrey6277]

well that was a restroom myth, actually. Any restaurant is obliged by law to provide free restrooms, there usually very clean. Public buildings like libraries and private ones like cinemas etc. have of course as well restrooms. And since inner cities are concentrated you usually never need your car once you have parked. Thank you for your videos, girls!

[@MargaretChapman-k1y]

Only time as a UK citizen is travelling through on a coach tour and seeing all the bed clothes and mattresses hanging out of the windows being aired. A very healthy country, Germany. That was in the 1960/70's though!

[@septartes]

I would assume that such "closing times" mentioned are either due to labour shortage or client shortage depending on the time we're talking. And yes, it's mostly in family owned businesses. Sundays or Holidays are nevertheless off business days usually.

[@pfichtner01]

AC's take the humidity out of the Air. If you open the window there will be no additional cost for powering the AC.😊

[@alistairthorn1122]

One of the biggest things that I find when I'm over is Sundays - most shops in Germany don't open on a Sunday. There are a few exceptions. In a really popular tourist area like Heidelberg you're going to see some shops open. But 20 minutes away in Mannheim? The shops are mostly closed. None of the big retailers in the city centre are open. A lot of the supermarkets are closed too. Sundays in Mannheim are basically bars and restaurants, bakeries and the shops they have at the train station. Museums are open. Leisure facilities too. It's also a big day for sports. Getting the train from the city centre out to a Sunday afternoon hockey game, you see a lot of people out in the city. Tends to be groups of people meeting up at cafes/bakeries, going to places like the Luisenpark in Mannheim or going out walking/cycling. Part of me really likes that retail staff in most places get the day off on Sunday when stores are mostly closed and that people actually spend the day doing stuff socially. Or even just take a break from spending and consuming and do something else.

[@hansmeiser32]

"None of the big retailers in the city centre are open." Just to make it clear - they are legally not allowed to open on Sundays and public holidays. There are a few exceptions to this like Bakeries are allowed to open for a few hours or a grocery store at a train station can open on Sundays. This was even much stricter when I was a kid some decades ago. Opening hours were between 8.00 and 18.30 on Monday to Friday and between 8.00 and 13.00 on Saturday.

[@alistairthorn1122]

@@hansmeiser32 That was the case over here in the UK too when I was growing up. Changed in Scotland in the late 1980s. Much later in England. I like that it's still the case in Germany that there's 1 day per week where shops aren't open to sell things and when people actively pursue leisure pursuits.

[@hansmeiser32]

@@alistairthorn1122 "I like that it's still the case in Germany" We love our quiet Sundays and I for sure hope it stays like this as well.

[@beiwagenfahrer5597]

Hi Natasha & Debbie, the castle you saw at the approx 3.45 mark is at the town of Cochem on the Mosel river. I visit frequently as I live only an hours drive away in the Eifel region. I am British and moved to Germany in 2011, I find the people wonderful and despite the stereotyping they have great humour!

[@afjo972]

23:47 these expats will never get it. Basically everything is open EXCEPT grocery stores and shopping malls. Restaurants, Cafés, Museums, theatres, cinemas,… are open. Life is not all about going shopping, Americans

[@eyeofthasky]

not true ... i know many (even bigger) cities where restaurants etc are also CLOSED at sundays, which is what they said about their little dumpster village ... been to Kulmbach last sunday, thought "damn, _the dog's really wrecked here_ ..the only thing u can do i walk through empty streets." .. at least the indian restaurant near the train station was open -- they are awesome, often the sole reason to pop myself into the train and go to this forlorn city